Of
course, this proves our right and duty to live wherever we may _choose_;
while the white race may only live where they _can_. We are content with
the fact, and have ever claimed it. Upon this rock, they and we shall
ever agree.
Of the West India Islands, Santa Cruz, belonging to Denmark; Porto Rico,
and Cuba with its little adjuncts, belonging to Spain, are the only
slaveholding Islands among them--three-fifths of the whole population of
Cuba being colored people, who cannot and will not much longer endure
the burden and the yoke. They only want intelligent leaders of their own
color, when they are ready at any moment to charge to the conflict--to
liberty or death. The remembrance of the noble mulatto, PLACIDO, the
gentleman, scholar, poet, and intended Chief Engineer of the Army of
Liberty and Freedom in Cuba; and the equally noble black, CHARLES BLAIR,
who was to have been Commander-in-Chief, who were shamefully put to
death in 1844, by that living monster, Captain General O'Donnell, is
still fresh and indelible to the mind of every bondman of Cuba.
In our own country, the United States, there are _three million five
hundred thousand slaves_; and we, the nominally free colored people, are
_six hundred thousand_ in number; estimating one-sixth to be men, we
have _one hundred thousand_ able bodied freemen, which will make a
powerful auxiliary in any country to which we may become adopted--an
ally not to be despised by any power on earth.
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