Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-05-23
From the Rushington GloIe

gress, was one from the Treasury, COM
posed Of answers received from the United
States consuls in many foreign countries,
iu reply to queries addressed TO them Oh
the subjects of currency and revenue in the
different countries in which they resided.
Among the answers SD received was an
elaborate and carefully prepared commu-
nication from Mr.. Trist, the consul al Ha-
vana, which, besides answering the speci-
fic inquiries addressed to him, entered
pretty largely into details, vouched by evil
dence, to show not only that Government
may carry on. all its operations in hard
money, but thata community may do SO
also; and that credit, commerce, and in
duslry, may flourish to the highest degree
on such currency, and without the knowl
edge of paper money, or banks, and des-
pile of the paralyzing influences of des-
potic Government, aud The euervatipg ef-
iccts of tropical climate. As there is no
diffusion Of information equal TO that which
is afforded by the columns of newspaper:
we have thought that aporlion of ours
might well he employed in giving some
extracts from Mr. Trlsl's communication.
convinced that such Of our -cilizeus
as believe. that "this Federal Government
was made by hard money men, and inren-
ded to be hard money Government"
will read it with avidily and exultalion,
and that even those who have been stri
wing 10 make ii a paper money Govern
meat. cannot object to see practical ar
eumeut, bottomed wholly upon facts and
experience. that the Government NAV
subsist without dependence upon banks,
however indispensable they may consider
them as sTimulators of trade.
Mr.. Trist shows that The Island of Cuba
is about lorIy-three thousand square miles
in extent; that it has population of about
million of souls, nearly one half slaves:
that lis foreign and domestic commerce is
about forty-three millions of dollars, its
taxes fourteen millions, and its currency
exclusively gold. We say exclusively
gold, for Mr.. Trist says there is no silver
except for the two lowest denominations
of change, to wit; the bi, and the half-bit,
being The eighth and the sixteenth of dol
lar; all The rest is gold, consisting of the
doubloon, rated a, seventeen dollars; The
half doubloon, the quarter doubloon, and
The eighth. With this currency, and with
out The inslrumentalilv ofbanks. Mr.Trisr
proceeds to show how the Government
manages its revenue of fourteen millions:
how the merchants manage their foreign
exporting and importing trade offortv three
millions. and how the people manage their
daily transactions, exceeding, in all proba.
blity. a thousand millions of dollars per
| annum.
With respect to the Government, Mr..
t. shows /, that The Whole revenue of the
island is collected IN gold aud silver coin,
or more properly speaking in gold only.
as they have no silver except bits and half
bits for small change: 2, that The Govern
ment itself directs the kind of money to be
received; 3. that the money is kept bv pub
lie treasurers: 4, that it is placed in vaults
and Golfers, secured by three locks (of diff.
fcrent sizes) the keys Of which are kept by
three different officers; 5, that these officers
give bonds; 6 tlatthe moneys are paid out
ny The treasurer; 7, that the same identical
money is paid out for the Government
which was received for the Government,
no one being allowed to change it; 8, thai
payments were made under the direction
oflhe intendant and accountau, general; 6,
that remil,ances were made by Govern
ment bills Of exchange: 10, that no public
money could be used by an officer for his
own affairs, ii, that monthly counting
ofthe public moneys took place. In This
way, Mr.. II. shows that the Government
collected, kept, and disbursed its revenues,
and all without trouble, loss, or inconveni-
ence, or dependence, or connection with
any, or upon any but its own officers. The
average cost oflhe collection, keeping, and
disbursine the Rs5Iic moneys, for the whole
island, is less tIau 81 per cent; The cost
for Havana aud The district which contains
il is only q per cent. Losses and defal-
cations are almost wholly unknown.