Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-09-11

The finger o' Destiny (ough the Wings may
snecr a, tie phrose) poin uuerringly to the in.
corporation Of this lonellslaud in the Ameri
can Union, th. ugh we sHl no, speculate as TO
the specific lime or the Amer. direct or indi.
rect. IN which the result 70 be brought about
II is, therefore, not unintd,ting 10 give brief
account oil the 'sllnd' "thepeen Of the Antilles
The following condersedIkclch we find in the
New York Globe:
The name of Cuba is \ aboriginal one and
was in use when Columbi discovered the island
in i472. Cuba IS the mcfeslerly Of the group
of islands known as iY antilles, and not only
III. largest in the CaribYaa sea but larger than
all The other West Indk Islands together. lis
greatest length llowlg the curves, is 500
miles; ITS breadth IS veIyfregular, varying from
l35 10 % miles, and IFS estimated thut there
are, on lis coast, al leaslhity port. aud anchor
ages, safe and easy osacsc,s OF these, tho
harbor Of Havana is III, 6lesl in The world -
Tho entrance is very ngDw, but opens into q
magnificent bay, cupabI OF accommodating a
thousand ships OF the largest class, and there is
al all times such depth dw,.er tha, vessels of
the largest tonnage com, " 10 the quay.
Tn. island IS trayersd through its whole
length BY 4 range Of mon1a ni, sumo OF which
attain The elevation Of s,sot feet; ard the ine-
rior is we'll walcrcd ty numsous lleso ard apid
streams, which take heir Gs in the mountains
These streams ahouLd n f." fish. and formerly
brought down in their bid uu inconsderablr
quantity o: gold dust Theshores are low and
tiar, and this peculiarly is resented, that along
The line Of Coast. there are ihumerah,e lagoons,
watch during The spring ibid, are filled wuh sea
water, from which arr colledrd large quantities
0! salt, for The consumption The Inhabitants.
The climate ot Cuba is Try ami warm; the
seasons are divided into raiy and dry; and The
warmesi months are July al Augus!. Wien The
mean temperature is from 81 deg. 10 g. 'grees.
The general range OF HE ihIlmvmctrr in Sum
ncr on the lowlands is 90 leg 10 95 deg. Fab
TeHheii; The coolest mcnlhs ne January and d.
cember, when The cold ia represented 10 be 10
deg, less lhan under the equator. There is IN
allei nation "f lard anal sea 5retZss which ia The
dry srhsun tender the @rallrr cool md agreea-
de- Inc coas' Is ccnaldcrs unhealthy, the n>
lcriof the reverse. Travellers speak in the
highest terms q: The interior OF Cuba, anu depic'
in glowing language The bEuIy Of the scenery,
The ved Ire Of lEe foliage aid heritage, and he
soft and balny character d The Atmospheric
The elevated position OF the inferior, lis sanbri-
Gus air, aud pefpeinal!y smial climate, attract
va!eiudinafiRns from all pas OF the world.
Tae area Of Cuba has been estimated a, 81 0o0
square miles The poruluou is l.400 000; ol
which Gl00UD are whites, 100 900 are tree color.
e., and Zoo 900 slaves. The imports in lS47
were S32 $50 10, OF witch s7,g499.G were
from The U. States. Tfa exnuiis during The
same period were s97,95cT7O OF which ST..
80 .SI7 were 10 the CnIlc States. In IS43 the
number ~ arrivals a. lis ports was 3,7i0 and
the numbe! OF cleaIances 3446 The am 3un, VI
American tonnage emp.oved in The lrace with
Cuba is 41g 773 'ofs
Cuba has 1875 mic. D! railroad completed and in
successful operation, al. I'll miles in course Of
construction. Abnnt lwt-fihs Of lis surface is
cultivated. on The remaining hs, now
unused, one ; pr, baby worthlts, leaving one
hall OF its agricultural Te,9urces undeveloped.-
The Climate is s. genial that il yields Two crops
4 year Of lis Productions. Il ais abound, ia ma.
icIais Tor manufacluIin, purposes, and lis
mountains contain mines o. copper, which are
worked To considerable atvan.asc.
Al cne time Tx is:ant II Cnba yiri!cd y the
Sp4Ei:h Gown net f,vcnuc ii tour millions
c.aiya a possesssiion. Tae trade from GAIA 10
the Eac is vsly gfest. and m ~ Of il is carried
on in a nerican bhloms..
Ii r., dad OF New York gives detailed cx,
position Of tie enormous turlhen OF taxation and
oppressive tariff 10 which lie Cubars are subject
ed Cuba contains about COO, 0CU fee inhabitants,
and these are forced to supper, Spanish army
Of Is 600 men, besides tho expenses Of Govern
meal officials. The taxation, direct and ind.
rect, amou6ls TO about so head per yenr.-
Look Of the following fact
Little less than fourth part more Of that
which i, wrung from the number of $4,000
free inhabitants. suiiices to sustain oil tho or
penses of the government of these United
States, in which are counted moro than 20 mil
ions Of Inhabitants
Blu, to know the monster Of tyranny under
which the people of Cuba groan, lei The follow
ing restrictions only be read; and Jet they arc
only portion Of Tho evils.
"Can il further be- denic that our farmers
have TO pay 3; per cent. on srgar and 10 per
cent on their other harvesis, when gathered
The samo as all engaged in rai.ing live stock
for all their cattle, exclusive Of the charges
arising from an expectation, "a before indicated
THAT every inhabiIanl is compelled 10 ask
for license and pay for The same, even in case
he wants 10 go the distance Of single mile from
the place OF his rc.ldcnce.
Gina, he cannot remove his residence from
enc house into another. wi hont giving notice
previously OF his iareaiion IN The authorities, un'
DIR The penalty o! heavy fine.
That he IS not permitted 10 lodge IN his house
Ior single night, any Pcfson. either naive ~
foreigner b. The same his trend or member ol
his family without giving the same Information
a. H.
"Tdat he may not have in his house any com.
pany or Amusement! Of Any SORT, ii he does mol So
liciI, obtain aud pay tof license (53,5o) or he
must submit 10 bc tnnic, Tor m iniraclOn nt tie
regulations.
'Tha, ne pays 10 6. per cent of The value o
any slave, or any Properly, in Town or country
tina, he may sell, besides al Other charge:
Of No;arics, OF registration, OF stamped paper
&C., &c.
That some months ago an order was receive
b. The Captain c. neral uf;he island, prohibiting
plrcns from sending lbcir children 10 The Unitei
S.acs ior poses ui education; and that srcf
parcnts are now driven 10 The expc'iient OF RI"
ving i'll health or leigh il in ihei' chidfen in or
der 10 ub.ain passports Ter l.eT'.
The article thus concludes in the true spirit o
sincere patriotism, and with an appeal that rnu'
have its eilsc; on every soul animated with th'
principles II the Libeny which has come Il
rs hallowed and bap'ised in our iore-ahsrs
blood
"Can it finally be drawn in doubt, that he
prcsumpluous conduct Of the Colonial govern
mcnt, helng as suspicion, as it is clownish in il
antiques, and a. lyranpical as II is cowardly
has already preclpi'aicd into an unt'mel,
grave many father of friilJi Among
them were many w.o, 10 their dungeons, from
want OF patience, or the medium of sons
narcotic have passed into eternity. Amoos
uhem there have beer sach. also, WIN, no
being able 10 bear up against the terrible
information that price was eel upon their heac
as upon that of some criminal, of heir house
having b.cn Ieyelled, their families insulted
their property seqaes!ered. have o't their rea
SON, aud have exp pred in friShtful delirium
pursued BY the shades of their lo.'urers and re
pea,ing their hea t-rcndin5 cries-"I am inno
cent?! No y long. Oh Col OF marcy, dosl tho'
stay Thy averaging NJ % chas's= such accamu
lated ctiminsli,y!"
"And, IN conclusion, We leave il 10 the people
Of lie Uaitcd States, to the people who at Lex
ing n for the first time witnessed hand ul o
r. F-- 1-r1 .t-l L.