The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-29

Cuba and Ats system OF Government.
That during the last twenty five or thirty years
there has been constant improvement in the con-
dition of Cuba is incontrovertble, and many are
disposed attribute the fact TO the fostering care
Of the Spanish crown. Such, however, is by no
means the case, for all advance is 10 be attributed
TO the fact that, by the importation OF slaves It's
physical power has increased. Leaving the right
and wrong of slavery out of the question, II Is IN
disputabe that any government which disregards
the spulations of treaty, and which encourages Its
officials To accept brides for doing cannot be such
benefits any people in the midst of such century
this That the slave trade is fully recognised
in Cuba smuggling into France, and pice uersa,
is recognised in England is proven by the fact that
in the harbor of Havana, under the guns of the for
midable castles of the Moro and Cabanas, am an
chorage called the Casa blanca is distinctly recog-
Missed appropriated to slavers. Stranger still, it
is within few cables length of an armed hulk sta
toned by the British Government in the harbor of
Havana to protect those officials il has established
the guardians of the apprentices in its own colo
MES, and the recruits for the West Indian negro
regiments.
The last census of Cuba was made in 1899, when
the population was 100, 900, since when estimate
that il has doubled at least OF this 400 000 one
half white, and the remainder of every
country and class in the world As for law in Gu
ba, il is unknown. Judges and lawyers abound,
but the will Of the captain general can at any time
any cause from its cognisance to the juris
diction of the councillors Of the captain general.
This official, the first in dignity of the Spanish
crown after the royal ministers, and always
grande de Espana de primera clase-one of those no
bles who may stand covered in the presence of the
descendants of Ferdinand and Isabella--is the
military head of the whole island and the civil head
of that portion of Matanzas. The eastern por-
ton of the island is under the civil control of gov
ernor, who, in that point of view, is completely
independent of his western colleague.
The whole island is divided into three military
departments, the commanders of each of which are
appointed by the captain general. The supreme
court (Rea Audiencia) is presided over by the capi
tan general, subordinate to which are the ayunta-
mientos of cities and towns the chiefs of which are
the acades and intendentes The officers of these
courts well paid, but are generally supposed
to be very ignorant, even of the principles of
that Justinian code, and mixture of Gothic law,
which is the basis of the procedures of the real
a,ldisncia. The expenses of litigation produce
in the minds of the people deep aversion to it,
The government is most expensive. For long
time all charges met by the mother country,
and salaries paid from the royal treasury
All this is however changed. At the end Of the last
century, the total revenue about S. 100000,
and in 1880 it exceeded $9,0O0,000; in 1910 it was
nearly $l2 100000, and in lS47 nearly sl3,OOO0OO
of this scarcely real is expended on the island
except that disbursed by the troops and officials.
Havana, until recently, the only port in
which foreign trade was permitted and therefore
became the place of establishment of that elegant
and refined coterie of French, English, German,
and American merchants, who contribute much
to its society. Subsequently, however, Santiago,
Gibora, Baracoa, Matanzas, and Manzanilla ac-
quired the right. One redeeming trait in the gov
ernment is the facility extended to foreign mer-
chants to establish themselves, which they do with
out let or hindrance. special law provides that
all aliens naturazed in the mother country be
looked on Spaniards, and that aliens not natr,-
rallied shall enjoy the same privileges which the
governments of which they are citizens or subjects
allow to Spaniards. Every foreigner is required to
find bail or cauo for his sovency and appearance
before court if requred and if he wish to engage
in trade, he must be matricuiado or initiated Free
persons of color excluded; and the law is en-
forced even regards sailors, if they be not on
board of national ships The business of a broker
like that of notary with us, is held by commission,
and the number is limited in every town. The fol-
lowing few of the provisions of the tariff in
force:
"The duties of 49, and 27l per cent. are on for
eign goods, imported in foreign vessels, from for
eign ports, the specified valuations. In Spanish
vessels from foreign ports, and foreign produce
and manufactures imported directly from the pen
insula in Spanish vessels, however, those at 49,
per cent. pay 10, and those at 27l per cent. per
cent less. Spanish productions and manufactures
of the same class those charged 33l per cent.
from foreign ports imported from the Peninsula in
IA, and IN,
ish vessels 20 per cent less; and those of the
description the foreign articles, which charged
27s, pay 10 and 20 per cent. less, excepting rice,
which is charged 80 per cent less and flour So per
Dbl. Wine, brandy, and all kinds of liquor pay,
besides that mentioned additional duty of SO
cents per pipe, % cents per half pipe or hid, and
IL cents per dozen jars bottles. All imports and
exports pay, besides the mentioned duties, per
cent balanza upon the said duties, except Sp -four
cordage, tafia, moasses, sugar, and cigars
"There is also export duty on coffee of2O cents
per quintal, sugars 37l cents per box, cigars so
cents per thousand, tobacco so cents per o., &c"
There is also imperfect warehousing system
which provides that importers of Cuba shall also
enjoy the privilege Of kind of warehouse SYSTEM
the provisions of which follows
All goods imported in foreign vessels exceeding
eighty and in Spanish sixty tons burthen, except
perlsnaDle provisions, bulky articles and liquors,
may be put in deposit for an indefinite term, paying
one per cent inward and one. per cent. outward
duty on the valuations in the tariff each year When
entered for home consumption, they liable to
the corresponding duty. The purchaser who
ports is held responsible for the outgoing duty
Paper money is unknown Doubloons Of Spain
pass in commerce for ST. and others for SIG
Their respective parts bear proportionate value
English guineas and American eagles current,
but at a small discount. The unit of coin is the
real; articles being sold at not many dollars
(pcsos,) but at 40 many reals az, cents) per
fanegd or GAIA.
There a time when Cuba built many mag
nifcent vessels; that day has, however, gone by,
and the navy yard at the Havana is almost de-
serted. Some admirable ships yet in the British
navy Spanish kcels, built at this city, and cap
tured during the of the French revolution. DC
casonally ship is now repaired at this yard, but
for long time scarcely brigantine or gtmda-
costa has been built The difficulty hitherto of OBJ