The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-18

hree months renounce his Protestant religion, land
declare himself Roman Catholic, is an instance Of
scoTns to practise. An American merchant, who il
Protestant, cannot engage in business here unless
he decides TO violate his conscience by making
false declaration as to his religious belief, or re-
This ilhberality is entirely inconsistent with the
spirit OF those commercial treaties that should
exist between the United States and other nations,
and especially az regards near neighbor, with
whom the commercial intercourse 10 so valuable
and intimate. You may be told that the govern
ment permits another person, an agent. whose
business It IS to procure permits Of all sorts,
for fee, to make the declaration and oath for
affirm for him he afhrms himself. The proxy pri-
vilege merely offers loop hole, through which one
might squeeze conscience that would hesitate
boldly to advance to the charge, this, lest many
the large fee that is charged for letter Of domci-
lation. Opening a roundabout way toward the
same end of renegadeism and perjury, this, on the
part OF the government, is nothing less in effect
than bidding high for perjury, and offering pre-
MUM for immortality and crime.
This illustrates what have before said OF the
tendency of the laws here being demoralizing,
based upon superstition of evil interpretation
of good might possibly exist among the governed.
The American Bible Society shipped TO Havana
quantity of Bibles. Upon their arrival they were
on the manifest, and were duly entered for i'm.
declares that certain books J" are contraband,
and requires that all books imported be submitted
to a Junta, who shall, in quality OF censorship,
decide whether the books submitted are admissi-
BILE Here the law ceases its expression. No pro-
hibition 10 specified or defined by the law, and no
penalty imposed. The Bibles above referred to
were passed upon, and declared to come within the
category Of " certain books" double duty was
imposed, apparently one for Importation, and an-
other laid on for expectation fine was ALEC I'M
posed, as it would seem, for violating the law in
introducing prohibited books, and then they were
offered to the cOnagnee for reshipment out of the
country. He, on advice of the American Consul,
abandoned them, rather than pay larger sum than
the original cost Of the books
CLEARLY, here is a cause of grievance affecting
the commercial interests of the United States, and
calling for the int rference of that government II
the published laws of Spain, accessible to the COM
meIcsl men of the United States, had existed, de-
clarpg the above condinons and penalties, the liza
bilty would have been wilfuly incurred, and the
penalty merited. As such was not the case, and
10 prohibition nor penalty was defined, no law pro-
hibitiDg the importation of those books up to the
point OF their entry al the custom house. was in ex
istence, and the steps up TO that point had to be
taken in order to test the question OF the proprety
of the Importation in order to call the law into
istence; and until the Junta had taken the subject
into consideration, and passed their judgment upon
the case, the Importation was not ntraband nor
illegal. Their decision put the seal upon the law,
and thereafter only did II have an existence. The
shipment was made in good faith, innocent of
wrong, the Bibles being openly entered on the
manifest, and by the consignee for importation.
Under these circumstances, all that could have
been required of the constgnee, was that he reship
the Bibles AT once to the owners, paying such land.
ing and storage charges as might have been in
cured. The imposition of what may be classified
as an import duty, an export duty. and fine, were
illegal, unjust, and arbitrary impositons. They
violated the CONNIE rclal rights OF the United States
robbed her citizens, and insultsd her tire ates.
In the recent case of a seizure OF lot of bibles
shipped TO the Azores, from England, and on their
arrival conf by the Portuguese authorities,
the English government were prompt and deter
mined IN demanding reparation for the injury done
TO the interests Of English subjects.
The port charges here are burdensome upon our
commerce. A vessel of less than l50 tons pat into
the poit of Havana, a few days since, merely to
her port of destination &C ardenas), and was obg-
ed to pay about one hundred and twenty dollars
charges at this port. One item was $40 for the
mud boat. The lsa de Cuba, New York packet
10 the port of Havana, of less than 300 tons bur-
then, pays, every time she enters this harbor sixty
collars for this item of "mud boat" This mud
boat, professedly kept here for the purpose of
cleaning the bottom Of TIE harbor, has lain, tor
mskths past, unused, under the walls Of the Caba.
no, and 1t is apparent that the thing is merely an
ingt NOUS conrIvance for the purpose of extortng
money at the exI ense of commerce. Not long since
the vessel name above was caught in this harbor
in norther, and being without ballast, the captain
deemed il imprudent to lie longer in that con
dton. He at once took in the neee ssary amouat.
But pounce down upon him comes an Office, with
q bill OF charRes-s50 fine for taking in ballast
without having procured permit to do so; $50 for
taking II in at er dark; ana $50 for not taking il III
out in the bay Numerous laws, regulations, and
restrictions ere made aud imposed seemingly that
they may Gas II Is quiie impossible TO svoi) be
broken, and afford an excuse for the imposition Of
8 tine--the extoriion Of money
Another ms tier calls for the attention of our go
ternment Fishing sloops are built al the North
and sent out with American papers 10 Key West.
ffNr tNhi her fhay nm ~ IN
Hosting the Spanish flag, they are received as the
fishing boats OF the government monopolist OF the
hsh market here. On returning - Key West,
.hey ale recognized as the vessels tina, came out
IA, re rom the north as American vessels, and are
supposed TO be so still. IL they do not belong 10
him, they are employed in the service OF, and for
The proht OF the Spanish monopolist here, who, by
mesns Of the monopoly he enjoys, exacts some
forty thousand dollars year from the Consumers Of
tlsh OF Havsna-of hsh, the poor mans food--of
hsh, en- article Of diet that all Glasses must largely
consume in Catholic country This monopolist
is likely to be favored in the matter OF the
admission into the harhor OF those fishing boats
that glide over from hey West, laden with his
stock, even VI they be not his property, as they
may here. Thus IT is that Spanish vessels, in
eject, are daily fishing upon the coast, in The
caTgoes into Cubs. for he advantage Of Spanish
monopolIes. VIII no American vessel Of war
B and up few Of these hshing sloops, and see if
hey be sailing with American or Spanish papers,
dgpopos Of the fish monopoly The term for which
I was grgntedIs TO xpre IN year ortwo Applica.
lon was made TO the municipal authorities for a
sneval OF the monopoly. Tney decided to refuse
q Nothing daunted, the enierrrising monopollst
urns his face toward SPAN. ne result is sho wn
a order from the government in Spin, direct
ng the municipal authorities here to maintain in
cten In this matter. as the government al Madrid,
he Queen, would decide upon the question OF a
elesse q the monopoly. 1t understood that the
ease will be rene wed.
As you are aware, theatricals and oIera have
ong been monopoliZed Creoles ano Spaniards
ave united, and obtained, after tedious application
rom the Spanish government, permission TO erect
mother theatre There ~ talk Of laying the corner
tone in he Campo Marie, on the birthday Of the
Captain Gt neral, some day this month.
The COVE rnmeat here are on tie p4i Utre. ard
muth ALARMED with fears Of an INVASION. They
have four CT hive sail, including frigat,s steamers
and gun btigs, In port here IT this time. aud larger
orCe cruising outside. Yesterday morning toe
Pzsfro sles mer Of war LEFT the harbor and yester
even continuous and heavy oannonading. which
az ed about an hour, gave indication of much
practising for naval lighting going on outside the