The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-08-31


The outbreak in Cuba. and the interest excited BY
~ make IT proper for 10 tell our readers some
thing OF the position of that country. We cannot e
INTO the political history and the political condition O.
that country. because the space at disposal will no
permit US 10 do So
The island OF Cuba is about seven hundred and sew.
enty miles in length, varying in width from twenty
FIVE TO ninety miles A portion OF the eastern part Of
the island is mountainous of the mountain peaks
being and eight thousand feet above the level
OF the In this division OF the island the mountains oc
cupy great portion of The space but the valleys between
the mountains and even the sides of the mountains to
considerable extent are most fruitful and productive OF
those tropical products which 80 valuable in the COM
merce of the world
The Indian population OF Cuba, when first discovered
by Columbus in l492, about two hundred thousand
That population had of the TOOLS MEANS or appli-
ances OF agriculture; yet with genial climate and
fruitful SOIL their necessaes were more than supplied
But the great value of Cuba has been derived from the
intellect OF the East AT its first discovery the sugar
cane was almost if Not entirely, unknown as source OF
usefulness or profit In proof of this only
to state that the sugarcane cultivated until $780,
and that slave labor to cultivate the cane was unknown
until 1854. In the mean time. the Spanish authorities
had reduced the Indians TO species of servtude inf
niiely worse than slavery The most casual reader OF
history cannot have failed to notice the utter subiugaon
and practical enslavement OF the aborgnes of Cuba even
before the landing of Corez the coast of Mexico
Humane men. like Las Casas, endeavoed to mitigate the
hard fate OF the Cuban aborignes but their exertons
attended with practical effect Laws and DEGREES
were obtained, but the hard servtude of the Indian
remained Even the humane recommendations of Cortez
himself gave them practical succor. Cortez was
man of war-of vioence-but he had no enemies be.
yond the battlefield His powerful support to the phi
lanthropc efforts OF Las Casas bught not to have been
without results; but unfortunately they were and the
native population OF Cuba degraded below the level
of slaves
In 1862 the English took Havana by escalade on the
left and rear of the Moro Castle The blockade con.
tinued some me but If are correctly informed less
than four thousand men, with cannon took the Cas-
tie. The men and guns dsembarked to the left of
the Moro. The guns en6aded the road from Havana,
while the men scaled the walls in the rear.
Cuba lies between 90 deg. IL min north latitude and
10 deg 43 min north latitude Its length. as have
already stated is about ITO miles, and its breadth varies
from 25 to 30 miles. AT any point the island man is
not as miles from the sea- This fact, considering the
great produclveness OF the island, would make il the
most valuable island of the ocean But independent of
this. Cuba lies opposite 10 the Keys OF Florida The Gulf
pours out between Cuba and the Florida
south of Cuba the current sets in to supply the Gulf
stream consequently the north coast OF Cuba commands
the outlet from the Gulf while its south shore mands
the inlet to the Gulf The north shore of Cuba is the
southern bank of the Mississippi river The argosies
which float the western waters not free TO spread
their sails until Cuba is left behind them Even in the
Gulf they are land-ocked Sailing south by Cape Car
toche, and coastng Yucaan, they must meet a current
six days in the week, and then double their distance
any point on the Atlantic seaboard They hardly dare,
sailing east TO 20 between the Windwad islands and the
southern coast OF Cuba Sailing west, they may safely
follow sixtymi current.
This island, happily situated, is not yet effectively
productive We mean by this expression to say that its
enormous surplus produc, does stimulate industry and
agriculture The ntabilants Of Cuba borne down
by the most onerous taxation The captains general are
sent TO Havana like proconsus TO make their fortunes
by oppression and taxation. Last year the production
OF Cuba paid a tax of than twenty three (nearly
twenty. hve) millions OF dollars to the Spanish gov
eminent A large portion OF this enormous
expended in the pay OF an army Of 10000 men-,he
account, and for a definite consideration giving coun-
,enance and commercial encouragement 10 the slave
trade.
OF the twenty four millions of in Cuba only two
millions OF acres under cultivation, three millions
under natural, and half million under artificial pasur-
age Fourteen millions OF in woodlands, and
four and half millions in barren lands In The Western
Department one fourth Of the land is barren one.ourh
in woodlands and half equally devoted TO cultivation
and pasture In the Central Department, about third
barren one thirty seventh is under cultivation, and
one. eleventh in pas,ure-,he balance is in woodlands.
In the Eastern Department, about one.twtlfth is under
cultivation in pasture, twothirds in woodlands,
and one sixth barren
Our space will not permit us in this article fully 10
discharge the task we undertook At our earliest
venience we will complete work. unless the pens Of
others should furnish with such account OF Cuba
A. will be satisfactory to the public eagernes 10 gain in
formation OF the true condition of things that mag
nihcent domain.
Fr.s-son state Convention In Ohio.
This body sat a, Columbus the 2is instant Hon j.
r. Gddiags presided. Hon. J. NJ Root offered resolu-