The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-12-02

value a. the whole Of our foreign trade. Is
there any reason 10 believe that Great Britain
desires t. acquire the island Of Cuba We
know that it has been her uniform policy
throughout her past history, 10 seize upon every
valuable commercial point throughout the
world. whenever circumstances have placed
this in her power And what point so valuable
rs the island Of Cuba
The United States are the chief commercial
rival Of Great Britain our tonnage at the
present moment is nearly equal to hers and it
will be greater, within brief period, if moth
ing should occur 10 arrest our progress. OF
what vast importance would it then, be to her
to obtain the possession of an island from which
she could at any time destroy a very largo ror-
ton both of our foreign and coastng trade
Besides, she well knows that if Cuba were in
! our possession, her West India islands would
be rendered comparatively vaueless. aFrom
the extent and fertility of this island aud from
the energy and industry of our people, we
should soon be able TO supply the markets OF
the world with tropical productions, at a cheap
er rate than these could be raised in any Of her
possessions.
Bat let me present another view of the sub
iect If Cuba were annexed to the United
States We should not only be relieved from the
apprehensions which we can never cease to feel
for our own safety and the security of our com
merce, whilst it shall remain in its present con
dition Jut human foresight cannot anticipate
the beneficial consequences which would result
to every portion of our Union.
This can never become local question
With suitable ratification at the Tortugas, and
in possession of the strongly fortified harbOr OF
Havana as naval station on the opposite coast
of Cuba. we could command the outlet Of the
Gulf of Mexico. between the peninsula Of Flor
ida and that island This would afford ample
security both to the foreign and coastng trade
of the Western and Southern States, which
seek market for their surplus productions
through the ports on the Gulf
, Under the Government Of the United
States, Cuba would become the richest and
most fertile island, of the same extent through
out the world According to McGrcgor's Com
g mcrcial Regulations and his Commercial Sta
:, tlstcs "in 1880, of the 46s 523 cahalleras of
4 thirty.two English acres of land which compose
the whole territory, 3S go We're under sugar,
coffee tobacco, garden, and fruit cultivation,
T and 1874 IN grazing lands and in unieei
F woods belonging to sugar and coffee estates"
1t thus appears thatin 1880 less than One-twelfth
of the whole island was under cultivation The
same author says We have no accounts OF
T. the present extent of cultivation in Cuba but
D. by comparing the value ol exporabe produce
i'll 1880 with that of 1912, and by various esti-
mates, consider il probable that the lands
under sugar, coffee, tobacco and gardens, may
fairly be estimated at 81 600 caballeras, or
ot lips 600 acres According to this estimate,
4. between oneeighth and one-ninth only of the
q whole island was under cultivation in 1912
n The author proceeds - We compare this OK
Is tent with the remaining vast ot the fertile
soils of Cuba which are still uncultivated and
the produce which the whole island at present
yields, it can scarcely be an exaggcraton to
say that Europe might draw as much coffee
and sugar from Cuba alone, as the quantity
already consumed" Mr.. McGregor states the
N aggregate population of Cuba, in the yenr SAL
& 10 have been only l007 62l but from the data
which have just been presented, it may fairly
be inferred that the island is capable Of sus-
3 tanning IN comfort population of ten millions
j. of inhabitants. Were Cuba portion Of the
u United States it would be difficult to estimate
the amount of breadstuffs rice, cotton, and
D other agricultural as well as manufacturing
and mechanical productions of lumber, of the
produce of our fisheries and Of other articles
which would find market in that island in
u exchange for their coffee sugar, tobacco and
other productions. This would go on increas
ing with the increase of its population and the
development of it's resources, and all portions
of the Union would he benefited by the trade.
Desirable, however, the possession Of this
island may be to the United States, we would
not acquire it except by the free will of Spain
Any acquisition not sanctioned by justice and
honor would be too dearly purchased While
such is the determination of the President, it
is supposed that the present relations between
Cuba and Spain might incline the Spanish
Government to cede the island to the United
States, upon the payment of "A fair and full con-
sderatlon. We have received information from
various sources, both official and unofficial, that
among the Creoles OF Cuba there has long ex-
lsted a deep-rootcd hostility to Spanish domin-
ion. The revolutions which are rapidly sue
cecding each other throughout the world have
inspired the Cubans with an ardent and ire
pressible desire to achieve their independence
Indeed, we are informed by the Consul of the
United States at the Havana that there ap-
pears every probability that the island will
soon be in a state of civil war; He also states
that I" efforts are now being made to raise money
for that purpose in the United States and there
will be attempts to induce few Of the volun-
teer regiments now in Mexico to obtain their
discharges and join the revolution"
need scarcely inform you that the Govern
ment OF the United States has had no agency
Whatever in exciting the spirit Of disafiection
among the Cubans. Very far from it, A short
time after we received this information from
our Consul, addressed despatch to him, of
which transmit you a copy, dated on the 9Th
instant, from which you will perceive that
have warned him to keep q watchful guard
both upon his words and actions 20 as to avoid
even the least suspicion that he had encouraged
the Cubans to rise in instruction against the
Spanish Government | stated also that the
relations between Spain and the United States
had long been OF the most friendly character,
and both honor and duty required that wc
should take no part in the struggle which he
seemed to think was impending. ! informed
him that il would certainly become the duty of
this Government to use all proper means to
prevent any Of our volunteer regiments now in
Mexico from violating tho neutrality of the
country by joining in the proposed civil war Of
the Cubans against Spain Since the date of
my despatch to him. this duty has been per-
formed The Secretary Of War by command
of the President on the day following June
, I0) addressed an order 10 our commanding
general in Mexico, and also to the officer hav-
, ing charge of the embarkation of our troops at
Vera Cruz (of which ! transmit you copy.l
directing each Of them to use oil proper meas
ures to counteract any such plan, if one should
be on foot, and instructing them to give orders
that the transports on which the troops may
embark proceed directly to the United States,
and in no event TO touch at any place in Cuba"
The Consul, in his despatch to me, also stated
that, if the revolution is attempted and sue
cecds immediate application would be made
To the United States for auno xation but he did
not seem to think that il would be successful
and probably would not be undertaken with
out the aid OF American troops, To this por-
ton Of the despatch | replied-knowing the
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