The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-11

that account the cesson OF Florida 10 the Uniied States
made the subject oil excited debate ia the Parliament
OF Britain Spain was greatly censursd for making Inc
cesson while she prolessed TO be an ally OF Ehsahs
aud the conduct of the ministry IN permitting ~ 10 oe
done animadyerted upon IN terms equally severe
Nor without authority from our own oihcels
Comm odores Rodgers, Perry and laitnall nave all aue
reports showing the immense importance oil these po'
and their absolute command OF the guf trade Commo
dore Pore repeatedly expressed like opinions. based upon
practical experience while he was IN connana oi ehe
Mexican fleet Gen Toten has submitted 10 the Wa De
partmenl an elaborate report to the same effect ana Lieu
tenant Maury, in OF the abes papers written by num-
shows conclusyey that no vessel under canvass Can
leave the gulf without pat sing In sight oil Ior'usas an"
Key West and estimates the amount necessary 10 COM
pele the forhcatlon at these points al something iess
than two millions OF dollars.
1t thus appears that it the part OF economy as well as
OF honesty TO fortiy our own possessions ana leave our
neighbors in ungisurbed enjoyment OF what belongs 10
them II is surely better TO appropriate S2oooooo 70
complete Forts Taylor and Jefferson than 10 expenid
90 900 600 in the purchase OF Cuba, or uncouheu NH
lions IN its subjugaon and conquest Nor would the
heavy outlay rendered necessary by either mode OF an
nexaton cover our whole loss We derive now Itein
duties upon Cuban imports an annual revenue OF *oooo,-
900 Sc 900 900. Ii Cuba be annexed that revenue
ceases entirely Higher duties must be LAID on other ar
,ioIes and we shall have renewal OF me alscon.enls
chickering's, and dssensions which attended the passage
of earlier tariff laws am not IN Inc haolt OF using
arguments addressed TO the North or TO tue South no
argument be good one winch does not address seI
to the hole country and the statesman whose patriotism
limited py State line unsafe leg Tor great peo-
pie But sectional appeals have been made and 20
meet them In aspect IN which can look az inls
question does present any appearance but mat OF nu
Ty to the South. II Cuba came IN as slave stale,
would give us additional political advantage, no addi-
tional political power The once-cherished dream OF
southern statesmen of maintaining balance of power
in the Senate of the United States has been completely
exploded. The North has already obtained preponde-
rance and that prepondeTance will be increased from
year year. What We have lost can never be reganed
For the maintenance OF our rights, and the preservation
OF privileges, must look TO other sources-to the
good sense of American people, to their deep love
for the institutions under which live, TO their innate
OF right aRd justice and to the certainty that any
serious encroachment must be followed by convulsons
which would shake the continent.
Cuba, as slave State would not restore the balance
of power, and is therefore politically of Importance
In apecunary point OF view. would be oppressive and
burdensome in the extreme. II would bring power
full rival into direct competition with the most profitable
productions of the southern States Remove the duties
now levied upon those articles which come from Cnba,
and their culture in the southern States will soon scken
and die The present tariff upon sugar is highly pro-
tecve, and its removal would prove grevous burden;
but there even greater danger 10 be appehended from
its increased production Spain has been sumberng for
a hundred years. Not long since met an intelligent
Louisiana planter in Havana who assured me that be
had traversed nearly the whole island, that he found
IN its fields but one modern plough, and IN Its mills
scarcely single modern Improvement His opinion was
that if Cuba belonged TO the United States, its produc-
tons would be quadruped II that opinion be correct,
as doubt not is no one can ia to see the disastrous
effect of annexation upon southern agriculture.
As long as Cuba remains in the possession OF Spain
will be OF inesmabe advantage to the United States 10
commerce of the Gull States could be poured into lis
harbors merchants would be found there ready to par
chase buying in neutral port and reshippng In neu'
trail vessel they would be safe from the danger OF cap
ure and thus of the greatest hardshps OF war would
be almost entirely alleviated. Our previous history is
pregnant with proof 10 this effect Daring the embargo
of Mr.. Jefferson shipped TO Florida then Spanish
colony about eight thousand bales OF cotton. As soon
The embargo removed those shipments ceased en-.
urely In 1914, during the war with England we shipped
Florida about thirteen thousand bales OF cotton. In
1885, when The war had ended not solitary bale These
figures show how great was the advantage OF having
neutral power upon our borders, and how much suffering
was avoided which otherwise have been endured
The vast increase OF the Gulf trade renders such an out
let OF far more importance now than al any iormer Pc
nod, and il is difficult TO estimate all The advantages
which may flow from it.
Let me turn now 10 a general view OF the sub.
jec Cuba has population OF one million two hundred
thousand inhabitants OF these about SIX hundred thou
sand are whites; little more than two hundred thou.
sand free blacks, and the remainder slaves, most OF
them of recent importation. Ii the island OF Cuba were
turned over TO us tomorrow without cost, with inns
heterogeneous population, how is II 10 be governed
Not OF them has ever exercised the right OF suffrage
No, one of them for moment felt the iron hand Of
military despotism relaxed They could not be trusted
govern ihemseve.. The habits and the prejudces Of
centuries are not to be shaken of in an hour. They
would still; cherish deep seated attachment for the
spendor OF royalty and deep contempt for the plain
republican government which wonld supplant il. TO
such a people a constitution and State government after
American models would be curse, leading inevitably TO
anarchy constant disturbances, and daily scenes o vo
lence and bloodshed
Another imposing difficulty is to be found in their
tablished religion With us that could not continue.
The magnificent ceremonies which they have been
cusomed 10 see, surrounded and protected by the full
strength of the law would al lose that protection
and the cowed priest, whose thes paid TO him
legal right would find himself dependent upon the
charity OF his flock whom therefore he would have every
motive 10 render discontenled and turbulent Who
estimate the effect OF this upon ignorant, bigoed and
supersulious race speaking different language
toned TO different laws, despisng institutions, looking
upon with jealousy and fear This blow a, reli-
gon which has been transmitted 10 them from century TO
century would dssIpate the last hope OF cordial union
between the races and render IL nearly certain that in
order 10 govern Cuba peaceaby we must first make il
solitude, and then people il with emgrants from the
States.
Bu sir, II every other objection 10 the OF
Cuba were removed there would still, exist almost
insuperable officially the number OF free blacks who
about the island. Ignorant and vicious, they
would be found ready instruments in any work OF ms
chief Mnglng freely with the slaves, they woald be
constantly exciting the latter TO nsurrecon and revolt,
and thus render the lives sof the planters every
insecure. Ii may be asked why these evils not now
felt In some degree they are; ; but they are felt less
sensby because over these the Of her sub
ieets, Spain maintains sleepless military rule. They
turn in no direction without meeting company OF
infantry troop OF horse and the certainty with which
heavy punishment follows suspicion, even operates
efectual check upon their vicious propenstes With
us il would be wholly different. There would be no
soldiers 10 overawe them, no military executions to keep