The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-17
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CUBA:
fTS COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY IHPoRrANOH TO
THE UNITED Stairs.
tFroA the New Ociesos Delta
Mr. j. g. Thrasher, Of this city, offered certain re-
soutisns in the Memphis Convention, with view Of
directing attention 10 the commercial importance OF
tho island Of Cuba sensitive apprehension thai
The subject might be made to have party tendency.
and become bone Of angry dissension, prevented
the consideration of Mr.. Thrashers resolutions He
Nas therefore precluded from laying his views be-
fore that BODY In justification and explanation of
The resolutions presented by him, Mr.. Thrasher has
written the following letter to Gen. Quitman which
commeuds itself to the earnest attention of the citi-
1eus of this Union. 1t presents. in startling light,
facts which are not generally known or appreciated,
but which are of the greatest importance to the des.
finies Of this republic Let them be carefully con-
sidered, and stored away in the memories Of our
readers.
LETTER FROM J. 8. THRAsHER, ESQ.
NEW ORLEANS, June 20, 1858.
Dear Sir-I had the honor Of presenting, at the
1ate Memphis Convention, q series of resolutions
with the design Of awakening public attention in
1he South and Southwest to the important position
viii ever continue to hold, as regards their com
.nerce. Matters, deemed to be OF more importance.
precluded the consideration of these resolutions and
they were laid on the table. In presenting to your
I an confident no apology is needed That dstin-
3uished ability which you have shown in the mill
fary operations Of our armies will appreciate the
true value of the question in its military point of
view; while the pure love Of country, which has
ever marked your career will preclude your taking
any other than truly patriotic interest in it.
Inc security and defence OF commerce has ever
Deen matter OF solcitude with commercial nations.
frrasn late
need look only to the policy that has so long marked
The career OF England. With a wise foresight her
statesmen have taken possession of many apparently
isolated spots upon the face Of the earth until they
nave formed complete chain of fOrtresses for the
protection Of her world wide commerce. Santa
Helena and the Cape of Good Hope guard one route
to the Indies while the Falkland Islands watch Cape
Horn. Gibraltar, Malta, and the Ionian Islands COM
p'etey enchain the Mediterranean. and Alden, at the
Straits Of Bah el-MaDdeb commands the entrance to
the Red Sea- and that route to her possessions in the
East. Her establishments in Australia rule the
South Pacific, while Puget's Sound and the nlets
north Of it, give security to her commerce in the ad
1accnt waters Thus has she prote cton and refuge
In every ocean, and wise care seeks to increase the
number Of her commercial fortesses and the strength
Of their position.
mercial rival, very different one has marked our
policy. Our commerce 0brOld has been left to look
after ITSELF and dny attempt to incnlc0te prudcn,
tiat foresight IN regard TO our coast has been
-Four States-Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Ala
bama, with large portion Of Florida-lie immedi-
ately upon the Gulf Of Mexico, and have no other
outlet for their products According to the returns
OF the seventh census these States PRODUCED in the
year 1850 IN round numbers six hundred million
pounds of cotton, two hundred and fifty million
pounds OF sugar, seventy million bushels Indian
corn, and ncalculabe amounts Of other agricultural
products, all Of which found their only markets for
sale and supply on the Gulf OF Mexico.
Besides these five States, which lie Immediately
npon the shore of that vast inland sea, there are
nine others lying upon the waters that pour into it.
Ihese are Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas west of the
Father Of Waters" and Wisconsin, Illinois, Indi-
ana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee east of il; and
large portion OF their countless products follow the
rolling waters to the Gulf The grain and cotton of
Arkansas, the corn and minerals of Missouri and
Iowa, tue grain and meats of Wisconsin, Indiana,
Illinois and Ohio, the tob icco and hemp of Ken
lucky and Tennessee, all find their most accessible
and best market upon the shore of the Gulf Of
Mexico and pour their agricultural wealth into the
lap OF New Orleans, from whom they receive in re-
turn the varied products Of every cline, to supply
their necessities OF to contribute to their comfort and
luxury.
The true value of this mighty commerce, which
centres thus upon the American Mediterranean, is
beyond the power OF enumeration. 1t is not to be
counted by the number OF bales and boxes and bar
Tels which it shows. It's true estimate Is to be found
in the labor Of millions OF American hands upon
which it c0niers vaue--in the thousands upon
thousands Of American homes which it adDrns with
every luxury and grace, and in the millions
American hearts to which it brings happiness and
content.
Yet this mighty trade is but the germ of futur,
deve0pement The surface Of the great Valley of tn
West is barely scratched, not TILED by the plow.
The fires of industry hlaze only here and there at
long distances. while, in many portions of the conn.
try the cleared spaces are still surrounded by vast
tracts of forest or of untitled lands. When the adj
vanciDg tide OF population shall have in some degree
filed the space cast Of the Mississippi river and ex-
fr1p 10 p-ha liz ~
that great stream, the mass Of wealth that shall
seek market upon the shores Of the Gulf of Mexico
will be vastly increased The States east of the
great river may seek. by means of railway, par
flal outlet upon the Atlantic Shore but ell beyond
its western bank must follow the rolling tide down
to its union with the ocean,
Great as is the stream of wealth thus pouring into
The Gulf OF Mexico it is still further increased by
tributaries Of unparalleled magnifcence. The mines
OF Mexico keep up silent but continued outpouring
Of the precious metals, which will be vastly in
creased when order shall have been restored in that
distracted country.
During the past year it is estimated that one hun.
dred thousand passengers have gone to California,
andan equal number returned, crossing the isthmus
routes OF Nicaragua and Panama, and seventy mill
lions OF treasure have been brought over the q .me
fne Of travel. The isthmus of Tehuantepec which
will now soon be opened, will pour all this great
trade and travel into the Gulf OF Mexico. At the
present time large share Of it passes through the
southern portion Of that gulf The peculiar charac-
ribean sea. leave no exit for sailing vessels but
through the strait between Cuba and Cape Catoche
and out through the Gulf Stream. When the Pana-
ma railroad shall be finished the trade Of the South
Pacific Ocean will be diverted through this channel.
have thus endeavored, in cursory manner, to
sketch the immense traffic that concentrates within
The Gulf Of Mexico. History has taught us to ex-
claim with wonder at the rich trade of the East and
The mighty cities which it built up. The trade OF
zhe West is far rich and has built, within half
q century. more and mightier cities than vas built
ny the trade of the East in twenty centuries The
magnificent remains of Tyre and Sidon, of Alexan-
dria and Venice, what are they when compared with
the rich cities that republican labor has built IN this
Western word2 They were the fruits of centuries
these OF few single years Of republican toll and
trade.
10 all this accumulation Of the commerce Of our
Southern and Western States, there is but one out
let and that is through the narrow strait between
Cuba and Florida. 1t must pass within q few miles
of Havana. Baron Humboldt. in work on Cuba.
written thirty years since, uses the following remark
able language
The Il i'm portsncs of The island OF Cuba IL not
eopri ed eo,ey in s superficial extent athough this