The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-09-08
CHARLOTTE, N. G, FRIDAY MORNING SEPTEMBER 6, L
From the Richmond Enquirer.
Cuba and the United states.

From the Richmond Enquirer.
Cuba and the United States.
De BOWS Review contains an interesting letter
from John S. Thrasher Esq, upon the important
and vexed question, now the Interests o LOUISIANA
would be affected by the annexation OF Cuba to the
United States. Some Of his facts are strong and
his arguments marked by clear common sense.
Ii seems thai The Industry Of Cuba is almost entirely
absorbed in the sugar cane and the tobacco plant.
and its attendant labors; the necessary supplies
for its consumption come almost entirely from
abroad. The writer presents tables satisfactorily
sbo wing that, while New Orleans is the great ex-
porting port OF nearly all the articles OF ood i'm
ported into Cuba. and is the one most easily &C.
cessible 10 both the producer and the consumer,
very small proportion of them is imported into
Cuba. Thus from The United States there we're
in three years imported only 5,642 bbls. -four
under the onerous duty OF $lO.el per bbI., while
from other places there we're imported 22s,OO0
bbs. under the smaller duty Of $2.5 per bbl. OF
lard there were imported 10. 193 $40 bbls. under
duty of 81. 80 per q.l; while there were lm-
ported from Europe S,45l 300 OF olive oil under
a duty OF 81 cents per qll. These unequal fiscal
imposilions change the natural current OF trade.
and -four, instead of being brought from the
cheapest market in the world. is sought the
other side Of the Atlantic; olive oil of the most
inferior quality is enabled to compete largely with
lard for domestic purposes, and of 34.53l 1853
pounds of meats consumed. only 2, $50 ,259 pounds,
or fraction eight per cent, are imported
from The United States. With a lower system of
duties, who does not believe that the revenue OF
the government would be increased and the COM
merce of the island greatly augmented! Mr..
Thrasher estimates, upon sound grounds, that the
great advantages of New Orleans for this extended
commerce, would attract very large portion oi
the trade and that the increase value of the trade
accruing to New Orleans by charge to liberal
fiscal system in Cuba would not be less than
twenty five millions OF dollars annually or nearly
one.6Ih ot their present export trade. 1t is easy
TO conceive the vast commercial benefits that would
accrue to all portions Of our Union from the throw.
ing open Of The ports Of Cuba.
The effect Of the annexaIion OF Cuba upon The
great staple of louisiana sugar, is also an interest.
ing question that has called forth much discussion.
Mr. T. shows that the product Of sugar to the acre
in Cuba differs very slightly from that in Louisiana,
while the difference in the amount produced per
hand is even less than the difference of product 20
the acre, and is probably favor OF the Louisiana
planter from his improved system Of culture and
betrer care and feeding Of his hands. The great
elements OF the less cost Of production of sugar in
Cuba than in this country, consist IN the superior
cheapness Of labor, and the lower value Ol land
there. The average value of field hands in Cuba
is $500, while in Louisiana their value is $1,000
and the mean value of land is far less than in
Louisiana. These constitute almost the entire
advantage of the Cuban planter, while he labors
under disadvantages in other respects, such as The
cost Of his supplies, which is greater from his
greater distance from the place Of production. The
annexation OF Cuba would at once bseak down the
present nefarious system Of importing large num-
befs OF savage negroes from Africa, which menaces
the safety Of society, and It would, by cutting of
this source Of cheap supply, cause an appreciation
in value of the slaves. An equalization Of the
value OF the slaves in Cuba and the United States
would also be brought about under system of
Tree intercourse between the two countries, and
the smaller mass in Cuba would be the most af:
lected and :her value would advance there. A
similar appreciation in the value Of lands Of Cuba
would necessarily result, and by this double
operation the cost Of The agricultural products IN
Cuba would be augmented, removing some OF the
important constituents OF the product Of cheap su-
gar there.
But, admit that these views of Mr.. Thrasher are
not correct-and are thoroughly inclined 10
thnx with Mr.. Thrasher that the annexation OF
Cuba would have the great advantage Of giving US
cheap sugar, while we give them cheap bread-we
think that the annexation would make the United
States the great Sugar grower, as il is the great
cotton grower of the world. Under the swelling
power of our moral influence, relaxations Of the
fiscal regulations Of other countries (nearly all Of
which treat sugar luxury would be obtained,
and its consumption thereby vastly increased TO
the great benefit Of the produce. We shall not
canfne ourselves TO so narrow a view as The
benefit to the South that must surely accrue from
the annexaton--we look out in The broader light
of its immense beneficial consequences TO the
commercial interests Of our whole confed edefacy and
to the cause of good government everywhere.