Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-01-31
VOL. xx..-.NO. %

then, lndeed, would 1t be short-Slghted pollfi&<
to acquire such colonies, wfrirh we would hoii
by the uncertain tenure of European toteran.
For my own part, am unwilling TO- increase cd
Navy single gun beyond what Is necessary foS'
the service of the country in its present esnd
tion. The people are already sufficiently tascdS
and the Navy is already, in my opinion, mot
of adequate appetite. The conviction that WI
cannot acquire Cuba securely without vast in
crease of the Navy, is an additional obstacle I'd
my taking any steps in that direction.
But it may be said it will extend our coml
merce. admit this. The annexation of ,Cub1>
would furnish an increased market for. certnirss
agricultural productions Of the middle d,uorthl !
western States, and the manufactures of tho
eastern States and to the extent Of this ihcreas-
ed trade; and even beyond thunder the prefer.f
ence given to our own vessels in the coastingt
trade, the shipping interest of the North would
be benefited Under the influence of thcseI
several causes, and others which could be pre-
sented, have no doubt the free States would
make great deal ofmoney out Of Cuba, if it il an
nexcd. Though see the North would reapagold-
en- harvest from Cuba, yet cannot, however
great may be the interest take in the increase
Of nothern wealth, forego the, objections Ehare
10 the annexation of Cuba on other grounds.
Besides, while consider the advantage certain
great forms Of industry at the North would de-
rive from the admission of Cuba, | cannot forget
that the admission Of Cuba might paralyze the
vast slave interest at the South engaged in rails
ing sugar When am told that the arncxaiion
Of Cuba will extend our commerce, reply
First. This mere moneyed motive is out-
weighed, in my mind, by other more important
and more elevated considerations
Second. That this adxantagee may be attain-
cd, TO considerable extent, by Il course ofpulicy
short Of annexation, by the modification of our
own commercial regulations and those ofSpain
and Cuba. To understand my meaning on this
point, must briefly refer to the nature Of our
commercial relations with Cuba. The duties on
foreign vessels in Cnba are 81 SO per, lon;. on
Spanish vessels. sixty-two and half centspcr-
ton. The duties on foreign merchandise import
ed under the Spanish flag, are from seven to
nine per cent. less than En foreign vessels, ex-
cept few articles paying specific duties. one of
which is -four, the duty on which, in favor of
the Spanish aTS, is fr,m 81 to 81 SO per barrel.
The United STATES, in order to coerce Il repeal
of these regulations, in 1882 passed nm nvt by
which Spanish vessels coming fr m & uba were
required to pay the samerate ofduly ontonnagc
that was levied on American vessels in Cuba.
In the same mistaken spirit of retaliation the
United States, in 1884, enacted that Spanish
vessels coming from Cuba should spay,z in dnes
ports of the United Sntes, such fnfrher tonnage
duty, in addition to tie tonnage duty already
payable, as should bc equivalent 10 the amount
of discriminating duty that would have been i'm
posed on the cargoes imported in the said YES.
selI. if the same had been exported from The
port of Havana, in American bottoms and fur
tlier. that before such Spanish vessel should be
permitted TO depart from port Of the United
States with cargo for Cuba, such vessel shnuld
pay such further tonnage duty rs shsald be
equivalent 10 the amount Of discriminating duty
that would be payable for the lime being upon
the cargo, if imported into the port of Havana
in IN American vessel. The discriminating du-
ties above alluded to amount To about eght per
cent Tho result is that Spanish vessels leaving
our ports with cargoes for Cuba, have to pay
eight per cent more than if they imported Tho
same cargoes from any other foreign port. In
our anxiety TO monopolize the lrciyhtS we have
los', to very great extent, the sale of the mcr-
chandise. Under the influence of our acts of
1882 and 1884, the imports into Cuba. in Span
ish vessels, from the United States, amounted,
in 1919, IT, only $1,000, whereas the Imports
from England for the same period, in Spanish
vessels, amounted 10 S43453OO. That this
striking difference is mainly attributable to our
own regulations is obvious, from the fact ,l,at
England stands on no more favored footing in
reference to the commercial regulations of Cuba-
than the United States except her freedom from
our own enaciments. For ten years preceding
1882, the average of forrign merchandise export
ed from the United States to Cuba, was 81 $685.
600 in lS49 the same class of exports amount
ed only to $4,000, Of which only $1,000 was
in Spanish vessels In 1851, the valne of cotton
goods sent to Cuba from the United States,
amounted only to $4,000, while the amour. for
the same period from Europe was nearly S3,.
100000.
1t is evident we lave greatly aft cted our COM
merce with Cuba by our acts Of 1882 and 1894
Let us repeal them at once. II ia time t. aban-
don this policy of retaliation. We should fur
thpr exercise our diplomacy with Spain to get
some modification OF her restrictions. Let US
seek commercial reciprocity with Cuba instead
of annexation. The first, believe, BY iudicons
conduct, we might attain the second We cannot
but BY force. BY the first We will attain SUBJ
stantiay all the moncyed advantages Of annex
alton, and escape its polilica! objections and
dangers.
The whole argument for the annexation of
Cuba, in a national point of view, may be sum.
med up in the four propositions have been con-
siderins,
!. More territory.
2. More population
8. Military position.
T. MoEo commerce.
The first three have no merit OH the contrary,
are full of disadvantages. The last has somc
merit, but is entirely outweghcd by other nd.
verse considerations. | conclude, therefnre on
national grounds, that it is inexpcdicnt 10 annex
Cuba.
propose now to consider the annexation Of
Cuba as southern measure; for il is supported
by many at the South On this ground and, un-
less greatly deceive myself, hope to be ablo
to show that would be, under existing circum-
stances, most periious measure to the South.
How could tho annexation of Cuba benefit the
South? To. answer this question understand
ingly, would refer to the case of rexas. How
did the annexation of Texas benefit the South!
for admit it did so greatly. The entire advan-
tages TO the South from the annexation of Texas,
may be comprehensively stated in two PROPOSE
tiens. First, it furnished wilderness where the
people of the South could go and improve their
conditions. Second, it furnished stable polili.
cal community, reliable upon the slavery issue.
Would Cuba fulfil these requisites? / think
not; clearly not the first because Cuba is an old
settled country, settled before any part of the
United States. It was discovered by the great
Columbus himself, and has been the flvorite seat
of Spanish power for centuries. 1t is not only
civilized, but populous; the population is vari-
ously estimated from one million two hundred