Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1856-12-12
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF rae ANNEXATION OF


CUBA TO TIE UNITED STATEs
We find the following very interesting article,
advocating the snnexstoa OF Cuba, in the Pitts.
burg Post It is well worthy of perusal:
We have said that the acquisition of Cubs would
reduce the price of sugar. We repeat it. Let US
see TO what extent this would operate The largest
amount OF sugar ever produced in Louisiana in
one year, was three hundred and fifty Thousand
hogsheads. Allowing one thousand one hundred
pounds to the hogshead, the whole number of
pounds would be, say, three hundred and eighty
million. The amount annually consumed in this
country IS estimated by good writers ION the
subject to be seven hundred millions pounds. We
would buy then, three hundred and twenty mil
lions pounds from other countries mainly Cuba
But this year, il is supposed that the home pro-
duct will not exceed one hundred thousand hogs
heads, or one hundred and ten millions pounds If
the consumption continues the same, we shall buy
this year qe hundred and ninety millions pounds
But we will suppose the whole consumption for
the year 1857 to be six hundred millions pounds,
and we buy one hundred million abroad. Ave-
raging the price of all qualities, and taking present
selling rates, we may state the actual price of each
pound to the consumer at twelve cents. There is
duty of 80 per cent on sugar. This adds three
and half cents to the price of each pound at the
assumed rate. This would amount on all the for
eign sugar bought as above estimated, at ST.
100000, for the year 1857. But it adds the same
to the price of the home product Also and thus
makes $2l 100000 as the increased cost of the
article to all the actual consumers Whether our
figures are precisely correct or not, they equally
well illustrate the principle.
Now Cuba, Louisiana and Texas can produce
all the sugar this country will consume. If Cuba
was part of the United States, then the home
product would supply the entire demand, but thtrs
would be no use in duty for protection at all The
duty would be taken off, and down would come
the price at once to the extent above shown, thus
saving to the consumers, in all, from SIS 600, 900
to $20,000.000, then for Cuba, the Island would
pay for itself in less than fifteen years in the single
article of sugar alone.
Now, Mr.. Reporter, since you cannot refute the
above view of the case, your only resource is to
call it cannon, pro-slsyery,' and try and find
somebody silly enough to believe you. Thisis
your only chance.
Now for the slavery branch of the subject. The
Reporter admits that we ought to own Cuba, and
that we will own it some day. But it says we
must wait till Spain aboshes slavery in the island.
When the leopard changes his spots, Spain will do
that and not till then: Now purchase Cuba and
make it State of the Union, and then would fol-
low at once an entire suppression of the slave
trade to the Island That Internal traffic can never
exist under American law; few fanatic ounces in
the South to the contrary, notwithstanding. To
make Cuba State Of this Union would mitigate
| the evils of slavery on the island.
In Cubs, as it is, slavery is far more cruel in
stitution than is allowed in any American State.
Is it of no account to our neighbor to modify nit
igate an evil if it cannot be Immediately eradca-
ted2 As to the people of the island who are not
slaves they are oppressed and plundered by ty-
| rannical government. To buy the island and
| make it State of the Union would be but to take
these people from the grasp of tyrant and give
them to themselves. Start the principle of self
government there let our enterprising people min
| gle with them and develop the vast resources Of
the island, and thus found q great and prosperous
island State
But, quoth the Reporter, it would make the
South equal to the North in the Senate. Not go.
The first State that will be admitted will be Min
nesota. 1t will be in in q few months. Then
annex Cuba, and the Senate will stand just as it
does now. But in very short time Nebraska,
Kansas. New Mexico, Utah and Oregon will be
ready for admission as free States, giving the
North preponderance it will ever retain. Nebras
ka will be divided into three or four States.