The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-01-15
TRADE WITH CUBA AND CHINA.

the Indies and South America, reference
was made to the immediate importance of
some change in our commercial treaties
with Spain i'll regard to Cuba. There is
something anomalous in our trade relations
with this rich and prolific Island SO near
our Gulf Coast. 1t is not that we are COM
PEELED to rely upon it, in a large measure,
for the Sugars and Cigars We annually con-
sumo, but that in the exchanges for twenty
four millions Cuban produce, we are not
permitted, under the arbitrary navigation
and impost laws Of the Government at
Madrid, to enjoy tho ordinary reciprocity
between enlightened commercial nations.-
Cuba consumes vast amount of Flour and
provisions, not of its own growth, nor of
American production, except to very lmi-
ted degree. The export of Flour to Cuba
this year is only $3.50 barrels, and not the
first bushel Of Wheat. Of Lard and Rice
the Island taken 81, 100000 in value. Of
all other provisions less than half million.
The principal exports are Slaves and other
Lumber, and Castings for sugar mills. to-
gcthcr s3,l2e,0O0. For the rest of the
seven millions which the Island buys in cx-
cl'age for its twenty four millions of Sugars,
Cigars, DC, it is made up Of furniture,
smoked fish, and few incomsitlerablc items
OF cotton and other manufactured fabrics.
Everything Of American growth and indus
try which can possibly lie dispensed with
or superseded from any other quarter by the
policy of the Home Government, is kept
out by highly restrictive or prol,il,ory du-
tics. The Island, without the capacity to
grow its own food, or the ability to E,bri-
cate lis own wares, It's restrained from trad
ing with its nearest market, in order that it
may he made to yield the largest possible
revenue TO the SpanisI, Crown. The right
of Sovereignty to impose such restrictions
may not l'e controvcrtctl, but the policy is
neither just to the Island nor liberal to the
United States as its largest and most valua-
blc customer.
AS a commercial question, therefore, a
Treaty of Reciprocity. or the purchase of
the Island, is likely, at 10 distant day, to
assume as much If not more real imror-
tance than the political issue. We cx-
planned yesterday the practical effect upon
our Gold resources of the present UNEQUAL
trade with the Island. This may possibly
Lc borne, without Inconvenience, a few
years longer, but there are two important
contingencies, which in our day Of ability
20 spare forty millions ycur in Cold to
the Indies, ought not to he overlooked.-
One is, the possibility Of the partial failure
of the California mines the other, the
probability that our extravaganza in the
consumption Of European goods may, in a
few years, run ahead of our ability to bal.
a"cc that account with Cotton and Food.
a short crop at home, or supcrabun.lant
ON all over Europe, including the Baltic and
Black Sea grain districts: again, since the
peace opened to Western Europe, would
bring about such difficulty. This year
we shall probably send abroad $G5, 100000
in Gold, or about S4,oOO,o0o in excess Of
the product of misunderstanding the
latter at SCI 000-against S5s, lO 900
produced last year. The peculiar condition
Of money affairs in Paris and London early
in the season, has so hastened the remit
tances since July that they reach about
$35, 100000 for the first half of tho new
fiscal year, against $44,l4s,ooo for the
whole fiscal year 1856. 1t is easy to see
that nothing but continued and unbroken
good fortune with our crops and mines can
prevent the golden tribute we pay to SPAN
on Cuban account, and to China Brazil,
from becoming r most inconvenient tax
upon the financial resources of the coun-
try.
Our commerce with China is scarcely
less unequal than will, Cuba. The con.ig-
uity OF the latter and its ability to take Of
our superabundance, in exchange for its
luxufies, make up the main sum of differ
CbSSs Az thc CfsoS W LHc SuINe66
our grievance is one in common with Eng.
land and France, WHO just now feel It even
more intensely through their silver ,ex.
changes will, the East the draughis upon
which from China for raw silks, as we'll as
tea, have embarrassed the money marts
throughout Western and Central Europe
To this connection we find the following
paragraph in ther Paris letter of tile Com
smercial Advertiser, received by the last
mail; 4
- But smother expedition is spoken of,
which siljjihtesestl psr,icnlaHs sGthe iUnited
States, and thai isans expedition on the part Of
Engixnd and iFrapce Ngainst Chjus, j. i ,is
r.nored that = very large and formidable
fleet Is 70 leava in ihe snriss az ;.iie China
psosts % give aasistaneesto missionaries Who
have been nal II Int county, 8 3, and
saEthe same time 60 attSmnt tie nofSos;al;nn