The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-03-02

Our Balance OF Trade with Cuba-New
Compilations or the Cuban Quossion-
should Cuba be . State OF the Unisns
The Importance of our trade with the island of
Cuba is becoming daily more evident and now
that the failure OF the sugar crop in Louisiana
has forced us 70 procure the greater part of our
supplies of that necessary article from the West
Indian isles, the restrictive tariff and navigation
laws that weigh upon our commerce with Cuba
are beginning to be felt as serious evils. The
system of protection on one side and exclusion
on the other, established by the Spanish tariff in
relation to our cotton goods, meats and bread
stufs, assisted in part by our own unwise retalia-
tory, legislation, interferes greatly with the
natural exchange Of commodities between our
selves and the people of Cuba, and creates an
adverse balance Of trade that is puzzling to
statesmen and onerous to the merchant. The
probable amount of the balance against US this
year, in return for the sugar, molasses aud
segaTs imported from Cuba, is estimated to be
somewhere between ten and twelve millions of
dollars.
An interesting letter on our trade with Cuba,
from Mr.. j. S. Thrasher which we publish in ano-
her column, throws great light upon the exist
ing tariff and navigation laws that tend to ere
ate this state of things. Two countries whose
respective SOIL climate, labor staple productions
and proximity Enthusiastically point to great in
tercbange of products between them, are driven
to distant and inferior sources to seek their nat-
raj supplies. While our traders are sending their
ships into the Indian ocean in quest of sugar
tho Cuban merchant is driven to England and
Germany for his negro clothing, to Spain for his
-four, and to Buenos Ayres for his meats To
cap this folly of economical legislation the Spa
nish government, which receives its own gold
coin in Cuba at six per cent above its standard
value-doubloOns which are coined as sixteen be-
ing current at seventeen dollars-refuses to admit
the gold coinage Of the United States to circula-
ton Our cotton goods, meats -four aud coin
being thus excluded from Cuba, we can only pay
the balance against us in Spanish doubloons, and
of these enough cannot possibly be had.
This state of our commercial exchanges has
brought a new complication to the already intri-
cate Cuban question In addition to the ques-
ton Of defence to our Southern waters and the
outlets of our great Western rivers which all ap.
preciate, the admission of Cuba to the Union and
the consequent removal of all barriers to her
trade with u.s. is coming home to every mans
pocket. Our people are taxed millions upon Il e
tropical products we receive from Cuba, creating
q revenue We do not need, causing embarrass-
ment to the government and stimulating corrup-
tion among the barpies that hang around it, Its
value to our domestic commerce is also evinced
by the numerous lines Of our steamships watch
stop there in their several routes
But there is yet a more import ant coasidera-
ton at the present time than these commercial
Mexico has serious points Of diff
ference with Spain and with England, and i.
threatened with a war with one at least Of these
Powers Cuba is the key to Mexico. So true is
this, that even France when she resolved to attack
Vera Cruz some years since, concentrated her fleet
at Havana, and the Prince de Joinville sailed
from thence to lombard the castle Of San Juan
de Uloa. Should either England or Spain de-
clare war against Mexico, the political considera
tions that concentrate around Cuba would in
crease in intensity, and it might become the
scene Of disturbance and perhaps conflict.
We will not consider now how these political
what action it might force upon IL. There is
another point of view that comes more directly |
home TO us and To the world. The London Tines |
has laid down the axiom that "what the world |
demands Of the negro race is the production of |
cotton We will add sugar 10 cotton--the one |
is quite as necessary to the world as the other
When We contemplate the great effect the loss of |
the Louisiana crop has produced everywhere, We |
can but recognise how important il is to all civi.
lied countries, and particularly TO our own, that
the sugar culture of Cuba shall be preserved, |
producing as II docs twice as much ~ Louisiana |
In this economical view alone II becomes IN. |
cumbcnt upon our government 10 he prepared |
for action, aud TO take every possible step TO |
prevent future difficult complications Of the Caba |
question. The greatest and most complete step |
that could I've taken, and enc that would solve |
oil political considerations, balances of trade.
ard questions of defence would be the advent Of
Cuba to the Union as a sovereign State by |
peaceable purchase and negotiation. II would |
lie tmnently popular move, while the opening |
Of home market Of three or perhaps five mil.
lions TO our cotton manufactures; one of two |
ard half millions doubled 10 our lumber men, |
end one Of ten millions Of dollars opened to the
products of the West, would give great i'm
pulse to our trade.
OUR NEW PREssEs.--0ur two new five story |
mammoth ten cylinder presses are finished. We |
paid visit on Saturday afternoon TO the manu-.
faotorv nj Mocerc II Hoe n r. ... ~ II