Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-04-06

sumption of the Union, for the benefit OF her lew
sugar planters.
g. The benefits to the manufacturers. No nation
in Europe has chung with so much pertinacity to
the Safeguarding colonial policy as Spain. 9th
ers have sometimes relaxed their colonial restric
tons when relaxation seemed necessary to the main
tenance of their dominion. Spain on the contrary,
has lost her whole colonial empire except Cuba and
Porto .Rico because her pride revolted at any con-
cessons. Whilst she held sway over almost all the
gold and silver mines in the world she vany strove
to dry I'D the life blood of the wealth of the world
and 10 Prevent its diffusion beyond her own borders
by rohibiting the expectation of precious metals
Such o surI folly was only not mschievous because
it was impotent. .... -.-
An official publication says
The restrictive policy Of Spain, especially as re-
CARDS the trade of her colonies is adhered to today
in Cuba and Porto Rico, almost as vigorously
when she mistress of nearly the entire southern
portion of this continent Until
the system itself is abolished and Spain adopts the
more liberal commercial policy which characterizes
the present enlightened age-until she follows the
example of Great Britain, Belgium, Holland, and
other neighboring countries in removing all unne-
cessary shackles from commercial enterprise-the
commerce of Cuba, not only with the mother coun-
try but with the United States and all foreign ma
tons, must remain has during the past quarter
of a century, crippled restricted, and struggling.
The last tariff for imports and ex-
ports of the island of Cuba commenced to be en-
forced in 1S47. Foreign merchandise in foreign
bottoms pay, some 274 per cent, others 33t per
cent; foreign merchandise in Spanish bottoms from
foreign ports. some l9a per cent, others %! per
cent. The same rates of 19A per cent. and 23l per
cent. are levied upon foreign merchandise coming
from the Peninsula in Spanish bottoms. Spanish
goods coming in foreign vessels pay, some l4a per
cent, others III per cent. All Spanish produc-
tons and manufactures Except jewelry) that come
| in Spanish vessels pay = per cent. An additional
per cent. has been laid since this tariff went
into operation. - Comm. Rel, vol. 8, p. 1861
A careful inspection of the tariff, in detail, has
been made, and it was found that almost all the
more important productions of this country are
charged the highest rate-364 per cent-and dis
ordinations made against by over valuations
It is wonderful that our manufacturers should be
able to send any of their fabrics to the island in
the face of such impostions and determinations
| Whether they are or not, and to what extent are
! not known, but it is believed that the amount is
very limited The importation of manufactured ar
ticles into the Island from all quarters, in 1854
amounted to about $l2, 100000. This amount GER
,anly would be secured to them by change which
would enable them to introduce their goods free
whilst all others were charged our regular tariff
rates. As, however the population of the island is
exclusively agricultural and is increasing rapidly
both in numbers and in wealth, largely increased
demand might be looked for, especially under more
liberal system of commercial exchanges; and Cuba
would probably prove to be their most valuable Gus
toner, taking millions of their fabrics, and threat
ening no rivalry Whilst this would be profitable
to the manufacturers it would be eminently bene
fetal, in national point of view, aiding to settle
the heavy balance of trade against in our inter
course with the island
| In 1858 We imported from it S2T,214S46
Whilst We exported to it only Il, 1873, 1877
Leavin, a balance of 12,fS1,679
Perhaps there is no more appropriate conneXi on
in which to state that in 1852, when trade
| Cuba considerably less than half what it wa
| 1853 the Spanish government collected from It
1888. 120 of revenue. At the same rate it levied
on our trade of 1858, S7,6O0,0O0. What increase
| might we not expect in trade when relieved of
such impoStions Its ability to exist under it at
all is proof that if free. it would be susceptible of
almost indefinite extension.
8. Benefits to the navigation interest. The de-
vices adopted to exclude foreign shipping from en-
gaging proftably in the carrying trade Of the island
are vexatious and oppressive in the extreme.
The dferential duties in favor of trade under the
Spanish flag and against the flags of other nations.
are exhibited in all the extracts we have already
made from their tariff The same policy is adopted
not only in regard to all imports but also in their
export regulations.
charges and dues, in all which heavy discrimina-
ton is maGe in favor of Spanish vessels. For near
ly thirty years this government has been endeavor-
ing by negotiation and by retaliatory legislation to
induce relaxation in favor of shipping but its
efforts have not been attended with the least meas
ure of success Our minister at Madrid wrote to
Mr.. Marcy, in 1853: "Since my reception at court.
have had several interviews viii NJ. Calderon. I
find him i'll inclined to favor any policy that might
| - Is 81 p-.tI,
| United States. He sets no great value on the ad-
vantages which his countrymen might derive from
free intercourse with us and views rather
danger whatever is likely to promote it, This is
probably the general feeling of Spanish politicians,
at least of the old school, and it is futile to aim at
any advantages for our citizens. in the island of
Cuba so long it remains subject to Spanish law.
The determinations against our shipping can be
better appreciated from their effects than from an
enumeration of them in detail.
The total commerce of Cuba, import and export,
for the year 1854 according to its custom-house re-
turns, which are said to be 25 per cent. under the
truth was $64,o7s,30 800, employing 1872 vessels of
about 1.0OO,OO0 TONS From the proximity of the
seat of this trade and the nature Of the exchanges
between Cuba and other countries our ship owners
ought to enjoy the carriage of nearly quite the
whole of it. In the absence of determinations
against Them their superior skill and enterprise
| would enable them to secure its monopoly
The following table will show how far the repres-
sive energy of Spanish legislation has driven their
sails from their own doors to seek employment in
distant quarters of the globe.
Let the mariner when he lies paralyzed and shiv-
ernc in the frozen seas of northern Europe floats
lazily on the yellow waters of Asia, where every
thing around him bespeaks man and nature dormant
and stationary, turn his thoughts to the soft atmos
phere and rich vegetation Of the tropics. There he
will see the Spanish sailor-the petrifed semblance
of the bold mariners of the same nation who discov
cred this continent-protected by bulwark of leg
isation to keep of ntrnders enjoying without merit
the prize which ought to be the reward Of skill and
enterprise.
Number Of uessels entering the ports Of Cuba from
1848 to 1854