Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-01-27
MIR. Keltt on Cuba.

The Washington Union gives the following re-
port of the remarks of Hon. L. NJ Keitt, as de-
livered in the House of Representatives (Com'
mittee of the Whole) on Wednesday, 18th lnst''
on the "Acqusiton of Cuba -
Mr. Keitt, of South Carolina, argued that the
inheritance of the Island of Cuba was sufficient to
;ns,;fv the struggle necessary 10 sieze and hold it.
its peorra phical position was peculiar. 1t was the
pote to the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, csntrol-
led also the West India seas, and in the hands OF
strong avail power would make the Gulf Mexico
n mare clausum In contained thirty millions OF
souare acres. of which eight millions were in cuf'
,iyntion The imports of the island for series OF
wears we're twenty eight millions, and the exports
thirty one millions, giving an annual production
of ffty-uine millions, without making any allow
ance for the productions of the labor of African
slaves, and the smuggling so extensive aud uni
yersal all over the island. With these Included,
they would have an annual productive value OF
more than eighty millions Some put 1t at one
hundred millions. The total imports into Cuba
from Spaiu were little over seven millions from
the United States little over-six millions; from
Great Britain six million, and from France two
| millions. The exports amounted-to Spain, three
millions: to the United States, twelve millions !;
England. eight millions, and France three millions.
| The schedule Of importaions into the island EN-
braced of provisions, Sll,378.2I4. Was not
every part of the coniederacy interested in that
Was there IN interest within the limits OF the
Union not embraced in this article? The manu-
| factories amounted to over seven millions, and
had the North no interest in that? The tariff
| upon many of these articles had been raised toSO
| 100. and l20 per cent.-so high that while Spnln,
stricken and beggard as she is with her own peo-
ple almost starving, exports TO that Island hVe
Al h,r IfnI
States sent out hut five thousand barrels. Strike
off this tariff, aud what would be the amount OF
interest which every section of the Union would
| have in the commerce of Cuba? The navigation
interest of the North was also deeply Affected
There we're 3,9lS vessels engaged in the carrying
! trade of Cuba the world over. OF these the United
States furnished 2310; Spain but 90l England
34S. and France 126 and out of a little over live
hundred thousand tonnage. the United States con,
tributed two hundred and fifty thousand. Was
not then, that portion of the United States inter
ested in the shipping business, vitality and deeply
interested in the acquisition of Cuba, for 1t was
only by its acquisition that they could strike the
shackels from its commence!
There were two mods Of acquiring the island
one by purchase and the other by conquest. He
believed the United States could not purchase it a;
first, because Cuba is II productive source Of rev.
dollars per nmnum, all expenses deirayed; be
cause il is the defence of her colonial possessions,
and because out Of that revenue, she detrnyS all
the expenses of her consular aud diplomatic sys-
tenn on this continent; and looking back, he be
lieved there was something more powerful-the
traditions and pride OF Spain. Against this sale
protested the traditions OF the grandeur Of That
period when the Spanish empire was worldwide,
and against this sale protested that pride, as
naughty now rs on the day when Grimaldi sought
! 10 menace France And what would be the risk
of acquiring the island by war? Could it he done
without conflict with Great Britain and France
Both have guaranteed to Spain her sovereignty
over the territory of the Island, anu the gathering
of their fleets in the waters Of the Gulf and Car
ribean sea indicate no disposition to recede from
this guarantee.
With France he could understand it. Louis
0 Napoleon, with the relcutless ambition which
marked his distinguished kinsman, wishes to es-
-tahlsh splendid colonial empire in the West In
dies To create and establish this it was necessa-
ry that the power of the United States should be
crippled ur hemmed in. With his baud upon the
very throne of tropical empire, his army would be
invincbe, and his hand would clutch the sceptre
Of universal commerce now passing TO us and
when he shall have consolidated an empire, thea
the very power which be had made instrumental
in crppling. the United States Tquld undergo sub
iugation. But the policy OF Great Britain was
only explicable upon the theory of subservience
to France. He believed her diplomacy had placed