The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-30

OF preventing difculties between the United States
and Great Britain. The benevolent intentions of
the President can be easily and perfectly ef-
fected by an agreement with Great Britain as 10
the visitation Of This agreement can be
such way to .be perfectly honorable to both parties
and under such an agreement few small vessels
manded by active and dlgent officers, fully Of the
sincere desire and earnest determination Of govern
ment to put down the African slave trade would be all
that would be necessary the part the United States
TO be that this African slave trade quite as much ndebt
ed for it's existence to the negligent manner which the
laws and treaties Of the United States executed
rather not executed as to the demand for slaves in Cuba
The second reason alleged by the President favor of
the acquisition Of Cuba is its necessity the safety Of the
The island Of Cuba position commands
me NOUN OF me Mississppl and the immense and annually
noble river embracing the sovereign states Of the
Union wh WI under the dominion Of distant foreign
posed 70 the dsnger Of being destroyed war
has been subjected perpetual injury and annoyance
JAMAICA, The BAHAMA ISLANDS THE BRITISH CANADIAN
PROVINCES WANTED
believed that the President Of the United States is
IN error in this matter or, not in that he has at
cessary in order that the United States may be safe
and free from moestaton East Of Cuba lie the Bahama
islands, and south and east the islands and
Domingo, which, the United States had Cuba, would still
command the immense and annually increasing trade,
foreign and coaswse not only of that noble rver-the
MissIssippl-but also Of the noble island OF Cuba
is much necessary present security
commerce than that Of Cuba The great body Of the
merce 70 and from the Gulf of Mexico passes along the
southern coast Of Cuba through the channel between Cuba
and Jamaica. Cuba is owned by Spain-a government
weak naval power, and whose ports might be easily
shut up by our feet in case of war; whereas Jamaica be-
longs TO Great Britain the leading laval power of the
world and fer that reason the possession of Jamaica
much more important TO the safety Of commerce
than that OF Cuba. Great Britain, too quite distant
from the Gulf of Mexico Spain and when difficulties
in the West Indies between the United States and
Great Britain we are obliged TO negotiate about them
either in Washington or London. The British Minister
moreover, has no right to make treaties settle difficult
tins in nr
cases frequently arise where compelled TO wait
till he write to London and receive But
this not ALL The possessions Of Great Britain lie along
northern boundary all the way the continent,
from the Pacific TO the Atlantic ocean, and endanger
our safety the whole way Her possessions also in New
Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, from their
geographical position, command the main body Of
commerce with Europe. IT, thcn the theory of the Pre-
sdent be correct that necessary acquire Cuba
safety is still more necessary ior our safety that we
should acquire Jamaica and the other British possessions
in North America. But is manifest that, under all the
circumstances the fears OF the President Of dangers to
our commerce, arising from the possession of Cuba by
Spain groundless. Great Britain and France
much to each other than the United States and
Cuba and either is much more formidable Power to the
other than Spain is TO the United States and yet would
surprise the civilized world to hear either Of these
Powers aege was necessary TO its security that
should purchase or conquer the territory belonging to the
other.
The truth is that we do not require Cuba for the sake of
security and if it in the possession Of Great Britain
France should probably hear little either of offers
purchase or Of threats Of conquest for the sake of
wisely entirely safe with the territory have. If
we manage them unwisey, the ownership Of Cuba would
only add TO the general confusion
SPAIN AND ON SALE
There remains TO be considered another reason offered
Whilst The Of the island would bs of va vast G
portance to the United States its value TO Spain is
paratvely unimportant" In other words, Cuba would,
in the Presidents opinion, be worth TO than Is
to Spain, and therefore wrought to have it, any such
theory this TO be adopted and acted upon in the
United States the standard with regard to the rights of
property, practical results will probably flow from more
wonderful and more unexpected even than would be the
acquisition Of Cuba by purchase from Spain. But
at present we shall stand the theory of the rights of
property generally understood throughout the civil
lied world, and upon that theory is complete
Cuba belongs 70 span and that she is not willing 70 sell
or to art wth on any terms Spain herself the
aposer her own S pFSpsr1 and has the absolute right
stances for any consideration From the history more
over Of the attempts to 'acouire Cuba it is hardly pos
sibe that any should believe that Spain will sell it, or
that offer TO purchase the part OF United States
will be looked upon anything else than insult
mere pretext for subsequent attempt to take the island
by force.
The President says "our relations with Spain, which
ought to be of the most friendly character must
ing colonial government over the island shall remain
in its present condition" In opinion the President
may easily maintain friendly relations with spain by re-
training from offers to purchase threats to conquer
Cuba. The moment the Spanish government perceives
that he has laid aside ahoughts of acquiring Cuba and
desires mereySo foster Amcable commercial inter.
IT will doubtless be ready to ashm to the utmost
Of its power. suspicion and mutual com
plants we shall have the interchange of benefits and
tual condolences Spain docs notask purchase or con-
quer territory from flor thef sake of her security al
houghperbaps thefeaf Of danger would quite as rea-
only to initiate the conduct of Spain in this respect in
der to render relations with that government of the
friendly character which he desires
But SPAIN MAY SELL, WHAT THEN ?
But on the supposition that Spain would sell Cuba,
we DO not approve Of any attempt to purchase it
elements in the United States, that for some time to
will probably he difficult enough to carry en- the
government with the requisite degree Of harmony. The
acquisition of Cuba at present would add the difficulty
and ii would not be wise in 10 go our way To
seek unnecessary trouble Even the hope Of great and
from the puachase Of Cuba is probably altogether faIa
cious. The of Cuba is set down AZ 27S square
miles, and its population is said to be million
Her population to the square mile then must be nearly
great as that Of Virginia. The lands worth owning are
and have been for generations in the hands of private
owners The United States would acquire by purchase
nothing the political control of the island and would
be charged with its protection and defence in return for
the right to levy taxes and duties on imports In all pro
baby the income under the system of the United States
would not by any means defray the cost The taxes
levied by Spain said to be enormous; but no such
necessarily be very heavy We should be obliged TO support
very costly establishmer surrender the island as
prey to disorders little ort Of those of st. Domingo
Mexico In the present tate Of finances $500 900 900
much TO pay the privilege of expending many
hundred millions II is not proposed by any one
that in this acquisition private rights of property shall be
chase of the island from Spain, person the United
States would acquire right to settle in any part of
cep upon purchase rent from the present owners We
should acquire as above stated, nothing but the political
control Of Cuba by purchase. In that view Of the case it
important TO consider the character of the present popu
laion Of the island. 1t is said to contain over half
million whites, about two hundred thousand free coored
people, and about three hundred fifty thousand or four
hundred thousand slaves The following table shows the
area and population
THE SOCIAL ErKsENrs OF CUBA, AND THEIR DANGER
Humboldt states the the island 10 be 43 $50 geo.
graphical square miles.
Turnbu puts it, with its dependencies at 80 sO1 square
miles see History OF Cuba, by N. NJ Balou published
in 1s54)
Cotton puts it, with its dependencies, at 47,27s square
miles.
POPULATION As STATED BY COTTON IN 1854
Whites observation-disclosures. sol oss
Free colored. 176,647
Slaves ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 330425 |
Total o9o6o |
OF the whites there were;
'paniards .............. .............. 10000 |
CaDarylslanders. $4,000
french Observation-Disclosures. 5000 |
english OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 1000