The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1859-02-23


Northwestern States, through New orleans, ana
along the very shores OF Cuba, cannot nne sa.
mittSnce there, because of discriminating duties
against us, levied by Spain, amounting to nearly
or quite one hundred per cent. These consid-
erations are OF vital interest to the people whom
have the honor to represent, and are alone
sufficient, in my estimation, to require that the
Government OF the United States should toler-
ate no obstacle, whether of diplomacy or even
war, between us and o reciprocal interchange OF
production.
The aggregate of taxation directly imposed on
foreign sugar and molasses, consumed in the
United States, during the last year, as shown
by the report of the House committee, IS So
246, 1884, and the enhanced price of Louisiana
sugar and molasses, caused by the duty OF TWEEN
ty- four per cent. on importations, amounts to
an additional taxation Cndirect) of almost two
millions more. This, in year OF magnificent
crops at home, is what we pay for the produc-
ton, in Louisiana, OF one hundred and seventy
five thousand tons ofsugar, or (say) fifteen to
eighteen IN iion dollars in value. 1.-THE Gov
ernment OF the United states be under obiga-
ton to "protect" the planters of Louisiana, by
insuring them specific price for sugar annual
", how much more sensible would it be to adopt,
at once, the policy Of Holland toward ker colo
nsts in Java, purchasing the entire crop, each
year, and reseling even at loss Of three or four
millions? That would save the consumers
one half at least, OF the burden now impos-
ed
l have noticed in several newspapers an ap-
peal to Congress for the taxation OF tea and cot-
fee. Sir, those articles are taxed already, and
taxed enough. What difference to the many
who would drink cup OF tea or OF coffee, ,wheth-
er he pays twelve'per cent. on the tea or the
coffee, and twelve percent on the sugar with
which it is made palatable, or pays twenty four
per cent on the sugar aloneI
On the other hand, as sugar is only produced
by the labor Of slaves, andwe have forbidden
the importation Of slaves from abroad, while the
frican slave trade as well as the Chinese slave
trade flourish in Cuba, it has been fairly argued
that as we have increased the price Of slave la
Dor in Louisiana by legislation for reasons OF
wise and humane policy we ought not to re-
ward the nhumanity, the bad faith, and the tur,
pitude of Spanish authorities in Cuba, by an G.
oual access to our markets. The way to avoid
this alternative--to be just toward Louisiana
and toward the consumer Of sugars to annex
the island of Cuba to the United States, and
thus bring it within the operation OF our laws
for the suppression of the slave trade.
But sugar is not the only article in regard to
which an inequality Of trade exists with Cuba
On all expectations, except sugars there IS dis
elimination Of thirty-thrse to one hundred per
cent aga inst us. In the Report on Commerc ial
Relatiods, volume 8, page 127, it is said in re-
gard to the Spanish tariff on the exports oi
Cubn
"Eaports:-By the tariff of 1847, sugar in for
eign bottoms pays 371a cents box; in Spanish
25 cents. Coffee in fore ign bottoms pays 20 cts
bag; in Spanish IL cts. Tobacco in foreign
bottoms pays $3.50 per hundred pounds; in
Spanish Is cents. Cigars (no discrimination
50 cents per thousand. Gold Of every descrip-
ton exported in foreign bottoms to foreign or
Spanish ports, two and quarter per cent. on
valuation of SIG per ounce; to Spanish ports in
Spanish vessels, nothing. Silver any descrip.
ton, in foreign GA Spanish bottoms to any for
eign ports three and a quarter per cent. on val
uation ofS16 per pound; to Spanish ports in for
eign or Spanish vessels, three per cent. and one
per cent ballanza.
"By virtue of the royal order, before mention
ed, of November 8, 1885, published here 18th
December OF said year, and which began to be
enforced in respect to expectations on LIST Janu-
ary, 1851, the following additional duty is lev,
led upon exported produce: so cents per box OF
bacco, or per thousand of cigars"
Turning from exports to imports in Cuba, the
discrimination is even more remarkable. Thus,
on page 126 Of the same report, find:
"1he last tariff for imports and exports oi
the island Of Cuba, commenced to be enforced
in 1847. The import duties on articles Of eve
~ description are levied upon fixed average
value ofthe articles on the island. The valua-
ton is specified in the tariff Foreign merchan-
disc in foreign bottoms pay some twenty-seven
and half per cent; others thirty. three and a
half per cent; foreign merchandise in Spanish,
bottoms, from foreign ports, some nineteen and
half per cent, others twenty three and a hal
per cent. Fine jewery is excepted; if foreign,
coming in foreign bottoms, 1t pays seven and a
per cent: if in Spanish bottoms, five and a
half per cent. Spanish jewelry, coming either
in Spanish or foreign vessels, pays only three
and a half per cent. The same rates Of nineteen
and a halfper cent. and twenty three and q
| half per cent are levied upon foreign merchan-
disc coming from the peninsula in Spanish bot.
toms. Spanish goods coming in foreign vessels
pay some fourteen and half per cent, Others
seventeen and half per cent. All Spanish
productions or manufacture, with the excep.
ton of jewelry as above stately that come ii
Spanish vessels, pay seven and half per cent
And now comes (page 127) paragraph wei
worthy ofattention:
"The above does not include -four which BY
virtue ofseveral royal orders, pays the following
\ rates:
Spanish -four in Spanish bottoms. 90 per barrel
| Spanish flour in foreign bottoms. 500 6
Foreign -four in foreign bottoms -. $50
! Foreign -four in Spanish bottoms.... $50
"All -four pays, besides two per cent. on The
valuation Of $12,50 per barrel, and one pei
cent. balanza.
subsequently one half per cent was addet
upon all imports; and still later, (19th Decem
ber, 1850, by virtue Of a royal order dated Be
November OF same year, an additional increase
was laid on, to last for two years, Of one and I
half per cent. on valuation Of all foreign imports
and one seventh to be charged over and above
the amount to that time paid on Spanish i'm
ports This increase was to cover certain ne
cessities OF the government. The two years
went by long ago; the necessity may have pass
ed: but the additional percentage is still exact
ed" AI 4H-
1t thus appears that every barrel Of -four in,
ported from the United States is valued at S12,
so for the purpose Of taxation,and is taxed $10,
IS. Accordingly, in 1851 there were imported
| into Cuba only two thousand one hundred anG
J two and a half barrels OF -four, .tf the value
J, SIG, 6,281 rs. on which duties to the amount o
| $40, 704 SO were levied. Commercial Relations
Iyol, 8, PIP l28,) dIzasl
!: The valuation Of S12, so per barrel seems t.
have been adopted for5the purpose Of avoiding
the, effect Of our treaties with Spains species
OF refined iniquity, like the "hcme valuation, J
often proposed to us, but happily repudiated
from our first tariff actiuptil the present time
When youconsider that the U nited States hold
geographically, toward Cuba, the relation OF the
nearest exportsrsf four,this practical exclusion
OF us from her market. such o discrimination
of duties. cannot BE- otherwise than unjust and
offensive in the last degree. Nor is ii an aeci.