Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-09-09
J eHerson Davis OH The Cuba Question
20 ould Cuba be Annexedto south
ern GnnCederucy

In his recent speech 10 the State Conven-
ton of Mississippi. Mr. J ffrrson Davis took
up, among other questions that ofthe annexa-
ton of Cuba. The matter had formed the
subject of one of the resolutions of the Con-
/ vention, and that body had endorsed the
policy of the President in placing the qucs-
ton on the ground OF commercial and politi-
cal necessity, which, in the event of an at
Il mpt to transfer the island to any other
foreign Power, would become absolute.
This policy, as Mr.. Davis himself acknowl-
edges, is ''as broad as the Union, and free
from sectional or partisan faint as the spirit
in which the constitution was ordained and
established" But he prefers to look at the
question in its sectional rather than lis nation
al light. and to descant upon ''the importance
of the island of Cuba TO the Southern States
if formed into a separate confederncy. 1t is
precisely on this point that the Southern de-
magogues, of which Mr.. Davis is so versatile
a leader, commit the grOssost error. They
are continually contemplating the Importance
of Cuba 10 q Southern coHfederacy, but II
never enters their heads to consider the great
er fact, that Southern conederacy would
not be Of the slightest importance TO Cuba.
If il were possible for these men to sever The
union of the States and to attempt the estab-
lishment of Southern Coniederacy, Cuba
would cease to gravitate toward the Cont
nent. She is attracted now by the centrlpetal
force of the Union; but the moment that
should ever cease to exist the conftderatlve
power would cease 10 act upon her, just as 1t
would cease to act upon all the Southern
States; and instead af witnessing the annexa-
ton of that island to Southern coniederacy.
we should witness the utter impossibility of
establishing a Southern union. Free the
Southern States from the centripetal force
that now holds them in harmonious system,
aud each State would fly, off at a tangent,
impelled by the centrifugal force of its own
interests.
In such an event Cuba would undoubtedly
lean towards the Northern States Dema-
gogues may talk about political necessities.
but political necessities are born of and nnr-
tured by material interests. The moment
that political necessities cease To be in bar
mony with those interests. from that mo-
ment they cease to exist The material in
teresis of Cuba attract her to this Union, but
the moment il shall cease 10 be a UnioH then
her interests will draw her nearer to the
Northern States Maine sends her lumber,
fish. cooperage. stock, boxes for her sugar,
ice for her wines. and thousands of tons OF
shippingto convey her products 10 market
Massachusetts sends her u few domestic
goods aud might send her a hundred times
more but for hostile tUrif'-soap, candles,
chairs, aud Yankee notions by ship loads.
Rhode Island and Connecticut send her POI
taioes, onions. cheese. hoops, ana oceans Oh
garden sarse.T New York exports 10 Cuba
machinery. dairy rrodue fruits, yeseiables,
paints, oils, drugs aud every article OF hand
fabric. Pennsy lvania sends her coal aud
iron, with the patent leather, saddlery, car
riages, &c, OF New Jersey, and all the kniek-
hacks of Philadelphia skill. Ohio sends Der
lard aud limited quantity OF bacon. IA
ingrnioi.s tariff excludes the -four oi the W est
and The domesiics of the East
But when We come to the South. what do
we find sent from therv: A few cargoes OF
piich-pine from Wilmington. Savannah and
Pensacola, aud little rice from Charleston
That is all. Add the return commerce shows
the same proportions as the outgoing. The
sugar. molasses, tobacco, honey aud gars OF
Cuha come TO the North la by lar The laTg-
esi quantities. IL L. evident, therefore. that
Soulhern confederacy presents 40 attractions
for Cuba. and should such thing ever lie
established il could never iBdgce the people
OF that island To uniie with thcgn in The con-
s,ausnt conflict OF Interests that IL would
create between the North aud the Sonth-
We ADVISE Mr.. JeiicrFon Davis "a think. be
tore iie y = anything mae about ann,Sing
Cuba 10 a Southern eoHi,deracy, v her
such a thing could present any attractions TO
Cuba. We see very clearly that II cannot,
aud that IL the Union were dissolved Saea
would Ia all probability prefer 10 be indie
lict.deut ut both Northern aud Southern
deasa.s,suss---A. y. Llsuhd