Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-01-29
Mr.. Keit5 OH Cuba.


Keitt, as delivered in the House of Repre-
scntatives COMMITTEE of the Wholo) on
Wednesday, 10th lust, on the " Acquisi-
tion of Cuba :"
Mr. Keitt, of South Carolina, argued
that the Importance of the Island of Cuba
was sufficient to Justify the struggle nee
cssary to seize and hold it. It's geogrophi-
cal position was peculiar. 1t was the gate
to the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, con
trolled also the West Indian seas, and, in
the hands of a strong naval pow ~. would
make the Gulf of Mexico mare ciausun,
1t contained thirty millions of square acres,
of which eight millions were in cultivation
The imports of the island for series of
years were twenty eight millions, and the
exports thirty-one millions, giving an an
nual production of fifty-niu millions, with
out making any allowance for the produc-
tions of the labor of African slaves, and the
smuggling, so extensive and universal all
over the Island. With these included, they
would have an annual productive value of
moro than eighty millions, Some put it
at one hundred millions. The total i'm
ports into Cuba from Spain were little
over seven millions; from the United States
little over six millions; from Great Bri.
tain six Millions, and France two millions.
The exports amountcd-to Spain, three
millions to the United States, twelve mil
lions England, eight millions, and France
three millions. The schedule of inporta-
tions into the Island embraced, of proviS-
ions, Sl1,37S,274. Was not every part of
the confcderucy interested in that? Was
there an interest within the limits of the
Union not embraced in this article? The
MANUFACTURES amounted to over seven mil
liors, aud had the North no interest in
that The tariff upon many of these arti-
clcs had been raised to 80, 100, and l20
per cent.-So high that while Spain, strick-
cn and beggard as she is, with her own peo-
pie almost starving, exports to that Island
live hundred and twenty thousand barrels
Strike off this tariff, and 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
were 3,0lS vessels engaged in the carrying
trade of Cuba the world over. OF these the
United States furnished 2,370; Spain but
90l England 34S; and France 126 and
out of little over five hundred thousand
tonnage, the United States contributed two
hundred and fifty thousand. Was not,
then, that portion of the United States in
torestcd in the shipping business vitally
and deeply interested in tho acquisition Of
Cuba, for it was only by its acquisition that
they could strike the shackcls from its COM
mercc
There were two modes of acquiring the
lsland--one BY purchase and the other by
conquest. He believed the United States
could not purchase it; first, because Cuba
is productive source of revenue to Spain,
giving her almost three million of dollars
per annum, all expenses betrayed; because
it is the defence Of her colonial possessions,
and because, out of that revenue, she de-
trays all the expenses of her consular and
diplomatic system on this continent and,
looking back, he believed there was some
thing more powerfu-the traditions and
pride of Spain. Against this sale protest
ed the traditions a. the grandeur of that
period when the Spa ish empire was world
wide, and against this sale protested that
PRIDE, ms naughty now as on the day when
Grimaldi thought to menace France. And
what would be the risk of acquiring the
island by war? Could it be done without
conflict with Great Britain and France?
Both have guaranteed to Spain her sover-
eiignity over the territory of the Island, and
the gathering of their fleets in the tiers
OF the Gulf and Caribbean sea indicate no
disposition to reccde from this guarantee.
With France he could understand it.
Louis Napoleon, with the relentless ambi-
ton which marked his distinguished kins-
man, wishes to establish a splendid colonial
empire in the West Indies. To create and
establish this it was necessary that the
power of the United States should be Grip
Piled or henmed in. With l;s hand upon
tho very throne of tropical empire, his ar
my would be inyinciblc, and his hand
would clutch upon the sceptre Of universal
commerce now passing to us; aud, when
he shall have consolidated an empire, then
tho very power which he had made instru-
mental in crippling the Unltos States would
undergo subjugation, But tho policy of
Grcat britain ss9ss eslls .aSnlimble mon
the theory of subscribe lanoc. lilo
believed her diplomacy BAD ssea her IN
the grasp of France, and w only mo-
wing at the dictaton of NitsssIeo
Mr.. Ritchic, of Pennsylvania, incurred
whether the gentleman .thought the Uni.
ted Statos had right to take Cuba because.
they had governments that lie does not
approve of.
Mr.. kei!t replied that he did NOT but
he would say that the long catalogue of ae..
s,rnssions with tI,o ooo,,n,,,I4nl :.,i.