The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-28

military force of the United States as he may deem
Sec And be further enacted That for defraying the
cessary expenses twenty thousand dollars hereby
praed applied that purpose under the direction
Approved Feb. IL, 1873
Happily necessity arose for the exercise by the Presi
dent Of the extraordinary powers conferred on him by
these acts and they became obsolete on the subsequent
i isis'''' u NA y ''' ''''' u -
1t is fact of some significance that these acts and reso
utions for the first time published and promulgated
with the laws pending the negotiation OF the treaty or
the cession Of Florida
Even after the treaty had been signed by the plenipo-
tenares of the contracting parties the Spanish govern
ment withheld ratification frivolous pretences, untu
the oath of October 1s20nearly two yearsand SO COM
petely had the patience and orbearance OF our govern
ment been exhausted that President Monroe IN MS an
nua message of December 1879 brought the subject 70
the attention of Congress. and saidFrom ful view OF
all the circumstances submitted TO Congress whether
il will be proper for the United States 10 carry the
conditions OF the treaty effect in the same manner as
if il had been ratified by SPAIN claiming, on their part
all its advantages, and yielding 10 SPAN tnose seoueu "
her,"
From these legislative and executive manifestations,
Immediately preceding and succeeding our last war win
England, might deduce an example which we 40 hos
follow, because may safely rcpose on the convc-
ton that power adequate TO our protectoh ahef
any emergency
DoMBssnC CONDITION AND FOREIGN RELATIONS OF CUBA
OF the immense colonial possessions once held by Spain
this quarter of the globe none remain lnder ner autho
ry except the Islands of Cuba and Porto Rico To her they
are and expensive appendages in no way connect
ed with or participating in her government adding no.
thing TO her power, and held solely for the
advantages dervable to the mother country
from a monopoly of their trade. Though the
Inhabitants OF Cuba are probably heavily
taxed than any other population in the worldeght hun
dred thousand free persons of whom two hun ired thou
sand free negroes, paying more than twentythree
millions Of dollars per annumyet Spain derives little or
advantage from the revenue It being absorbed in the
support Of nearly 25 900 pennsuar troops and hume
navy and around the island, to keep il in subjec
ton. Viii Spain held large colonies on the main land
of the contnenespeciay whilst Mexico, Iexas, Louisi
and Florida under its rueCuba was important
to her commercial entrepot, and also as military
outpost from which fitted out her expeditions to
Mexico and Central and South America. It's Importance
in that respect have been appreciated by her
and recognized by other nations for whilst LOUISIANA and
Florida have repeatedly changed soveregns Cuba
has, from the time the Spanish flag planted upon
by Columbus III 1892 except for sh )rt time during which
was held by Great Britain as conquest ts value 70
Spain in this respect, has entirely ceased and 1t has be-
OF greater imporunce 10 her
In Florida Louisiana and Texas. Oar rights aud obga-
tons in reference the Gulf and the nttous lying around
it, to which the committee has already adverted, demand
that the island of Cuba should constitute state Of
sonfederaey, bound TO not only by common consu-
Ton, but by the bonds Of mutual interest aud, side by
side with the sister states OF the Union, aiding place
under our flag the richest and frees the world
has ever seen.
Its importance national security and for the pro-
lection Of our foreign coastwse commerce. viii be
perceived from considerations which We Will briefly
present.
Into the Gulf of Mexico empty all the rivers of Texas
the Mississippi and its tributaries all the rivers of Ala
nshng 900 miles OF Inland navigation, aud bearing
towards the markets OF the world surplus productions
of fifteen of the most fertile States in tue Union The
of the ports in the Gulf may be set down at hundred
millions of dollars per annum as follows
Exports of domestic produce to foreign
Imports from no foreign countries Coic 90
Exports coastwse (estmaed) 10000 900 90
Imports coastwise (estmated). 100000 90
No doubt that these figures much lower than
might safely be assumed and within very years
he
dollars independently of trade with California the
route, which battles all computation.
RELATIONS OF CUBA To THE GULF MEXICO.
The Gulf which all this trade annually poured
in the form of oistended BAG its contracted mouth being
presented towards the Atlantic ocean. All vessels gong
into or Of pass through this mouth; and |
lust between the headands Of Florida and Yucsan which
form the mouth situated the island Of Cuba An enemys
feet lying in It's barbors and cruising in the
straits which separate it from Florida side ana
Yucaian the other could efectuay close the gates of
the Gulf and lock in the whole trade OF the valley of the
Mississippi.
When France in possession of louisiana the
Of the Mississippi was little more at its mercy than
treaty Of peace with Great Britain IN 1852
titled to the free navigation Of that river from its source
TO its mouth, and could maintain our right so long
we had preponderance on land, although both banks
the mouth in the hands Of foreign Power; but
now secure only so long as We maintain naval
superiority over Spain and all the allies she may array
against If the solicitude of fathers remove
foreign Powers from the banks of the MISSISSIPPI because
they might interrupt its navigation, well founded, it
part of their children 10 Spain from the mouth Of
the Gulf Taking into account the growth OF Western
States and the increase of their productions the
QUESTION Of Cuba be far important them
than that Of Louisiana was in 1903.
Owing to adverse currents intricate channels and other
causes controlling the movements OF mariners the MAORI
~ vessels navigating between the Gulf and the Atlantic
seaboard pass the soutward Of the island Of Cuba and
the island therefore bears the same relation 10 the track
of navgators that Florida would bear It if they
could pass the north Of the island. 1t is practically
the salient point of the Florida peninsula and defensive
ly the Florida cape is Of value ~ than posi-
ton the northern border Of the Everglades
there much stronger position in advance Of held ad
versely.
USABJusrED DIFFERENCES WITH SPAIN
Nothing can be more Irritating to an Independent and
spirited nation, better calculated to precptae COLI
sions than TO have such and delicate interests
almost within hail OF foreign forhcatons, and to the
gauntlet of alien fleets Hence relations with SPAN
constantly Of semi hostile character, and Minis
ter at Madrid can do little else than wrangle with the
government which he accredited about high handed
outrages and petty grievances inflicted upon citizens
which Spanish officials In Cuba armed With full power
10 inhjct, Dut 10 redress.
The following of unredressed cases, pending 1854
resembles more the criminal docket OF county court
than the portfolio of minister penipotentiary:--
/. The bark Zuletie.
2. Claim Of the heirs Of Alexander ID. Harang.
3. The bark Godefroy.
4. Imprisonment OF Mr.. West.
8. Sbpwreck of the North Carolina.
6. Prisoners taken at Contoy
7. The Crescent City.
s. Schooner Manchester.
8. Firing with ball at the Black Warrior.
10. Seizure and detention Of the Black Warrior.
IL. A large number Of claims arising out OF the rregu
lar repeal order admitting grain and timber free Of
duty.
IL Recamations for port and navigation duties mpro
perry exacteu.
If some of these cases have been settled since 1854
others been added the docket and il likely
that will be reduced whilst present relations TO the
island are maintained.
OBNOXIOUS CHARACTER OF THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT.
II Long Island in possession Of foreign Power, and
the morning gun from It's brtng Notifications could be
heard In great commercial metropolis, would
it be the signal TO battleg How long could foreign
flag float there, whether defended by % 600 thrice
$4,000 roopsI What government here could keep the
peace with the ntrudeIY Our government has kept the
peace with SPAIN and It's ability to do 80 proof of
scrupuops respect for the rights Of others and Of the
dence Of our Western and Southwestern citizens 70 law
and the constituted authorities. II is well known that
large bodies Of in the United States have been eager
to assa the Spanish power in the West indies and have
only been restrained by the stern mandates
of their own government. They have passed
and rcpassed, IN peace and IN war once,