Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1859-02-12
saturday Morning, February II. 1850.
The Island Of Cuba.

AS this Spanish Island is sooner or later 10 bg
come part aud parcel of the United States, some
statistics concerning it will prove interesting.
The Island of Cuba. in 1850, contained Cos EGO
whites, 205,570 free people of color, and 100000
slaves Tue increase of the slave population has
been chiefly maintained by the importation Of Atri-
cans.
The population at the present time does NOT MO-
badly tall below i,500,000. Stripped Of $4,000
Spsnlards' 70 600 troops, aud marines, aud a7OoO
1oatlng population, and, we shall have lett on the
or native whites; less than one-halfthe whole The
remainder consist of 436,loo slaves, and 2O5 $40
free people OF color t1a -
Cuba has perseveringly sustained the slave trade.
In 1871 she imported 1000 Africans, and in eight
years from 1929 to 1887, she imported 99, ,239 and
she has continued TO import them at about the same
ratio TO the present time having added Coolie emf
grants to other supplies of labor.
The balance OF trade against the United States
with Cuba, Porto Rico and Brazil, in 1856, amoun-
ted to the large sum of 33;5204 442 which contrib
uted to bring on the revutsion of lS l. The Aboli-
tion politicians are perfectly wiling to support
slavery iE foreign countries at a cost of $33OOO-
600 per annumi while they carry on frantic cru
SADIE against the mild form of it which exists in
the Uu ed States.
In 1856 we imported from Cuba and Porto Rico
in value, (chlefy in sugar and mo asses) $2s, ,506e
CSC, and exported to the same only $S95l, ,9S7-l
leaving a balance of trade against us of Sl9354>
669. Our trade with Brazil for the same year
In Cuba, our -four is sadded with duty of
nhout $1OSl per barrel when imported in Amer
can vessels aud only $3.50 when imported in
Spanish vessels In 1852, of 32T950 barrels Of
flour imported into Cuba, only 1910 we're taken
from the United States. Lard is charged with
duty l-2 cents per pound when received in
American ships, and only 2 l-2 cents per pound
GU j terior olive oil from Europe
The duty on meats, from the United States, is al.
most prohihitOry: while for the use of the slaves
aud Creules, she actually imports annually abou,
30:00o0O0 lbs. jerked beef from Buenos Ayres all
though Havana is only three or four days sail from
our ShoresI
The tonnage duties on American vessels is 81 so
per ton while Spanish vessels it is only 62 cts.
In 1853 only about twenty three per cent, of the
imports into Cuba were from the United States,
while we took 40 per cent or nearly Que half of
h: entire eXports3
TIE taxes in Cuba which chiefly fall with crush
ing elect GU the Creole whites, a e eaormOus. In
1856 III. revenues raised amounted to $9227266
and in lS41 to Sl2.80s.Tl3 and the present rate
arc estimated AT not less than Is to SIG 900 900
chiefly gathered from $4,000 white CreOles only IL
tri6iTg portion Of which Is expended on the Island
the remainder goes to Spain. The latter in part
ing with the Island W, Md lose an uual revenue
probably o' l20 100000 or $l4 900 900, which, it is
ca'pIcd Could be cn'inucd to her by setting apart
revenues on the Island from the public lands and
i"cm o'h=r sources, that her actual loss would
LC nothing. '---', -'' -7---.-'-f T
From :hese statistics 1t is apparent that several
mi lions dollars would he saved to the U. States
in the way o'tr"de by the acquisition of Cuba. The
trade besween Cuba aud New York is said to be
larger than with any other port the Continent.