The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-02-03

Total population l,247, 23O
The population at the present time does not
probably fall below 100000. Stripped of
$4,000 Spaniards. $4,000 troops and marines,
and q 900 foreign and floating population, and
we shall have left on the Island !, 1920 souls,
of whom 500, 900 are creoles, or native whites
less than one-half of the whole. The remain
der consist of 436, 100 slaves, and 2O5,570 free
people of color.
Cuba has perseveringly sustained the slave
trade. In 1911 she imported ii 900 Africans
and in eight years, from 1929 TO 1887, she inn
ported 1929, and she has continued to import
them at about the same ratio to the present
time, having added coolie immigrants to other
supplies of labor
"The balance of trade against the United
States, with Cuba, Porto Rico, and Brazil, in
1856, amounted TO the large sum of $33 ,520, 422,
which contributed to bring on the revulsion of
1857.
"In 1856 we imported from Cuba and Porto
Rico, in value, (chiefy in sugar and molasses,)
$28, 506,656, and exported to the same only
$9,95l ,987-leaving balance of trade against
us of $685., 669. Our trade with Brazil, for
the same year. showed balance against us of
$l4, 1918.
ain Cuba, our -four is saddled with a duty of
about $lO.8l per barrel when imported in
American vessels, and only $3.50 duty when
imported in Spanish vessels. In 1852, of
327,950 barrels flour imported into Cuba, only
1910 barrels were taken from the United States.
Lard is charged with a duty of Al cents per
pound when received in American ships, and
only q cents per pound on inferior olive oil
from Europe.
The duty on meats from the United States
is almost prohibitory while, for the use of the
slaves and creoles, she actually imports annu-
about 30,000,000 pounds of jerked beef from
Buenos Ayres, although Havana is only three
or four days sail from our shores
The tonnage duties on American vessels is
$50 per ton, while on Spanish vessels :; Is
only 624 cents. In 1853, only about % per
cent. of the imports into Cuba were from the
United States, while we took Al per cent, or
nearly one-half, of her entire exports.
The taxes in Cuba, which chiefly fall with
crushing effect on the creole whites are enor-
nous. In 1886, the revenues raised amounted
to Sc, 227, 266, and in l847 to Sl2,808,7l3, and
at the present time are estimated at not less
than $l5,000,000 to $l6,000,O00, chiefly gath
cred from $4,000 white creoles, only a trihing
portion Of which is expended on the Island
the remainder goes to Spain. The latter, in
parting with the Island, would lose an annual rev
enue probably, of $l2,OO0,OOO or $l4,OOO,OOO,
which, it is claimed, could be continued to her
by setting apart revenues on the Island from
the public lands and from other sources, so
that her actual loss would be nothing. The
most troublesome thing to satisfy and pay for,
in the whole transaction, would probably be
Spanish pride, which, however, sometimes
wisely Yields to the claims of unavoidable expe-
The OYSTER FUNDUM. - The Governor of
Virginia appointed Mr.. w. H. Parker to in
spect vessels engaged in the oyster trade, with
a view, we believe, mainly to prevent the escape
of fugitive slaves on board the vessels thus en-
gagged. This officer makes an interesting re-
port to the Governor, which we find in the Rich
mOnd Enquirer, relative to the oyster trade
He estimates, from partial inspections, that
S,8O8,492 bushels of oysters per annum are
taken from the waters of the Chesapeake Bay,
and exported-that is to say, carried out of Vir-
ginia. This fact or estimate will convey at once
an idea of the immense value of these oyster
beds. The Enquirer suggests that tax of
three cents per bushel upon these exported
oysters would yield to the State a revenue of
$264,254.76, and complains of the culpable
neglect of the Legislature in not imposing
tariff upon the outside world The Governor
has recommended and urged the matter upon
the attention of the Legislature, and we confess
our surprise at the modesty of that body in re-
framing from the imposition of tax. It's true
that the Constitution of the United States de-
clares that " the citizens of each State shall be
entitled to all the privileges and immunties of
citizens in the several States F." that no tax
or duty shall be laid on articles exported from
any State;" and that no State shall, without
the consent of the Congress, lay any imposts, or
duties on imports or exports except what may
be absolutely necessary for executing its in
spection laws; and the net produce of all du
ties and imposts, laid by any State on imports
or exports, shall be for the use of the Treasury
of the United States and all such laws shall
be subject to the revision and control of the
Congress" But the Virginia Democracy
have, by immemorial prescription, the exclusive
right to expound the Constitution, and it is not
for outside barbarians to set UP their crude
opinions upon question involving Southern
rights The Constitution was framed for the
protection Of Southern rights" and oysters
being found by Governor Wise to constitute an
of course, that the Constitution must be so con-
strued as to secure the monopoly to the State of
Virginia. The Enquirer says:
This, at three cents only per bushel, would
place S264,254.76 in the State Treasury. And
yet, the last Legislature failed to relieve the
people from taxation by the enactment of such
a law, though urged upon them by the Execu-
tive. How long will the people of Virginia
continue to groan under the weight of taxes,
with such mine of wealth, not only untaxed,
but monthly, weekly, and daily, pilaged by non
residents
"The inspection under which this informa-
ton was obtained was instituted for the protec-
ton Of slave property, and, at very small
amount of additional expense, 1854 ,254.76
might have been added to the revenues of the
State"
KAxsAs.-Capt Montgomery, the Free-State
leader in Kansas, who has given so much
trouble to the Border Ruffians, has voluntarily
surrendered to the authorities of the Territory,
and given bail bonds of $4,000 for his appear.
ance at court. Two of his political opponents,
Messrs. Mitchell and Roberts, have become his
BAIL In speech at Lawrence, he admits that,
in retaliating the outrages of the Pro-Slavery
party, he and his band acted upon the guerilla
policy of levying contributions upon his enc
mics. He is, according to the correspondents
of the Erening Post, perfectly frank in admit
ting the lawlessness of his course, which he
justifes, on the ground of retaliating greater
wrongs from the other party, who were the ag-
crn Ha 70 oo.1 10 r.