The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-30

almost all the geld and silver mines in the world
she vanly stroye dry up shc life blood OF the wealth
Of the world and Ia prevent its diffusion beyond her
borders by prohibiting The expectation Of the precious
metals Such alsupl folly only not mischieyous be-
cause ii was impatient
An ohicad Publication says s
2" The restrictive policy of Spain especially regards
the trade oi her colonies Is adhered 10 to-day la Cuba
and Porto Rico. almost rs vigorously when she was
mistress OF nearly the entire southern portion OF this
tinent. % until the system itself s abolished,
and Spain adopts the liberal commercial policy
which chafacterzes the present enlightened ageuntil
she follows the example of Great Britan Belgum Hol.
land aud other negLboring countries ia renoyng all
unnecessary shnckes from commercial enterprise the
commerce OF Cuba. not only with the mother country,
bat with the United States aud all foreign nations must
remain as 1t has during the past quarter of century,
crippled restricted, and struggling. The last
tariff for imports and exports Of the island Of Cubs.
menced to be enforced in 1917 Foeign merchandise In
foreign bottoms pay 2Tl per cent, others 33i per
cent foreign merchandise ia Spanish bottoms from
eign ports some a9 pen cent others 23 per cent The
rates OF l9b per cent and 235 per levied
upon foreign merchandise coming ron the peninsula in
Spanish bstamh siplrish goosls coming Ia foleign
sells pay, some l4 per cent, Others lT4 per All
Spanish productions and manufactures except jewelry
that come in Spanish VESSELS pay 3 per cent An a1di
tiona per cent. has been laid since this tariff went
into operation, Comm Rel, vol 5, p, 1869
careful inspection of the tariff, in detail has been
made, and 1t was found that almost all the more Inn
portan productions OF this country charged the high
est rate 3G4 per cent and determinations are made
against US by valuations.
1t is wonderful that manufacturers should be able
TO send any of their fabrics 10 the island ia the face of
such mpostious and determinations Whether they are
not, and 10 what extent not known but it is be-
leved that the amount is very limited The importation
of manufactured articles into the island from all quarters
10 1854, amounted TO about 81, 300 900, This amount
certainly would be secured to them by change which
would enable them 10 introduce their goods free whilst
all Others We're charged regular taii rates, AS,
however the population Of the island is exclusively agri
cultural and is increasing rapidly both in numbers aud
ia wealth, largely Increased demand might be looked
for, especially under liberal system of commercial
exchanges an Cuba woul,l probably prove be their
most valuable customer, taking millions of their fabrics
and threatening rivalry Whilst this would be profit
able to the nanufae etuers it would be eminently bene-
cal in national point of view, aiding to settle The
heavy balance of trade against intercourse with
the island
In 1858 we imported from mit it. .S27 2I4, $40
Whilst we exported to 1t only IA ,433, l67
Leaving balance ee------------------- Il, ,7Sl ,G79
Perhaps there is appropriate connexion in
which to state that In 1852 when our trade with Cuba was
considerably less than half what it i 1885, the Span
is government collected from it SO 33s l20 of revenue
AT the rate it levied our trade Of 1858 81 600
900. What increase might not expect In our trade
when relieved Of such an imposition Its ability
s under it at all is proof that if free, ii would be sms-
ceptible of almost indefinite extension,
3. Benefits to the navigation interest. The devices
adopted to exclude foreign shipping from engaging profit
ably the carrying trade of the island vexatious and
oppressive in the extreme.
The decnii duties in favor of trade under the Spaf
ish flag, and against the Gags of other nations exhib
tied IN all the extracts have already made from their
tariff The policy Is adopted not only in regard
all imports, but also in their export regulations.
Superadded to these multitude of port charge
and duss IN nil wlnh heavy discrimination made in favor
ofspnsh vessels For nearly thirty years this
has been cndcasoring by negotiation and by retatory
legislation to induce areaxation in favor of shipping
but its efforts have not been attended with the least
ure of success Our minister at Madrid wrote to MIR
Marcy in 1858 since my reception at court have
had several interviews with M Clarendon. / find him
ill inclined to favor any policy that might tend bring
Spain to closer connexion with the United States He
sets no great value the advantages which his country
men might derive from free intercourse with u.s. and
views rather danger whatever il likely to promote
it, This is probably the general feeling Of Spanish poll
cans, at least OF the old school, and it s futile to aim
at any advantages for citizens in the island of Cuba
80 long as it remains subject to Spanish law.
The determinations against our shipping be better
appreciated from their effects than from an enumeration
of them in detail.
The total commerce of Cuba, import and export for
the year 1854, according to its custom house returns
which said TO be rs per cent under the truth was
SG4 3Q9 employing 1912 vessels Of about 900 900
tons. From the proximity Of the scat OF this trade and
the nature of the exchanges between Cuba and other
countries sipowne, ought TO enjoy the carriage of
nearly quite the whole of it. IN the absence of dis
ordinations against them, their superior skill and enter
prise would enable them 10 secure its monopoly. z.
The following table will how far the rcpIessive energy
of Spanish legislation has driven their sails from their
doors to seek employment in distant quarters of the
globe.
Let the mariner when he lies paralyzcd and shvering
in the frozen of northern Europe floats azly ON
the yellow waters of ASIA where everything around him
bespeaks man and nature dormant and stationary turn
his thoughts to the soft atmosphere snd rich vegetation
Of the tropics There he will the Spanish sailor--the
peted semblance OF the bold mariners of the same ma
tion who discovered this continent protected by bull
wak Of legislation 10 keep of intruders enjoying with
out merit the prize which ought to be the reward Of skill
and enterprise.
Nurb ef vessels sHs'ae h fr ef Cuba from lsas ls5a
lS4s, lsla. 1880, 1851, lsA2 lsSs 1854
Total g. 5ls 3,2l3 3, a5d q 500 Gi2
unsd states a, 73 T. eas 1, ,Ass 2,oil $3.50 2aoy
l,si5 ibA l,i6o /, s6S l,72e l,sli $50
The trade OF the island and the tonnage employed
greater than they four years ago but Off