The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-25
THE ACQUISITION or CUBA.
[From the Louisville courIcr.l

The Gulf of Mexico both physically and commemorative
is one Of the most important inland the globe Ii
extends over nearly twenty degrees of longitude and
Of latitude About onchalf of its coast line belongs to
the United States and the other to Mexico From the
point of fucatan to Key West is about three hundred
miles This mouth of the Gulf so to speak is partially
occupied by the Island of Cuba which divides into
channels, each about hundred and thirty miles wide
the strait OF Florida and The channel of Yucaan Be-
tween these briste the guns Of Havana and the white
walls Of the Moro Castle rise like phantom TO
of impending pcris which must he avertcd In this har
Dor lie secure squadTons which could sweep the seas
aud infest the coasts from Maine to Brazil The com
mece Of the Mississippi Valley peculiarly its mercy
What is this commerce With the paralle streams OF
Texas and Alabama it the drainage OF fully million
of square miles, and the surplus production Of about
10000, 900 OF our people.
The cotton crop worth from $3.50, 900 900 to $780,
900 900, is nearly all exported hence The entire ex
ports not less than $500 900 900 All this commerce
in case OF war, is at the mercy of Spanish cruisers
and in times of peace partially subject such cy
act lions Spanish avarice slnll choose to levy on
such insults as Spanish nsolcnce shall choose to inict
Cuba has been called the key of the Gulf 1t Is more
1t is the janor of that sthmus which modern enter.
prise already overleaps and which, in less than hall
century will be the portal of commerce which, in
extent and value will oustrip the present
OF the world and the most golden visions of tbs widest
dreamer The most violent opponents of the acquisi-
ton OF Cuba do not deny its political Importance in
military and maritime point of view. They lodge their
opposition different goundson the danger the inn
morality, and the commercial nexpediency Of the at
tempt Let first consider us to the commercial
question involved Let us suppose Cuba acquired at
any price, however fabulous in money or blood for
nation which aspcs 10 deeds of high enterprise to in
iucnce and to empire, cannot hesitate at perils or
dickcr about dollars and cents opportunity comes not
twice, and it frittered away, is lost forever Suppose
Cuba ours what then Then, says this blind economist
the Louisiana sugar planter would be injured and slave
property would fall in price by 50 great an accession
Slave property would not fall in price in the United
States but would rise in value in Cuba That country is
now hampcrcd with import aud export duties, and
other restrictions Of trade that it has fair chance
development but within the circle of the Alneri-
States and she would acquire ten-lold productive
power, and every slave would become important as he
now is in the nth. In philanthrrpc point of view
1t is sufficient to say that the slave trade would cease
and the negro, because valuable would longer
be used as machine to be out and thrown away,
but would be treated with the care consideration and
humanity his increased value and better state of society
would bring about.
Negroes would not fall therefore materially in value
but If they did there millions Of of unopened
land in Arkansas and Texas which would be brought
cultivation Cuba is coffee producing country also,
and this necessity Of the American people would be cheap
ened and become home product We would be no
longer dependent upon the goodwill of Brazil for this
staple In regard to the injury of the Louisiana sugar
interests, we have only to say that, If they could not
stand the competition Of Cuba they would readily alan
don sugar for more lucrative occupations, and it is
reasonable for them to expect the whole Union suffer
the present perls and Of Spain and the os of
be willing 10 submit somewhat for the common good
Ultimately they would be amply repaid in the importance
aud security of New Orleans and by the culture of rice
indigo, other staple But it docs not follow that
because Cuba could and does produce and better
sugar tiian Louisiana the latter would necessarily
suffer.
South Carolina and Georgia not driven from the
cultivation OF cotton because the uvia lands of Akan
sas can produce more to the acre and cotton bears
higher price to-day than before these latter opened
Such Is indeed the voice OF the people of louisiana who
unanimously in favor of the acquisition
1t is urged, however that ii is contrary TO the inter
national law and morality to seek the acqus
ton of Cnba, unless Spain freely sells her No
proposes descent upon Cuba At present is matter
Of negotiation If Cuba was, indeed free and happy
people rejoicing in the ants OF peace and governing her
people neither to ihure threaten us, il would
be base wrong TO impose foreign yoke upon her We
would not be justified by the example of France in the
Society islands OF England IN many OF her in
India, OF Russia, Prussia, and Austria in case of
dismembeI lent of Poland But Cuba Is a country
whose entcrpising natives mbued with liberal IDEAS
stretching toward their arms, duplicating pro-
lection from cruel and bigoted desposm If left to
free expression OF opinion doubts that Cuba would
leap from the dcspot like bride to her lover
On the grounds of humanity If Spain had been
courteous ally could have been justified long ago in
interference Ia the anirS of Cuba But low has Spain
lsel her power and sovereignty Cnha Az
OF inuit to our flag, and annoyance to
Aside from her oppression Of the island itself with which
perhaps I, may be claimed We have nothing 10 do Spain
has continually used her power in such way as 10