Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-05-10
spain and -. Domingo.

Accounts have fully confirmed the reported re-Pos
session of ST. Dumingo by its ancient mistress across
the seas We transfer 70 columns some notice Of
the event by the London Times, which sage journal
seems not little surprised such evidence of recu
per,tve energy by the sometime debiltated realm Of
Spain, and no, a little puzzled what it means. Tie
event is interesting the political student showing
tia, Government based however partially upon the
institution Of slavery, possesses vitality unknown BY
those that do not recognize the system.
No nation Of Europe exercised horsepower or held a
more spcadd dominion than Spain in the sixteenth cen
fury. What England Is among the nations of the
earth Spain then, and it might have been said Of
her with almost equal truth that her morning drum
beat followed the sun in his round the earth.
through the expressions Of political and ecclesiastical
desposm she has since lost this high rank; if civil
war, the vices Of the court the corruption Of society
have parayzed the arm Of the Government; if her
commerce no longer foarishes as it dill, and the
energies Of her industry are relaxed, she is still
lar from being eHe,e power. During the last
few years much has been done by her statesmen
and her people to her ancient strength Wo Ks
Of internal improvement have developed the resources
Of the country; efficient administration has slim
uaed every industrial interest her fleets have been en-
j
learn that her ambition returning with her strength
The army Of Spain consists of tortyseven regimen Is
OF infantry and sixteen of cavalry having total OF
something less than $4,000 men, Her naval force
Is weaker She has but four ships of the lire,
I'VE frigates SIX eorvettes, and twenty steam
ers none OF the las, being Of the force of fr;g-
ates. There are, however besides these great num-
Der Of small vessels so that the navy sums up no less
than Ia vessel. Of all grades carrying l4s guns In
Cuba Spain has constantly besides the civil guard an
army Of $1,000 men, which not counted in the
estimates Of the Spanish army. She also maiatains there
a separate navy OF twenty-five vessels carrying 29 guns
and manned by 1000 men. Porto Rico, ano her OF her
dependencies, has army Of ten thousand men more,
besides a numerous militia Her finances are also in
dOurshng state than they have been for years,
ard her soldiers both land sea- have been greatly
improved in discipline aud equipments under tho more
ministries For these reasons, among others Louis
Napoleon has been urging the restoration Of the pc ainsu
lar 70 the rank Of a 6rst-rate power.
There can be no doubt but that Spain is eager 20 re-
gain her los, possessions in the Western World She has
long regretted the beautiful islands and fertile mau ,nds
which have been rescued from her grasp either by the
revolutionary uprising Of their inhabitants or by the ag-
gresve march az this Northern republic She has sea d-
~ refused to recognize the Independence OF the great
part of them and the recent descent upon St Doming
would to show that she is prepared 10 assert
her former professions.
That slavery viii be introduced in St. Domingo the
disastrous effects attending it, abolition and the benef-
cent fruits Of its existence In the neghborng island OF
Cuba leave US no dopbt In this view the peo-
pie of the Confederate States have nothing to regret in
the movement Whatever NAV be hopes for the fu-
ture with reference The countries lying South OF u.s.
It sufficient for she present that they occupied 10y
powers Who have iu,eres, IN common with Us ia bat.
fling the designs Of Northern aboldonists. darling
scheme OF theirs ia feenego:z, Cuba and surround
the southern States by land and with governments
and communities hostile 70 their Institutions. We take
this vigorous and unexpected movement Of Spain as a
guarantee against the success Of any such scheme.
We hope the government a. Montgomery will speedi-
y establish the diplomatic relations with Spiu as alo
with Brazl which sympathy Of feeling and community
of interest render mutually desirable