The New York herald., 1873-11-20
c U 3 A..
CONTINUED FROM THIRD PAGE.

course, VIII be expensive, as IL requires large
sums OF money TO move armies and it out ships,
but we equal TO the emergency" The
question was then asked, "Do You md the Cabi-
net warlike ~ and answering that the SEN
tIment seemed TO be to uphold the national
honor, the Secretary continued, 'The opinions OF
Mr.. Fish are correct, and the Treasury Depart
ment is prepared to MAINTAIN these opinions"
Question-Do understand that you are in favor
of the annexation OF CubaY
Answer (after a significant silence) l do
not say what am in favor OF, do say that will
stand by Mr.. Fish and whatever the State Depart
ment does. / believe the Secretary OF State is a
careful, cautious and judicious man, and that he
will not get us INTO any embarrassments. That Is
my decided opinion. have not given much atten-
ton to the subject in its present shape. 1t belongs
entirely to the Department OF State. assume
that II we had war with Spain it would result IN
the annexation OF Cuba.
The Secretary was then asked II the acquisition
Of that island would not materially dsarrange our
tarir system, to which he repied:-
"At first, OF course, it would upset everything,
~ we would lose large sum OF money the nrss
year from the import duties on sugar and tobacco,
which we now receive; but after that our internal
collections on these articles especially on tobacco,
Question-Would IL not be necessary TO Keep
large army OF customs officers there
Answer-Yes; it would be great place for
smuggling. 1t would necessitate the establish
Ment OF custom houses all along the coast; and as
there is such an extent OF coast many persons
would have TO be employed to guard 1t.
The Secretary was asked II the department knew
ofically OF the past history OF the yirgnius. He
replied that 1t did, the vessel having been twice
owned by the government. Once she belonged to
the Division OF Captured and Abandoned Property
OF the Treasury, by which she was solo, and again
in 1870 she seized at Mobile for the debt of a
defaulting Assistant Treasurer. She was then
brought to the Potomac and sold to a New York man
named Paterson. Her name was then the Virgin,
but upon being taken to New York her name was
changed to Virginius. l believe that the Vir-
rInlus and the vessel which captured ber-the Tor
nado-were both built on the Clyae by the same
builders for blockaderunners during the war.
BUSY AT THE WASHINGTON NAVY YARD.
Universal activity prevails in the Washington
Navy Yard, and, in some OF the departments, over
time Is being ma lie. large force Is at work on
the steamer Shawmut, third class, three guns, be-
longing to the North Atlantic station, and the Tai
lapoosa, transport, padde-wheel steamer, is be-
ing rapidly repaired. A large force Is engaged In
the Ordnance Department making ammunition.
Lieutenant Fletcher has reported at the Navy
Yard as recruiting officer. His headquarters is on
the receiving ship Relief lying at the dock. Already
some men have enlisted, and large
unnber OF inquiries have been made as 10 terms.
THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENTS
70 raise troops have thus lar been among the col
oreo people, who, though no officia intimation
stimulates their action, apprehend the govern
ment will have need ior their services in the field
The less excitabe and by far the larger part OF the
population are settling down into the belief that
the services of those first TO declare their willing
ness to enlist Tor Cuba will not be required.
CONVERTS TO ANNEXATION.
Prominent gentlemen who have heretofore been
opposed to the acquis ition Of Cuba now express
themselves in favor OF such measure. They
say the Spaniards receive from the United
states many million dollars annually for
such articles as we import from Cuba,
while the United States are, owing to
restrictions and arbitrary trade regulations al
most excluded from commercial advantages in the
matter OF exports. AS one instance or this truth,
the export OF iour amounts nearly to prohibition,
II being carried first 10 Spain and thence to Cuba
1t duty OF SS barrel, and so OF other American
products. These gentlemen would prefer a new
commercial treaty, provided one could be obtained
on just and equitable terms, with reasonable
guarantees for It's faitful execution but as the
Spanish government has shown itself poweress
20 enforce its authority In Cuba and from the
further fact that
Our COMMERCE HAS BEEN FREQUENTLY NTERFERED
WITH
by the Spanish authorities, the most certain way
Of relieving ourselves from present and future
trouble would be to acquire the island in the best
way possible. At present the Spanish government
IL opposed to a separation OF her colonies from the
mother country; but hereafter there might be
state of affairs which would not admit Of pre-.
yious consultation with Spain on that subject.
There were not only outrages in the West India
waters TO redress, but those against American citi-
Eens residing on the Island OF Cuba.
These have been the subject OF negotiation which
has been embarrassed by Spanish ofiicia delay and
the opposition OF the Cuban authorities the latter
being consulted by the Casino Espanol, more po-
tent than the throne itself in Cuba. Besides. there
u no way OF putting an end to slavery and
THE CRUEL AND BARBARoUs cooLIE TRADE
under the present circumstances IL we have TO de-
pend on the promises made by the Spanish govern
ment which have thus fair failed OF execution.
Reforms in Cuba and Porto Rico in these respects
have been pressed by our government, but without
practical result, for the reason already stated.
The Spanish government is impotent to enforce its
authority. The most common observer must see
that
THIS STATE OF AFFAIRS CANNOT EXIST MUCH LONGER
The public patience Is nearly exhausted, and there
10 no telling when something more than protests
and the asking ior explanations on our part viii
be unanimously demanded by the citizens OF the
United States to secure peace on our border and
guard American interests and honor from future
molestaton and injury, and, furthermore, TO ter
inmate forever the repetition Of barbarlties tow
ards prisoners, whether taken IN an insurrection
or otherwise, which, while they receive the strong
condemnation they deserve, have more than once
been officially condemned by government as
contrary TO the humane and Christian sentiment
of the age.
gHE vIRGINIUs RECORDED on THE MARINE LIST AS
THE VIRGINIA.
The Chief OF the Bureau OF Statistics states with
reference TO the omission OF the steamer vrginius
rom the last list OF merchant vessels OF the United