Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-11-26
The country Eoua, to the Emergency

The Country Equal TO the Emergency
AS Congress VIII be herein two weeks it !
is very certain that there will be no diff
Guilty in raising all the means we want. a
war of course will be expensive, as IL re-
qures large sums of money to move armies |
aud fit our ships, but we are equal to the
emergency. He then asked the question
"Do you find the Cabinet warlike?" and
upon being answered the sentiment seemed
to be to uphold the National homer, re-
peated, The opinions of Mr.. Fish are cor
rect, and the Treasury Department is pre-
pared to maintain those opinions
Question-Do l understand you, Judge,
that YOU are in favor of the annexation of
Cuba?
Answer, after significant silence
While do not say what / am in favor of
do say, that l will stand by Mr. Fish,
and whatever the State Department does,
l belive the Secretary of State is a careful,
cautious and judicions man, and that he
will not get us into any embarrassments.
That is my declared opinion. l have not
given much attention to the subject. In its
present shape it belongs entirely to the
Department of State, and | assume that if
we bad q war with Spain, it would result
in the annexation of Cuba.
Annexation Discussed.
The Secretary was then asked if the ac-
QUESTION of that island would not materi-
ally disarrange our tariff system, to which
he replied: At first, of course it would up
set everything, as we would lose large
sum of money the first year from the i'm
port duties on sugar and tobacco, which we
now receive, but after that our internal col
lections on those articles, especially on to-
bacco, would much more than compensate
for that loss.
Question-Would it not be necessary to
keep large army of customs officers there?
Answer-Yes, it would be a great place
for smuggling. 1t would necessitate the
establishment of custom houses all along
the coast, and as there is such an extent of
coast, mauy persons would have to be en-
ployed to guard it.
In reply to question, the Secretary said
the Virginius had twice belonged to our
government, and that it and the vessel cap
turing it were both built on the Clyde du-
ring the war for blockade runners.
Prominent gentlemen who have hereto
fore been opposed to the annexation of
Cuba, now express themselves in favor Of
the measure. They say the Spanards re-
ceive from the United States many mil
lion dollars annually for such articles as
we import from Cuba, while the United
States are, owing to restrictions and arbi-
trary trade negotiations, almost excluded
from commercial advantages in the mat
ter of exports. AS one instance of this
truth, the export of flour amounts nearly
to prohibition, it being carried first to
Spain, thence to Cuba at a duty of eight
dollars barrel. SO of other American
products. These gentlemen would prefer
new commercial treaty, provided one
can be obtained on just and equitable
term with reasonable guarantees for its
faithful execution, but as the Spanish
Government has shown itself pOWerless to
enforce its authority in Cuba, and from
rOmmarpn
been frequently interlered 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 is opposed to a sepa-
ration of her colonies from the mother
country, but hereafter there might be a
state of affairs which would not admit of a
previous consultation with Spain on that
subject. There were not only outrages in
the West India waters to redress, but these
against American citizens residing OH the
island These have been the subject OF ne
gotiation, which has been embarrassed by
Spanish official delays and the opposition
of the Cuban authorities, the latter being
controlled by the Casino Espagnol more
potent than the throne itself in Cuba be-
sides here is no way of putting an end to
slavery and the cruel and barbarious coolie
trade and the pressure of circumstances
III we nave 10 depend OH tne promises maze
by the Spanish Government.
Navy Yards working Extra Time.
Unusual activity prevails in Washing
ton Navy Yard, and in some of the depart
ments over time is being made. A large
force is at work on the steamer Shawmut,
third class, three guns, belonging to the
North Atlantic station, and the Talapoo-
sa, transport paddle wheel steamer, is
being rapidly repaired.
A large force is engaged in the Ordnance
Department, making ammunition. Lieut..
Fletcher has reported at the yard as re-
cruiting officer His headquarters is on
the receiving ship Relief lying at the
dock. Already some men have enlisted,
and a large number of inquiries have been
made as to terms. The volunteer move
ments to raise troops have thus far been
among the colored people, who, though no
official intimatiOn stimulate their action, |
apprehend that the government will have
need for their services in the field. The
less excitable, and by far the larger part of
the population. are settling down in the
belief that the services of those first to de-
clare their willingness to enlist for Cuba
will not be required.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. l9.-The steamer
POwhattan passed the levees at nine
o'clock this morning on her way to the |