The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-16 00:00:00

'The following appeared in our Third Edition of
:a=•. Light :—]

TLIE

201ERICAN PRESIDENT'S
MESSAGE.

iha following is the Message of President Fill-
more, delivered to the American Congress, on the

2d inst. :
Fellow Citizens of the Senate and of the House o
Representatives,
I congratulate you and our common constituency upon
the favourable auspices under which you meet for your first
session. Our country is at peace with all the world. The
agitation which for a time threatened to disturb the frater-
nal relations which make us one people is fast subsiding, and
a year of general prosperity and health has crowned the
nation with unusual blessings. None can look back to the
dangers which are passed, or forward to the bright prospect
before us, without feeling a thrill of gratification, at the same
time that he must be impressed with a grateful sense of our
profound obligations to a beneficent Providence, whose pa-
ternal care is so manifest in the happiness of this bighly-fa-

voured laud.
Since the close of the last Congress certain Cubans and
other foreigners, resident in the United States, who were
more or less concerned in the previcus invasion of Cuba, in-
stead of being discouraged by its failure, have again abused
the hospitality of this country, by making it the scene of
the equipment of another military expedition against that
possession of her Catholic Majesty, in which they were coun-
tenanced, aided, and joined by citizens of the United States.
On receiving intelligence that such designs were entertained,
I lost no time in issuing such instructions to the proper officers
of the United States n. 3 seemed to be called for by the occa-
sion. By the proclamation, a copy of which is herewith
submitted, I also warned those who might be in danger of
being inveigled into this scheme, of its unlawful character,
penalties which they would incur. For some
and of the
time there was reason to hope that these measures had suf-
prevent any such attempt. This hope, however,
ficed to
proved to be delusive. Very early in the morning of the 3d
of Augu.st, a steamer, called the Palll pero, departed from New
Orleaue for Cuba, having on board upwards of 40 ' armed
me., with evident intentions to make war upon the autho-
rities of the island. This expedition was set on foot in pal-
pable violation of the laws of the United States. Its leader
was a Spaniard, and several of the chief officers, and some

others engaged in it were foreigners. The persons composing
it, however, were mostly citizens of the United States.
Before the expedition set out, and probably before it was
organized, a slight insurrectionary movement, which appears
to have been soon suppressed, had taken place in the eastern
quarter of Cuba. The importance of this movement was un-
fortunately so much exaggerated in the accounts of it pub-
lished iu this country, that these adventurers seem to have
been led to believe that the Creole population of the island
not only desired to throw off the authority of the mother
country, but had resolved upon that step, and bad begun a
well-concocted enterprise for effecting it. The persons en-
gaged in the expedition were generally young and
/armed. The steamer in which they embarked left New
Orleans stealthily, and without a clearance. After touching
at Key West, she proceeded to the coast of Cuba, and on the
night between the 11th and 12th August, landed the persons
on board at Playtas, within about 20 leagues of Ilavannah
The main body of them proceeded to, and took possession
of, an inland villsge, six leagues distant, leaving others to
tollow in charge of the baggage, as soon as the means of
transportation could be obtained. The latter having taken
up their line of march to connect themselves with tue main
body, and having proceeded about four leagues into the coun-
try, were attacked on the morning of the 13th by a body of
Spanish troops, and a bloody conflict ensued; after which
the retreated to the place of disembarkation, where about
fifty of them obtained boats, and re-embareed therein. They
were, however, intercepted among the keys near the shore by
a Spanish steamer cruising on the coast, captured, and car-
ried to Havannah, and, after being examined before a mili-
tary court, were sentenced to be publicly executed, and the
sentence was carried into effect on the 16th of August.
On receiving information of what had occurred, Commo-
dore F. A. Parker was instructed to proceed in the steam-
friga-e Saranac to Havaanah, and inquire into the'charges
ag -inst the persons executed, the circumstances under which
they were taken, and whatsoever referred to their trial and
sentence. Copies of the in_tructions from the departments of
state to him, and of hie letters to that department, are here-
with submitted.
According to the record of the examination, the prisoners
all admit ed the offences charged against them, of being
hostile invaders of the island. At the time of their trial and
execution the main body of the invaders was still in the
field, making war upon the Spanish authorities and Spanish
subjects. After the lapse of some days, being overcome by
the Spanish troops, they dispersed on the 24th of August ;
Lopez, their leader, was captured some days after, and exe-
cuted on the let of September. Many of his remaining fol-
lowers were killed, or died of hunger and fatigue, and the
rest were made prisoners. Of these, none appear to have been
tried or executed. Several of them were pardoned upon the
application of their friends and others, and the rest, about
one hundred and sixty in number, were sent to Spain. Of
the final disposition made of these we have no official in-
formation.
Such is the melancholy result of this illegal and ill-fated
expedition. Thus, thoughtless young men have been in-
duced, by false and fraudulent representations, to violate
the law of their country, through rash and unfounded ex-
pectations of assistance to accomplish political revolutions
in other States, and have lost their lives in the undertaking.
Too severe a judgment can hardly be passed, by the indig-
nant sense of the community, upon those who, being better
informed themselves have yet led away the ardour of
youth and an ill-directed love of political liberty. The cor-
respondence between this Government and that of Spain re-
lating to this transaction is herewith communicated.
Although these offenders against the laws have forfeited
the protection of their country, yet the Government may, so
far as is consistent with its obligations to other countries,
and its fixed purpose to maintain and enforce the laws, en-
tertain sympathy for their unotfending families and friends,
as well as a feeling of compassion for themselves. Accord-
ingly no proper effort has been spared, and none will be
soared, to procure the release of such citizens of the United
States, engaged in this unlawful enterprise, as are now in
confinement in Spain; but it is to be hoped that such inter-
position with the Government of that country may not be
considered as affording any ground of expectation that the
Government of the United States will hereafter feel itself
under any obligation of duty to intercede for the liberation
or pardon of such persons as are flagrant offenders against
the law of nations and the laws of the United States. These
laws must be executed. If we desire to maintain our re-
spectability among the nations of the earth, it behoves us to
enforce speedily and sternly the neutrality Acts passed by
Congress, and to follow, as far as may be, the violation of
those Acts with condign punishment.
But what gives a peculiar criminality to this invasion of
Cuba is, that under the lead of Spanish subjects, and with
the aid of (Wizens of the United States, it had its origin,
with many, in motives of cupidity. Money was advanced
by individuals, probably in considerable amounts, to pur-
chase :bond., as they have been called, issued by Lopez,
sold doubtless, at a very large discount, and for the payment
of which the public lands and public property of Cuba,
of whatever kind, and the fiscal resources of the people and
Government of that island, from whatever source to be de-
rived, were pledged, as well as the good faith of the Govern-
ment expected to be established. All these means of pay •
went, it is evident, were only to be obtained by'a process of
bloodshed, war, and revolution. None will deny that
those who set on foot military expeditions against foreign
States by means like these, are far more culpable than the
ignorant and the necessitous whom they induce to go forth
as the ostensible parties in the proceeding. These origina-
tors of the invasion of Cuba seem to have determined with
coolness and system upon an undertaking which should
disgrace their country, violate its laws, and put to hazard
the lives of ill-informed and deluded men. You will con-
sider 'whether further legislation be necessary to prevent
the
perpetration of such offences in future.
se
individuals have a right to hazard the peace of the
country or to violate its laws upon vague notions of altering
or reforming governments in other States. This principle is
not only reasonable in itself, and in accordance with public
law, but is engrafted into the codes of other nations as well
as our own. But while such are the sentiments of this Go-
vernment, it may be added that every independent nation
must be presumed to be able to defend its possessions against
unauthorised individuals banded together to attack them.
The Governmeut ef the United States, at all times since its
establishment, has abstained and bite sought to restrain the
citizens of the country, from entering into controversies
between other Powers, and to observe all the duties of
neutrality. At an early period of the Government, in the
• administration of Washington, several laws were passed
for this purpose. The main provisions of these laws
were re-enacted by the Act of April, 1818, by which, among
oth• r things, it was declared that if any person shall, within
the territory or jurisdiction of the United States, begin, or
set sn foot, or provide, or prepare the means of any military
esFPeeition or enterprise to be carried on from thence against
the territory or dominion ofany foreign prince or state, or of
any
are at.°°llY, district, or people es ith whom the United States
guilty
of ghaahei,every person so offending shall be deemed
three thomuisdemeanour, and shall be fined, not ex-
ceeding.sand dollars, and imprisoned not more
years ,
than three and this law has been executed and en-
forced, to the full
ext
from that day to thise.nt of the power of the Government
In proclaiming and adhering to the doctrine of neutrality u
and non-intervention, the
nations;nited States have not followed
the lead of other civilizedthey have taken the lead
themselves and have been followed others. This was ad-
mitted by one of the most eminent ob modernh
dern British states-
men,
who said in Parliament, while a t
illi❑inter of the Crown,
" that if he wished for a guide in a systemof
iaeutrality, he
the a should take that laid d iwn by America in days
wsoef Wash-
- ington and the Secretaryship of Jefferson," and
see, infact, that the Act of Congress of 1818 was fc,llowed the suc-
ceeding year by an Act of the Parliament of England, substan•
tialty the same in its general provisions. Up to
that timethere had been no similar law in England, except certain
highly penal statutes passed in the reign of George en, pre
hibiting English subjects from enlisting in foreign service,
the avowed object of which statutes was, that foreign armies,
raised for the purpose of restoring the house of Stuart to the
throne, shoald not be strengthened by recruits from England
herself.
All must see that difficulties may arise in carrying the
laws referred to into execution in a country now having
three or four thousand miles of sea coast, with an infinite
1,21, tn
eb er of ports and harbours and small inlets, from some of
knowledge
tunlawful expeditions may suddenly set forth, without
the of Government, against the possession of
foreign states.
Friendly
relations with all, but entangling alliances with
none, has long
not to beenpropagate a maxim with us Our true mission is
or our opinions or impose upon other court.-
, tries our form
teach by example oc,earnment by artifice or force, but to
justice, the blessings
of
by our success, moderation, and
Of free institutions. Let self goverment and the advantages
make and alter its political people choose for itself, and
; but institutions to suit its own condi-
tion and *nevenience while we vow and maintain this
we
neutral policy ourselves, are anxious to see the same for-
bearance on the part
of othero nations whose forms of
government are different
from ulTheesand th
deep inteer eess_t
which we feel in the spread of liberal waOlpnri ncip
tablisnenent of free Governments, and the sympathy with
'which we witness every struggle against ol2ireislsion, forbid
publice strong
that we should be indifferent to a case in c
arm of a foreign power is invoked to stiflesenti-
ment and repress the spirit of freedom in any country.
The Governments of Great Britain and France hje. issued
orders to their naval commanders on the West India sta-
tion to prevent by force, if necessary, the landing ee ad_
venturers from any nation on the island of Cuba with
hostile intent. The copy of a memorandum of a conver-
sation on this subject between the Chargé d'Affaires of
her ariasuanic Majesty and the acting Secretary of State,
and a subsequent note of the former to the department
of State, are herewith submitted, together with a
et...l)Y of a note of the acting Secretary of State to the Ali
dater of the French Republic, and )( the reply of
the