The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-09-12
From the ". Y. Courier and Enquirer.
The Cuban Movement.


days, were suspected of being destined to aid the
invasion of Cuba. One Of them, the Union, is a
regular packet ship, and cleared for New Orleans.
She had on board ten or fifteen men, witharms, &C..
who had been enlisted for some service other
the nature of which was only suspected to be of an
illegal character. 1t was supposed that on reach
ing New Orleans these men would make their way
to Round leland which has become, readers
know, the rendezvous for several hundred persons
destined for some unkn own expedition The Union
however, was not detained.
The Sea-guH, on the other hand, was seized by
the United States authorities and protracted in
vestigation was Immediately had into her destina-
ton, cargo, &C., &C., in secret. We understand
that no evidence was found sufficient to warrant
her detention, and she accordingly took her depar-
day before yesterday for Curacao, the port for
which she cleared 1t is now intmated that she
was purchased by the Venezuelan government.
This, however, is very unlikely. We have heard
that the evidence elected during the investigation
spoken of above was deemed sufficient to warrant
the arrest OF certain parties in this city suspi-
cion of being connected with illegal and criminal
projects against nations with which are at peace
Meantime the telegraph brings US reports of the
difficulty at Round Island, which lies off New
Orleans, and which seems TO have been made the
head quarters of the collected for this expedi
ton, whatever it may be- We stated yesterday
that the commander OF an American sfoop- Of war
had ordered these men to leave the island and dis
perse, and had threatened, in case they refused to
cut off their supplies and provisions, and to do all
in his power to force them to do SO. This proce-
dure, we learn to-day, has caused good deal of
excitement in New Orleans, and has been strongly
denounced as illegal and in gross violation of the
rights of American citizens. Of course, no accu-
rate judgment to the propriety OF his proceedings
can be found, until we are in possession of all the
facts which ii must be based 1t is very clear,
however, that if there is good reason to believe that
the persons assembled there, organized and armed,
mediate the invasion of any country with which we
peace, it not only the right but the duty of
the Government TO defeat that purpose. This has
always been so understood and acted upon, even by
those who were to be affected by it.
Mr. Van Buren,, in his second annual message,
censurcd in very severe terms the criminal con-
duct of some of citizens who he said, had ''as
sociated together to make ncursions from our ter
ritory into Canada, and to aid and abet insurrec-
ton there in violation of the obligations and laws
of the United States and in open disregard of their
own duties citizens" And still more emphat-
cally he declared that ''depredations by our citi-
zens upon nations peace with the United States,
or combinations for committing them, have at all
times been regarded by the American Government
and people with the greatest adherence. Military
incursions by citizens into countries 30 situated
and the commission of acts of violence on the mem
bers thereof, in order to effect change in Its gov
eminent, or under any pretext whatever, have
from the commencement of our Government, been
held equally criminal on the part OF those engaged
in them, and as much deserving punishment as
would be the disturbance of the public peace by the
preparation of similar acts within our own terri
tory And in accordance with these principles
Mr.. Van Buren,, while President, used all the pow
ers with which he was vested, to enforce the OBJ
servance of the law of Congress made to meet such
cases.
individuals, beyond all doubt, have right, SO
far our Government is concerned, to GO to Cuba,
to any other country in the world, and TO fomeni
a rebellion against its Government; but their FIRST
step in so doing must be to erpariafe themselves
They must first withdraw from all allegiance 10 our
laws, and from our jurisdiction Our laws forbid
| such enterprises, and 10 enter upon them, there
fore, without violating those laws, they must frs
| put themselves beyond their reach
These Cuban patriots have not done 80. They
| have congregated Round Island, which is part o.
the territory of the United States. They might jus
as well have started from Washington or from Bos
ton They are still within our limis, .ubjcct d
| our laws, and amenablc 10 the penalties imposed
| for their violation.
II, therefore, they have actually mbled Their
! for unlawful purpose, we can see ~ reason why
the law should not reach them. As TO the facts o
the case, we must wait until they are accessible.
! The Cuba Hunt.
| The expedition TO Cuba, called generally TIN
| ''Cuba Hunt" seems about to be blown sky -higl
by the interference of the authorities New York
who have caused three steamers, laden partly will
| arms and ammunition, to be seized, upon tn
! ground that the arms, &C., are to be used in un
| lawful enterprises; and five or six persons hav
been arrested. II is well, perhaps, for the hunter
that this has been done, as il may them from
being shot or hung in bad cause; and certainl,
many Of them might engage more proftably ant
more creditsby in less equivocal undertaking.
We expect our Government to demand and /