Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-06-15
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.

We learn the names of the following persons who
were shot at Matanzas, having been concerned in
the invasion of Lopez and his band at Cardenas
George Warner, of Evansville, Indiana; -- Kelly,
formerly resident of Cincinnati - Me Greggor,
residence unknown. -.
We were surprised to see in the Evening Post a
charge against the Administration (which it has
since dsclaimed however) of giving countenance to
the invasion of Lopez. The Post had said that the
Spanish Minister kept Mr.. CLAYTON advised of the
movements Of the revolutionists or marauders, and
censured the Secretary for his tardy interference.
Now the fact turns out to be that Mr.. Clayton gaze
the Spanish Minister the first notice he ever re-
ceived of the sailing of the expedition. The Span
ish Minister was not better informed, nor so well
informed as the Secretary, respecting the illegal
movement and the correspondence before the Sc
nate will show that every possible effort was made
by the Administration to arrest the expedition. 1t
now appears that the men enlisted went professedy
as citizens going to California; that the barque and
brig which contained part of the expedition were
chartered for Chagres at the usual price per pas
senger, and that the captains and crews had no
picion of their destination until they arrived at a
certain latitude, when, by order of one Of the lead
ers, named Wheat, they were compelled to change
their course. The Administration needs no apollo
gsts to defend its course By its active interposi-
ton during both the expeditions which were got up
against Cuba, it has completely frustrated the
plots of these consprators against the National hon
or, that although the plan has been Matching for two
- h. l.oI al,
midnight effort at Cardenas, not above the dignity
of a highway robbery. The leader of the enter
prise is arrested for trial. and it is earnestly hoped
his merits may be melted out to him by an honest
and intelligent American court and jury-a court
that it is hoped will wait few days for the produc-
ton of witnesses against notorious criminal, be-
fore turning him loose upon society again. and a
jury having not American names only, but Ameri-
can hearts, duly sensitive on the point of national
honor, and prepared to vindicate the good faith and
laws OF their country. E.. T.. ~. ~
As to the Conoy prisoners we cannot doubt that
the justice of the Spanish authorities in Cuba will
respond at once to the American view of the SUBJ
ject. They will by the information transmitted
to them by their excellent Minister at Washington,
that the President has done every thing within his
power to stop the INVASION and that he perseveres
without ceasing in maintaining the honor of this coun
try and the faith pledged in its treaty with Spain.
Had the President not interfered-had the treaty |
not existed-had the honor of this Government not |
demanded his interference, and especially had
man of loose political morality occupied the chair
of State during the past year. instead of miserable
band Of six hundred invaders Cuba might have been
assailed by twenty times that number. Let the
Spanish authorities in Cuba compare the efforts
made by the American Government to suppress an
expedition against rich island within few days
sail of the most populous American cities, with the
corresponding efforts made in European countries
to suppress similar expeditions against the Spanish
domnions in the South American States. Consider
ing the proximity of Cuba to the United States, the
oppressive restrictions on our commerce with that
island, so irritating to the American mind, the
shooting of the prisoners at Matanzas, Of which we
admit our Government cannot complain according
to the law of nations, and the numerous subjects of
vexation in regard to the alleged treatment of Ame-
ricans in this island for many years past, defy
any European nation to produce the instance in
which, under similar difficulties, it has better vindi-
Gated the faith of its treaty stpuations. We know
that country will be assailed in Europe for these
transactions in the United States, all of which
originated among alien foreigners, nineteen-twen.
tieths of them being Spaniards, who have abused
the hospitality of the country by fitting out in
this predatory expedition. ..