Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-06-29
BRITISH pARlIAMENr.-cuBAN EXPEDITION.

/ BRfTtsH PARLIAMENT. EXPEDITION.
/ HOUSE, OF LoRDs, FRIDAr, Jusr T.
IA very long and irregular conversation upon this subject
place the table, II conducted for the mos,
part in thai low Of voice in which the noble lords nva
riaby speak such occasions Il is quite impossible ia
report such conversations with any degree of accuracy
Without pretending pledge ourselves for the verbal accu-
racy OF the matter we subon believe that the report
substantially accurael tl sat4t
Lord bRoUsHAM, after mentioning his Intellectual efforts
70 md the noble President of the Council Yesterday in order
notice Of the question which be was now going to
ask observed that abroad that expedition had
been prepared in the ports of the United States and had
actually sailed from hem for the purpose Of taking posses
SION Of the greatest Of the West India sandthe ancient
colony o. Cuna de had conception that that expedition
had sailed with the consent Of the American Government
the contrary, he believed that had sailed contrary to the
declared wishes and orders Of that Government He under
hahat expedition had only sailed but had
Spanish cruisers at and had actually landed on that
island his hope was that those piratesor the individuals
composing that expedition going plumber and make war
on unosndng people, were nothing else but pirates
would meet with condgn punishment. He wished 10 know
whether any communication Of the sailing of that piratca
expedition had been made by the American Minister in this
country to her Majestys Government He considered the
Government of the United Sates though of republican
class, to be respectable Government and he hoped that Il
had power and strength enough to prevent its subjects from
engaging IN pratca expedition upon large scale against
peaceful and unoffending people.
The Marquis of LAssDowsE replied that If he had had
the good fortune his noble and learned friend yester-
day, he did not know that he could have given him any
further information than that which he ready give him
at present This pratica expedition for pracal expedi-
ton it certainly was, and that too Of the very de-
scrponhsd been undertaken, not only without the cogni
zance but also with the entire dsapprobaon and eprobaon
Of the Government Of the United States her Maesys
Government had fully believed from the communications
which it had received from America, that ouch the case
would have made known its sentiments the subject to
the Government of the United States We had received
formation from the Government at Washington that il
its intention to prevent and check this unjust expedition
Information however, had been received that morning from
New Orleans stating of that expedition had actually
succeeded in laIding at Cardenas
Lord BRoUsHAM would have been much better satisfied if
the American Government had gone something further than
the dsclamng and repudang that expedition That
expedition formed for the express purpose Of practising
piracy, and piracy Of the description Private plumber
was great wrong to individuals but in this case an expe
dion collected Of 5000 5000 men, with the
intention Of carrying fire and sword with view to subse
quen punde into unoending country only in amity
with US, but also with the United States
The Marquis Of LASsDowNE ought to have stated that the
Government Of the United States had only dscamed and
rpudaed this expeditions but had actually given orders to
the commanders Of its squadons and its cruisers to stop and
prevent it, in sailed from the ports Of the United
States, or in case it met upon the open
Lord BRoUGHAM considered that statement to be satsfac
tory addition to that which had been previously made by the
noble Marquis. He could not however, understand how
600 5000 men could be armed and sent off from the
United States without the knowledge of the Government
there
The Earl of ABERDEEN had doubts to the sincerity
of the proceedings of the Government Of the United States
this subject had long been supposed that Cuba was an OBJ
jec desire various Powers We had ourselves been
peced Of looking with eye Of desire upon that island and
he ecoeced well that when twenty we were sus
peced Of unlawful designs against Cuba, he proposed that
the United States and France should with qua
rantyng that island to the Crown Of Spain The United
States however, refused accede to that proposal He
hoped that the force in that island sufficient to give
good Of the buccaneers who had undertaken this
petition. tla
Lord BRoUGHAM, lawyer not unacquanted with inter-
national law challenged denial this propositonthat all
civilized nations bound give help against praies and
tina, the commander of any British cruiser would be negl
gent his duty if he did not aid the Spanards against these
pates pirate considered hoSfis humont generis
His hand against every man, and mans hand
against him. @ # ggsGag,s.s i-%&
Lord STANLEY observed that the noble Marquis had given
very satisfactory explanation with regard to the course which
the Government of the United States had pursued and
prepared pursue but he had said word respecting
the which had pursued and going to pursue
He wanted know whether any instructions and, any,
what instructions had been sent to the OF our
squadrops in the West Indies in reference to this expedition
The Marquis of LANsDowNz not aware what lnsruc-
tons had been sent. More than communication had
passed between the English and American Governments
this subject. What the American Government had
put down this expedition he could not say without notice.
Lord STANLEY could almost fancy that the noble Mar
quis had not heard his question He then repeated it. and
concluded by asking, Have any instructions been sent
at all p 3ta a ss
The Marquis of LANsDowNF. am not prepared, without
notice. to what instructions sent and shall not
answer that question. ,a s
Lord STANLEY. The invasion of Cuba by buccaneerng
expedition matter Of Indifference to the people OF
this country and they naturally anxious to know what
instructions had been given to crusers in the West In
dia -
The Marquis Of LAssDowSE. The instructions could only
be eventual instructions and such instructions was not usual
to make known.
Lord STANLEY. Had any instructions been sent at all
Lord GREY In the present state OF affairs would be
breach Of duty the part Of Minister to answer such
question: He was surprised that with his official experience
the noble Baron should have asked it.
Lord STANLEY. am not to be taught my duty BY the
noble Earl opposite. Hear hear II is the right and duty
Of every peer in this House ask any question whereby he
can ascertain whether her Maess has perform
ed its duty on which concerns deeply the honor and
the interests of this country We have right to ask whe
Their any instructions have been sent commanders in
the West Indies especially appears that this matter has
been thought worthy Of being made the subject Of inerco
between our Government and that Of the United
States have put question to her Majesys Ministers.
and wish to know whether they will give any answer
at all, a|
Lord Be rising to speak when Lord STANLEY
waved his hand, saying at the time "No, no.
The Marquis of LANDsDowNg did not deny the right OF
the noble lord put the question but be must the other
hand exercise his discretion answering it. The noble
lord not consider himself the sole abter Of the will
of the House, the sole depository of it, dignity
Lord BEAUMesT said that the that the question
was under the consideration Of the Government ought to
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