Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-05-29
THE CUBA EXPEDITION.

left the different posts oil the country tor the purpose
of attacking the island of Cuba and revolutionizne
the government. The leader of the expedition is |
Gen. LOPEZ, Peruvian by birth, though it is said
distinguished citizen of the United States was 10 take
command on arriving at the island The men com
posing the force were enlisted in the interior
of the country and shipped principally from New
Orleans and New York They went on board
the vessels as emigrans to California without show
or parade, large portion of the rank and file
were volunteers in the Mexican war, and are said to
be ola far superior grade 10 those collected last sum-
mer for the same purpose. Where or how they were
enlisted, and, especially, where the money necessary
Tor the expedition comes from, seem to be deep mys-
teries. The New York Sun, the organ apparently
of the Patriots, states that the Isle of Pines and the
port OF Barecoa were selected as the points of disem-
barkaon. The former is small island at the South
Western extremity Of Cuba, celebrated for its quar-
ries of beautiful marble, where the Spanish govern
men have State prison for criminals and garrison
of five hundred troops; the latter is small port a,
the eastern extreme ofCuba, from whence it was sup
posed an easy conquest of the capital Of the island
might be made The objects of the expeditions as
sci forth in a proclamation Of Gen. LoPEz published
in the Sun, is ,he deverance of the island from Span
ish tyranny and lis ultimate annexation to the Uni
ted States general rising of the population ofthe
island was anticipated and the invaders expected to
be Joined also by considerable portion of the Span
ish troops
Our Government, having received information Of
these proceedings from private advices and through
the Spanish Minister, has taken steps to arrest the
expedition. The vessels of the Home Squadron, I'M
der Commodore PARKER, carrying altogether l79
guns have been ordered TO proceed forthwith TO Gu
ba with instructions TO prevent the landing Of any
military force organized in The United States, or in
the event of landing having been effected, "to pre-
vent the landing Of any reinforcemenls, or Of any
arms or provisions under the American flag, intended
for such expedition enterprise" Several OF the
vessels have by this time reached Cuba.
There is reason TO apprehend that the enterprise
has been encouraged by some prominent public men
of lhe United Slales who have personal and section
al Interests TO promote. Mr.. uLEE, of Florida, AM
ultra Southern man, introduced resolution in the
Senate last week, calling the President for informa
ton respecting the expedition and the course pursu
ed by the Government i'll reference 10 il. He dis
men but bitterly assailed the executive and decar
ed his cordial sympathy with the buccaneers, whom
he was pleased 10 call the "republcan party"
Northern (actionists, on the other hand, assal the
President for not having acted more promptly. They
nsnuate that if he 'dd not know of the expedition,
it was because he would nol," and that "lhere are
men in the Cabinet who will be very much disap.
pointed if the American squadron, which has sailed
in pursuit Of the invading expedition, should come
up with it," The Republic, referring 10 the duty Of
| the President in the case, says:
The act Of 1918, April 20h, in reference TO this subject
is very precise and stringent The sixth section declares
THAT any person SHALL within the territory or jurisdiction
of the United Stses, begin set on foot provide pre-
pare the for any military expedition enterprise
be carried from thence against the territory domnions
OF any foreign prince state, or uany COLONY, district
people with whom the United States peace, every
person offending shall be deemed guilty Of high misde
meano shall be fined exceeding $3000 and imprisoned
Than three years." For The enforcement of this
and the other sections of the the President is auhorz
ed and empowered employ the land naval forces or
the militia whenever there shall DO occasion. In the pres
ent case the expedition, in whole in part may have left
shores. The reports are various But the neutrality
Of our flag is under the cognzance Of the Government in
every sea and all parts Of the world
NS- After the above prepared, the following mpor
tant intelligence from Havana brought TO New York on
the 25h by the steamer Ohio, came to hand:
Gen. Lopez landed at Cardenas on the 9TH Instant with
force of 500 men, and took the town. The garrison com
posed Of GOO troops finally surrendered after losing three
men.
The greatest excitement prevailed in Havana The city
under martial law, and several thousand militia had
been enrolled. Arms and ammunition, &c., were being de-
veTed lhem The resident foreigners had also been call
ed upon enroll their Names There were fifteen hundred
troops at Matanzas and 500 dispatched from Havana
at o'clock A. NJ, the Goth for the purpose of REIN
forcing them In order 10 march against Gen. Lopez
rumored that the force under Lopez, had ncreas
ed about thousand men, and that he already half
way on his march towards Maanzas
News received Havana the l6h to the effect
that large force collecting Wamans Cor Normans
Island, Cape Catoche, Yucaan The General of the
Marines with several vessels and about 5000 men, started
Immediately for that point.
The forces Of The steamer Creole, with which Gen. Lo-
pei effected landing, is only small part othe expedition
1t is known that ten twelve vessels left New Or
leans and different ports of the Gulf probably to land SIM
ultaneously at different points,
1t reported that Lopez had broken up the railroad
leading to Cardenas, at different places. The principal
merchants and brokers at1avana removing their
ey plates and other valuable goods the fort for protection
Gen. Lopez landed from the steamer Creole which left
New Orleans on the 9TH inst Several other vessels con-
tanning in all 1900 or 500 had left New Orleans
previous to the Creole. Where they land is not
known.
TEA CuLTURE.-Dr. JumUs SMITH, of New York.
South Carolina last fall for the purpose of making
experiments in the cultivation of the tea plant. On the
first Of May he wrote, that, Notwithstanding Win
Ter and spring. entirely successful land
there was prospect Of obtaining much more delightful
tea than can be brought from China. He says:
In many respects possess natural and peculiar advan
tages which neither China nor Java nor India do or can
possess. Our market whether European or American lies