Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1851-12-05
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Ftllo,r-cit.zens oC lie Senate and

which YOU meet tor your firSt session Our
country Is at peace with all the world. The
agitation which, for & tlmc, threatened to
disturb the fraternaI relations which makes
us one people, is fast subsldmg: and year
of general prosperity and health mas 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 thrill ol Sratltl-
cation, at the same time that he must be nm
pressed with q grateful sense of our profound
obligations to a beniticent Providence whose
paternal care is 50 manifest in the happiness
Of this highly-tavored land.
Since the close of the last Congress certain
Cubans and other foreigners resident IN the
United States, who were more or less CON
cermed in the previous invasion "t Cuba,
instead Of being discouraged by Its failure,
have again abused the hospitality Of this
country, of making it the scene OF the equip
ment II another military expedition against
that possession of her Catholic majesty, in
which they were countenanced. aided and
ioined bv citizens Of the United States. On
receiving Intelligence that such designs were
entertained. | lost no time III issuing such
instructions to the proper officers Of the Cni-
ted States n seemed to be called for by the
occasion. By the proclamation, copy OF
which is herewith submitted, | also warned
those who might Ice in danger of being IN
yeigied into this scheme Of its unlawful char
actrr, and of the penalties which they would
incur. For some time there was reason 10
hope that these measures had suficed TO pre-
vent anv such attempt. This hope, however,
proved IL be deluSiTc. Very early IN the
morning Of the Sd Of August, n steamer
called the Pampero departed from New Or
leans for Cuba, having on board upwards Of
3aur hundred armed men, with evident inten-
rions to make war upcn the authorities Of the
island. This expedition was set on foot IN
pulpablc violation 0t the laws OF the United
States Its leader was a Spaniard. and sew
craI Of the chief officers and some others
engaged in it, We're foreigners. The persons
composing it. however, were mostly citizens
ot the United States.
Before the expedition set out, and probably
before it was organized, slight insurrec-
tionarv movement which appears to have
been soon suppressed had taken place in the
eastern quarter of Cuba The Importance of
this movement was unfortunately SO much
exaggerated in the accounts of it published
in this country. that these adventurers seem
10 have been led to believe that the Creole
population Of the island not only desired to
throw of the authority Of the mother country,
but had resolved upon that step, and had
begun a weli-concerted enterprise for effect
ing it. The persons engaged in the eXpedl-
lion were generally young and ill-infurmed.
The steamer III which they embarked left
New Orleans stealthily and without Il clear
auce. After touching at Key West, she pro-
cecded to the coast Of Cuba, and on the night
between the lth and 18th Of August landed
the persons on board at Playtas, within about
twenty leagues Of Havana.
The main body Of them proceeded TO- and
took possession Of an inland village, six
leagues distant leaving others to follow in
charge Of the baggage, as soon as the means
Of transportation could he obtained. The
latter, having taken up their line of march
20 connect themselves with the main body,
and having proceeded about four leagues into
the country, were attacked on the morning
Of the 18th by body Of Spanish troops, and
q bloody conflict cnsued after which they
retreated to the place Of Decentralization,
where about fifty Of them obtained boats and
re-embarked therein They were, however,
Intercepted among the keys near the shore
by Spanish steamer cruising on the coast,
captured and carried to Havana, and, after
being examined before Il military court, were
sentenced to be publicly executed, and the
sentence was carried into effect on the 10Th
of August.
On receiving information of what had oc-
CURED, Commodore Foxhall A. Parker was
INSTRUCTED to proceed in the steam irigate
Sasanac to Havana, and inquire into the
charges against the persons executed, the
circumstances under which they We're taken
and whatsoever referred TO their trial and
sentence, Copies Of the instructions from
the Department Of State to him, and of his
letters to that Department. are herewith
submitted
According to the record of the examination.
the prisoners all admitted the offences charged
against them, Of being hostile invaders of the
island. At the time of their trial aud cXccu-
ton 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 9th
IF August: Lopez. their leader, was captured
some days after, and executed on the lst of
September. Many Of his remaining followers
We're 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 pardoued upon applica-
ton 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 information
Such is the melancholy result Of this illegal
aud ilIfated expedition. Thus. thoughtc>s
young men have been induced, by false and
fraudulent representations, 30 violate the law
Of their country. through rash ami unrounded
Expectations Of assisting 10 accomplish politi-
cal revolutions IN other States. and have lost
their lives in the Undertaking. Too severe a
Judgment can hardly be passed, by the in
diGnant sense Of the community, upon those
who, being better informed themselves have
set led away the ar.ior Of youth and an i'll
directed love Of political liberty The CORES
pondahee between this government and that
Of SPAN relating 10 this transaction is here
with c0mmuuca ted
Although these offenders against The laws