Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-12-03
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
FelloW-citi@ens ofthe Senate

yNA i"SSN AoA Jul lllSJ SCSSlOu' Oui SOuHlly IL
at peace with all the world The agitation which,
for time, threatened to disturb the fraternal re-
latons which make us one people, is fast subsi-
ding; and year of general prosperity and health
has 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 of qualification, at the
same time that he must be impressed with q
grateful sense of our profound obligations to a
benefcent Providence, whose paternal care is SO
manifest in the happiness of this highly favored
land.
Since the close of the last Congress, certain
Cubans and other foreigners resident in the Uni
ted States, who were more or less concerned in
the previous invasion of Cuba, instead of being
discouraged by its failure, have again abused the
hospitality of this country, by making it the
scene of the equipment of another military expe-
fdition against that possession of her Catholic Ma
ljesty, in which they were countenanced, aided
| and joined by citizens of the United States. On
receiving intelligence that such designs were en-
tertained, lost no time i'll issuing such insruc-
tons to the proper officers of the United States
as seemed to be called for by the occasion. By
the proclamation, copy of which is herewith
submitted, also warned those who might be in
danger of being inveigled into this scheme of its
unlawful character, and of the penalties which
they would incur For some time there was rea-
son to hope that these measures had suficed to
prevent any such attempt. This hope, however,
proved to be delusiye. Very early in the morn
ing of the third of August, steamer called the
Pampero departed from New Orleans for Cuba,
having on board upwards of four hundred armed
men, with evident intentions to make war upon
the authorities of the island. This expedition
otto 4Ln
of the United States. Its leader was Spaniard,
and several of the chief officers and some others
engaged in it, were foreigners. The persons COM
posing it, however, were mostly citizens of the
United States.
Before the expedition set out. and probably be-
fore it was organized, a slight insurrectionary
movement, which appears to have been soon sup
pressed, had taken place in the eastern quarter
of Cuba The Importance of this movement was
unfortunately so much exaggerated in the &C.
counts of it published in this country, that these
adventures seem to have been led to believe that
the Creole population of the island not only de-
sired to throw off the authority of the mother
country, but had resolved upon that step, and
had begun wel-concerted enterprise for effect
| ing it. The persons engaged in the expedition
were generally young and il-informed. The
steamer in which they embarked left N. Orleans
| stealthily and without clearance. After touch
| ing at Key West, she proceeded to the coast of
| Cuba, and, on the night between the 18th 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 dis
| tant leaving others to follow in charge of the
baggage, as soon as the means of transportation
could be obtained. The latter, having taken up
their line of march to 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 ofSpanish troops,
and a bloody conflict ensued; after which they
retreated to the place of Discrimination, where
about fifty of them obtained boats and re-em-
| barked therein. They were, however, intercept
ed among the keys near the shore by Spanish
steamer cruising on the coast, captured and car
ried to Havana, and, after being examined before
military court, were sentenced to be publicly
executed, and the sentence was carried into eff
feet on the 10th of August.
On receiving information of what had occurred,
Commodore Foxhall A. Parker was instructed to
proceed in the steam. frigate Saranac to Havana,
and inquire into the charges against the persons
executed, the circumstances under which they
were taken, and whatsoever referred TO their trial
and sentence. Copies of the instructions from
the Department Of State to him, and of his let
tiers to that Department. are herewith submitted.
According to the record of the examination,
the prison ers all admitted the offences charged
against them, Of being hostile invaders of the
island. At the time of their trial and execution
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 oath of August; Lopez, their
leader, was captured some days after, and exc
cuted on the LIST of September. Many of his re-
naming followers were killed, or died of hunger
and fatigue; and the rest were made prisoners.
or IL L. H.
cuted. Several of them were pardoned on appli-
cation of their friends and others, and the rest
about one hundred and sixty in number, We're
sent to Spain. Of the final disposition made of
these we have no official information.
Such is the melancholy result of this illegal
and Inflated expedition. Thus, thoughtless
young men have been induced, by false and
fraudulent representations, to violate the law of
their country, through rash and unfounded ex-
pectations of assisting to accomplish political rev.
olutons in other States and have lost their lives
in the undertaking. Too severe judgment can
hardly be passed, by the indignant sense of the
community, upon those who, being better in
formed themselves, have yet led away the ardor
of youth and illdirected love of political liberty.
The correspondence between this Government
and that of Spain relating to this transaction is
herewith communicated.
Although these offenders against the laws have
forfeited the protection of their country, yet the
Government may, so far as is consistent with its
obligations to other countries, and it's fixed pur-
pose to maintain and enforce the laws, entertain
sympathy for their unoffending families and
friends, as well as feeling of compassion for
themselves. Accordingly no proper effort has
been spared, and none will be spared, to procure
the release of such citizens of the United States
engaged in this unlawful enterprise, as are now
in confinement in Spain; but it is to be hoped
that such interposition with the government of
that country may not be considered as affording
any ground of expectation that the Government