Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-12-11
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PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
F5Loto CihaeaS Of the Senate

Fd}0lp CdzeaS Of the Senate
and House Of Representatives.:
congratulate you and our common constitu
ency upon tho favorable auspices under whicl
you meet for your first session. Our country il
al peace with all The world. The agitation which
for time, threatened to disturb The fratona re
latonS which nuke as one people, is fast subs
ding and yearol general prosperity and heuIll
W3 crowned the natloh with unusual blessings
None can look back to the dangers which arc
passed, or forward to the bright prospect before
us, without feeling a thrill of qualification, a
the same time that he,nust be impressed with
graceful sense OF our profound obligations to d
bonlhcent Providence, whose paternal care is Sc
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 CuLa, 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 expedition
against that possession Of her Catholic majesty
in which they were countcnanced, aided and
Joined by citizens of the United States. On re-
ceiving the intelligence that such designs were
entertained | lost no time in issuing such in
States as seemed to be called for by the occH-
sion. BY the proclamation, Il copy Of which Is
herewith submitted, also warned those who
might be in danger of being inyeghed into this
scheme of its unlawful character and OF the pen,
alties which they would incur. For some time
there was reason to hope that these measures
had sutiiced to prevent any such attempt Tins
hope, however, proved to be deusiVc, Very
early in themlO' ming OF the third OF August, a
steamer Gated the Pampero departed from New
Orleans, tor Cuba, having on board upwards OF
four hundred armed men, with evident lnen-
tons TO make war with the authorities OF the
island. This expedition was set on tool in pal
pable violation OF the laws of the United States
Its leader was Spamard, and seye al ofthe chief
officers, aud some others engaged in it, were
foreigners. The persons composing it, however,
were mostly citizens Of the United States
Before the expedition set out and probably
before it was organized, slight insuuectionary
movement, which appears to have been soon
suppressed, had taken place in the eastern quar-
ter Of Cuba. The Importance OF this movement
was unfortunately SO much exaggerated In the
accounts OF it Published IN this country, that
these adventures seem to have been led to be-
lieve that he Creole population Of the island not
only desired to throw off the authority of the
mother country, but had resolved upon that step,
and had begun well concerted enterprise for
sfi~oting it. The persons engaged in the eXpe-
uit'oh "oi9 s~"Ara!lY vQung and ll.infomed.--
! he steamer IN which theV embarked left New
Orleans stealthly and without u clearance Az
ter touching at Key W est she proceeded to the
coast of Cuba, and, on he night between the
1itll and l2lh of Angus landed the porzona o..
board at Paytes, 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 in charge of the baggage
as soon as the means of transportation could be
obtained. The latter, having taken up their lne
OF march to connect themselves with the main
body, and having proceeded about four leagues
into the country, were attacked on the monlng
of the 18th by body Of Spanish troops, and a
bloody conflict ensuod; after which they retreat
ed to the place of Decentralization, where about
ffy of them obtained boats and re.embarked
therein They were, however, intercepted among
the keys near the shore by a Spanish steamer
cruising on the coast, captured and carried to
Havana and, after being examined before mil
itary court, were sentenced to be publicly exc
cued, and the sentence was carried into effect
on the 10th Of August.
On receiving information of what had occur
red. Commodore Foxhall A. Parker was instruct
ed to proceed in the steam rlgate Suranac II
Havana and inquire into the charges agans
Athe persons executed the circumstances unde
which they we're taken, and whatsoever reere
TO the trial and sentence Copies of the instruc
tions from the Department OF State to HIM, an
Of his letters to that Department are herewlt
submitted.
According to the record Of the examination
abe prisoncrs all admitted the offences charge
apanst them, of beng hostile invaders OF ii
island. At the time OF their trial and execute
the main BODY OF the invaders was still In ii
field. making war upon the Spanish authorize
md Spansh subjects. After the lapse OF son
davs, being overcome by the Spanish troo
they disnolsed on the 24th of August; Lope
theIr leader, was captured some days after al
executed on the LIST Of September. Many OF |
remaining followers were killed, or died oil hu
ger and fatigue, and the rest were made prlso
crs OF these none appear to have Oeeh tr
OF executed Several OF them were PARDON
upon application Of their friends and others, a
the rest, about one bundled and sixty in numb
were sent to Spain. OF the final dsposltl
made of these we have no official information
Such is the melancholy result OF this lle9
and ili-fated expedition. Thus, ihousht9
young men have been induced, by false a
fraudulent representations, to violate the law
their county, through rash and unIounded {
pectations Of assisting to accomplish pobl'
revolutions in other states, and have lost In
lives in the undertaking, Too severe luds
ment can hardly be passed, by the mdgni
sense OF the community, upon those who, pei
better Informed themselves, have yet led a"
the ardor Of youth and an Ill directed love
noliica liberty. The correspondence betwt
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