The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-03

proceed in the steam irigate 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 letters to
that Departmenissare herewith submitted.
According tothe 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 and execution, the main
body of the invaders 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 executed on the LIST
of September. Many Of HIS remaining followers
were killed, or died of hunger and fatigue, and
the rest were made toners Of these, none APP
pear to have beeRt I'd or 'uted Several! of
them were paldoned upon application Of their
friends and others, and the rest, about one hun
dred and sixty in number, were sent to Spain.
or the final disposition made of these, 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 coun-
try, through rash and unfounded expectations of
assisting TO accomplish political revolutions in
other States, and have lost their lives in the under
taking. Too severe judgment can hardly be
passed, by the indignant sense OF the community,
upon those who, being better informed themselves,
have yet led away the ardor of youth, and an i'll
directed love of political liberty. The correspond
ence between this government and that OF Spain
| relating to this ton, is herewith commu-
| nicated.
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 its fixed pur-
pose to maintain and enforce the laws, entertain
sympathy for their unofending families and
| friends, well 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 1t is to be hoped that
such interposition with the government of that
country may not be considered atfording any
ground Of expectation that the government Of
the United States will, hereafter, feel itself under
any obligation of duty to ntercede for the liberia
ton or pardon of sach persons are fragrant Of
tenders against the law of nations and the laws ct
the United States. These laws must be executed.
If we desire to maintain respectabllty
among the nations of the earth, 1t behoves us to
enforce steadily and sternly the neutrality acts
pas sed by Congress, and to follow, as far may
be, the violation of those acts with condign pun
ishment
But What gives a peculiar crimi rality to this
invasion of Cuba is, that under the lead of Span
ish subjects, and with the aid of citizens of the
United States, it had its origin, with many, III
motives of cupdity. Money advanced by
ndv 6uals, probably, in considerable amounts,
to purchase Cuban bonds, as they ave been
called, issued by Lopez, sold, doubtless, at a
very large discount, and for the payment ofwhich
the public lands and pubic property of Cuba, OF
whatever kind, and the fiscal resources Of the
, people and government of that island from what
ever source be derived, were pledged, as vel
! as the good faith Of the government expected to
, be established. All these means of payment Il
is evident, were only to be Obtained by process
Of bloodshed, war, aud revolution. None vii
deny that those who set on foot military eXpedi
tons against foreign States by means like these
q are far more cupable than the ignorant and the
necessitous whom they induce 10 go forth as tht
| ostensible parties in the proceeding. These orr
ginators Of the invasion Of Cuba seem 10 have
determined, with GOODNESS and system, upon al
undertaking which should disgrace their coun
try violate It's laws, and put TO hazard the lives
Of Uniformed and deluded men. You will con-
slider whether further legislation be necessary 10
prevent the preparation Of such offences IN
future.
No individuals have right TO hazard the peace
: Of the country or 10 violate its laws upon vague
notions of altering or reforming governments IN
other States. This principle is not only reasonable
in ITSELF and in accordance with public law, but il
, engrafted into the codes Of other nations as wei
as our own. But while such are the sentiments o
this government, IL may be added that every In
dependent nation must be presumed TO be able tt
, defend its possessions against unauthorized lndi
vduals banded together 10 attack them. Tit
government Of the United States at all times since
. its establishment, has nbstaned and has sought L
restrain the citizens OF the country, from entering
. into controversies between other powers, and e
observe all the uties Of neutrality. At early
period Of the government, IN the administration o
Washington, several laws passed for THU
purpose. The main provisions OF these laws were
n,.I ~. - t.r,1 hos hash
amongst other things. 1t was declared that II any
person shall, within the territory or jurisdiction Of
the United States, begin, or set on foot, or pro
r vide, or prepare the for any military eNpe
dition or enterprise 10 be carried on from thence
against ths territory or dominion Of any foreign
prince or State, or ANY colony, district, or peo.
pie with whom the United States are at peace,
every person so offending shall be deemed guilty
Of q high mlsdemeanor, and shall be fined, not
exceeding three thousand dollars, and imprs.
oned not more than three years; and this Law
has been executed and enforced, to the full extent
Of the power Of the government, from that day
to this.
! In proclaiming and adhering to the doctrine Of
neutrality and non.iutervention, the United States
have not followed the lead of other civilized ma.
tons; they have taken the lead themselves, and
have been followed by others. This was admitted
by one Of the most eminent Of modern British
statesmen, who said in Parliament, while miu-
lister Of the crown, that, n he wished for guide
in a system Of neutrality, he should take that laid
down by America in the days Of Washington and
the secretaryship Of Jetferson;" and We see, IN
fact that the act Of Congress Of ISIS was followed,
the succeeding year. by act Of the Parliament Of
England, substantially the same in its general
! provisions Up to that time there had been no
similar law in England, except certain highly
penal statutes passed in the reign Of George H.,
! prohibiting English subjects from enlisting in.
| foreign service, the avowed object Of which
statutes was, that foreign armies, raised for the
| purpose Of restoring the house Of Stuart TO the
throne, should not be strengthened by recruits
| from England herself.
All must see that difficulties may arise in car
! rying the laws referred to into execution in
country now having three or four thousand miles
Of sea coast, with an infinite number of ports and
harbors, and small inlets, from some Of which un-
lawful expeditions may suddenly set forth, with.
out the knowledge Of government, against the
possessions OF foreign States.
Friendly relations with all, but entangling ALI
ances with none, has long been a maxim with us.
Our true mission is not to propagate our opinions,
or impose upon other countries our form Of gov
eminent, by artifce or force but TO teach by eX.