Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-12-13
Presidents Message.
gems of the Senate,

peace with all the world. The agitation which,
for time, threatened to disturb the fraternal rela
tons which make US people, is fast subsiding
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 grateful sense
of our profound obligations to a benefcent Provi-
dence, whose paternal care is so manifest in the
happiness of this highly favored land.
Since the close of the last Congress- certain Gu
bans and other foreigners resident in the United
States who were less concerned in the
previous invasion of Cuba, instead of being dis
couraged 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 countenanced, aided and joined
by citizens of the United States. On receiving in
telligence that such designs were entertained, I
lost no time in issuing such instructions to the
proper officers of the United States as seemed to
be called for by the occasion. By the proclama-
tion a copy of which is herewith submitted, | also
warned those who might be in danger of being in
veiged into this scheme of its unlawful character,
and ofthe penalties which they would incur. For
some time there was reason to hope that these
measures had suffced to prevent any such at
tempt. This hope, however, proved to be delu
sive. Very early in the morning of the third of
August, a steamer called the Pampero departed
from New Orleans for Cuba, having on board up
wards of four hundred armed men, with evident
intentions to make upon the authorities of the
Island. This expedition was set on foot in palpa-
bic violation of the laws ofthe United States. It's
leader was Spanard, and several of the chief of
fcers and some others engaged in it, were for
eigners The persons composing 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 un-
fortunately much exaggerated in the accounts
of it published in this country, that these adven-
turer> seem to have been led 10 believe that, the
Creole population of the Island only desired to
throw of the authority of the mother country, but
had resolved upon that step, and had begun a
well-concerted enterprise for etfecting it. The
persons engaged in the expedition generally
young and ill-informed. The steamer in which
they embarked left New Orleans stealthy and
without a clearance. After touching at Key West,
she proceeded to the coast of Cuba, and, on the
night between the 11th and 10th of August, land
ed 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 soou 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 of Spanish troops, and bloc
dy conflict ensued 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 military court, were
sentenced to be publicly executed, and the SEN
tence was carried into effect on the 9Th day of
August
On receiving information of what had occurred
Commodore Foxhall A. Parker, was instructed
to proceed in the steam frigate Saranac to Ha-
vana and inquire into the charges against the per-
sons 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 Department are herewith submit
ted.
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 and execution the main body
of the invaders was still in the field, making war
upon the Spanish authorizes and Spanish ubjects.
After the lapse of some days, being overcome by
the Spanish troops, they dispersed on the 24th of
August Lopez their leader, captured some
DAYS after, and executed on the 1st of September.
Many of his remaining followers were killed, or
died of hunger or fatigue, and the rest made
prisoners. Of these, none appear to have been
tried or executed. Several of them were pardon
ed upon application 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 and
iIl-fated expedition. Thus, thoughtless young
men have been induced, by false and fraudulent
representations to violate the law of their country
through rash and unfounded expectations of assist
ing to accomplish political revolutions in other
ates 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 informed themselves have yet
led away the ardor of youth and l-dreeted
love of political liberty. The correspondence be-
tween 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 It's
obligations to other countries and its fixed pur-
pose to maintain and enforce the laws entertain
sympathy for their unoffeding 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 un
lawful enterprise, now in confinement in
Spain butt is to be hoped that such interpos-