The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-12-05

E.l,n,p. Citizens Of The SMais

agitation which, for time, threatened to
disturb the fratenal relations which make us
one people, is fast subsiding; and year ol
general prosperity and health has crowned
The nation with unusual blessings. None
can look back to the dangers which are pass
ed, or forward 10 the bright prospect before
us, without feeling thrill OF graslncatlon,
at the same time that he must be Impressed
with grateful sense of our profound, oo-
lipations 10 beneficent Providence, whose
paternal care is so manifest in the happiness
Of this highly-favored land.
Since he close of The last Congress, GER
Tain Cubans and other foreigners resident
in tbe United 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 expedition
against that possession OF her Catholic majes,,
", in which they were countenanced, aided
and Joined by citizens OF the United States
On receiving intelligence that such designs
ye,e entertained, lost no time in is
suing such instructions to the proper officers
of The United States as seemed to be called
for by the occasion. By the proclamation,
a 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 reason to hope that these measures
had sufficed to prevent any such attempt
This hope. however, proved to be deluslve
Very early in the morning of the third Of
August, steamer called the Pampero de-
parted 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 was sci on foot in palpable vio-
lation of the laws OF the United States
lis leader was Spaniard, and several OF
the chief officers, and some Others engaged
in it, were foreigners. The persons compo-
sing it, however, were mostly citizens OF
the United States.
Before the expedition set out, and pro5a-
bly before it was organized, slight insur-
rectionary movement, which appears to
have been soon suppressed, had taken place
in the eastern quarter of Cuba. The impor-
lance of this movement was unfortunately
SO much aggerated in the accounts of ii
published in this country, that these adven-
turers seem to have been led TO believe that
the 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 a wel-concerted enter
prise for ef1ecling it. The persons engaged
in the expedition were generally young and
ill-formed. The steamer in which they en-
barked left New Orleans stealthily and with
out a clearance. After touching at Key
West, she proceeded to the coas; of Cuba,
and, on the night between the II III and 18th
of August, landed the persons on board at
Playtas, within about twenty leagues of Ha-
vana.
The main body of them proceeded to, and
took possession of, an island village, six
leagues. distant, leaving others 10 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 body, and
having proceeded about four leagus into the
county, were attacked on the morning OF
the 18th by body Of Spanish troops, and a
bloody conflict ensued; after which they re-
treated TO the place of decentralization
where about fifty of them obtained boats
and re-embarked therein. They were, how
ever, interrupted 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 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-frigate
Saranac to Havana, aud TO 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 10 him, and of his
letters to that Department, ara herewith
submitted.
According 10 the record of the examina-
ton, the prisoners all admitted the offences
charged against them, Of being hostile inva-
ders 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, be-
ing overcome by the Spanish troops, they
dispersed on the 2th of August; Lopez,
their leader, was captured some days after,
and executed on the lst Of fSeptember. Many
Of his remaining followers were killed, or
died Of hunger ami fatigue, and the rest were
made prisoners. OF those, none appear 10
have haen tried or eYecnte1 Several of
them were pardoned 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 ill.-
gal and ill-lated expedition. Thus, thought
less young men have been induced, by false
and fraudulent representations, 10 violate
the law of their country, through rash and
unfounded expectations Of assisting to ac-
complish 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, bein better
informed themselves, have yet led away the
ardor Of youth and an ill-directed love Of
political liberty The correspondence be-
tween this Government and that of Spain
relating 10 this transaction is herewith
communicated.
Although these offenders against The laws
have forfeited the protection Of their coun-
try, yet the Government may, so far as is
consistent with its obligations 10 other
countries, and its fixed purpose 10 maintain