Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-09-11

this melancholy affair has been fixed
desire on the part oi the South, general
iy, to acquire Cuba, and then an open
demonstration would have been made
for the establishment Of Southern Re-
public,-or, in other words, bold stand
would have been taken for dissolution
Of the Union.
There hos never been ''he slightest
evidence that any considerable portion
oflhe inhabitants Of Cuba were 80 far
dissatisfied with their Government as TO
be willing to revolt, and take up arms
against the authorities. On the contra
ry, all information which we have ever
had from there, which was at all reliable,
fully justifes the belief that the people
Of that Island are satisfied with their
government, as a general thing, and
that they we're ready to assist in put
ting down any invasion from the States.
No doubt there are some restless spirits
there, as there are in every country, who
are ready for plunder, and who would
be very vociferous and brave when there
was no danger. But we do not believe
that there has ever been one hundred
men in Cuba, who were ready TO rebel
against the government
1t is said by some writer's that there is
a general dissatisfaction amoDg the
people, but that they dare not rise, and
that they cannot effect anything because
they are SO closely watched. II their
government is 80 very oppressive, and
they have no redress through civil
ans,-then they do not deserve free
dom, because, if they are not willing TO
make the effort for it, they are not capa-
bic Of approaching its blessings, or pre-
serving its purity. Ifthey commence a
revolution themselves, and any Of the
citizens Of the United States are dispos-
I'd TO 20 to their assistance, that is all
very well,-but even in such case, all
such persons could expect no protection
from the United States, SO long as our
government was at peace with Spain
because their very act would make
them outlaws, and disfranchise them
from any claim upon the protection Of
the United States.
When the first expedition was fitted
out by Lopez against Cuba, about year
ago, a large number Of young men were
undoubtedly deceived in regard TO the
character Of the expedition, and were
thus nnocenlly prccipita,ed into trouble.
The Spanish authorities took this into
consideration, and after capturing the
invaders Of Cardenas, they made them
prisoners none were killed, and no
peNonal violence was inflicted. Our au-
thorities interposed, and in due course
Of time, all Americans were liberated.
The President issued a PROCLAIM alton
warning all persons against embarking
in any expeditions against Cuba, and in
forming them, i:r they did, that they
would be regarded as outlaws, and
would receive no protection from the
Government. Due notice was also civ
en- by the Captain General Of Cuba that
ifany persons again attempted 10 in
wade that Island, they would be regard.
ell as pirates, and would be executed as
such. These official notices were pub
lshed in all the papers Of the United
States, and full warning was therefore
brought home to all the people Of this
country ;and after this, whoever en-
barkcd in the last expedition, went with
IN entire sense Of their condition, and
what their fate would be, if they were
unsuccessful. Therefore, We say that
no one can complain Of the result. We
think that there are but few who will
justify the Cuban authorities in their
hasty execution OF these deluded men
they might safely have allowed them
more time to prepare for a change Of
worlds. Yet none can fairly deDounce
them in unmcasured terms, because we
all know what the hot-blood Of the
Spaniards is, and that they are by ma
ture revengeful people they did not
know 10 what extent the feeling against
them in the United States had spread
neither did they know what numbers
would invade their shores. The South
ern papers have represented that our
citizens were going by thousands to the
assistance o: Lopez, z,--and the Spanish
authorities had every reason to believe
that this was true ; and they conse-
qucntly probably felt that their only
safety depended upon executing the in
vaders as fast Gs they could catch them,
which they have done. Therefore,
although, as we stated before, their has.
~ conduct cannot be fully justified, ye,
there is very much to palliate the same.
Lopez was bad man, and he has
gone to the judgment bar Of God, not
only with his own guilt to answer for,
but with the blood Of hundreds OF his
victims upon his hands, while widows
and orphans and distressed friends are
breathing anything but blessings upon
his name and memory. All the seces-