Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-12-10
PREsaDEN rs MESSAGE.
Fsllo,o citizens of the Senate
md of me Hotise of Representatives..


YOU meet for your fist session our country IS
=, reora with All the world. The agitation which,
fn- a time Threatened to disturb the traernal re-
Iat;ons which make US one people Is fast suoSld-
inu and year OF general prosperity ana health
has crowned the uatlOu with unusual blessings
Wone can look back to the greaE dangers which .
are nassed OF forward 10 the bright prospect before
ms without feeling a thrill OF qualification, al
the same time that he must be impressed win
a grateful sense OF Our profound oouga'iohs 10
a benefcent Providence, whose pateiual care Is
so manifest in the haPpIness OF lhS niSull -la'o'-
ed land. ,;
Since the close Of the last Congress, certain |
Cnbons and other foreigners resident IN The UNI |
tet States. who were more or less concerned Ill
the previous invasion OF Cuba, instead OF oelnS
discouraged BY its failure, haveaSaln abused lne
hospitality of this country, by making 'he
scene of the equipment OF another mihtarY eA
pedition against that possession OF her Ca'lo!iI
majesty, in which they were countenahceG, aiu-
Oh and ioined by citizens OF the Cnlteu States
On receiving intelligence that such ueslgns were
entertained, lost no time III Issuing suCh Ill,
s,rurt;ons 10 the proper officers OF the United
States as seemed to be called for by the occasion
Ry ,be proclamation, q copy OF which is here
With submitted. Il also warned those who might
be in dancer of being inyeigled into this scheme
Of lis unlawful character, aud OF the penalties
which they would incur. For some time there
was reason TO hope that these measures.had sui
feed 10 prevent any such attempt 1ais nope,
bowever. proved to be delusive. Very eaTly IN
The morning of the third of August steamer
called The Pampero departed from New Orleans
for Cuba, having on board upwards oil lour nun
dred armed men, with evident intentions 10
make war upon the authorities oil the isianu' MS
evnedition was set on loot in Palpao!e violation
IT,, Sf,ttA
, Snaniard, and several Oi the chlei ofhcerS, ana
some others engaged in it were foreigners. Inc
nersons composing ii, however, were mostly cl-
tizens of the United States
Before the expedition set out, and prooaoy
before it was organized, a slight lnsnrrectiohary
movement which appears 10 nave oeeu soou
suppressed, had taken place IN the eastern quar-
ter of Cuba The Importance OF tins movement
was unfortunately 80 much exaggerated III the
accounts OF il published IN thus country, 'ha'
these adventures seem to have oeen leI 70 De-
Geye that the Creole population ot tue iSahI uo'
oulr desired to throw of the authority OF The
n,o,ber country, but had resolved upon that step,
and had begun a well.coucerted enterprise Tor
eAectiug it. The persons engaged IN the eXpe-
duion were generally young aud i.mlorme1.-
Tte steamer in which they embarked lett New
Orleans steahhill and without a clearance. AL
fer touching al Kew West, she proceeded 10 lhe
co,st of Cuba. aud, on The night between the
NH and 10Th of Augusi, landed the persons on
board at Playtas, within about twenty leagues
OF Havana.
ocE The ss bSdy % Of & hsR ERissSea ERiss ok leagues
distant, leaving Others TO follow in charge OF the
baggage as suOu as the means Ot transportation
could be obtained The latter, having taken up
their line of march to couuecl themselves with
the main body, and having proceeded about tour
leagues into ;he country, were attacked on me
morning Of the l3lh by body OF Spanish
troops aud a bloody conflict ensued after which
thew relreated to the place OF Decentralization,
where about & fty Of them oblaued boats and
re.embarked therein. They were, however,
intercepted among the keys near the shore by a
Spanish steamer cruising on the coast, captured
aud carried to Havana, and, after being exam
ined before military coul. were sentenced 10
be publicly executed, and the sentence was car
ried into effect on the 10th OF August.
On receiving information Of what had occur
red Commodore FOxhal A. Parker was instruct
ed to proceed in the Steam-tr"ate Saranac 10 ia-
vana aud inquire into the charges against the
persons executed the circumstances under which
they were taken, aud whatsoever referred to their
trial aud sentence Copies Of The instructions
ON the Department OF State to him, and OF his
letters 10 that Department are herewith submit
ed. :.
According to the record of examination, the
prisoners all admitted the offences charged a.
painst them, Of being hostile invaders OF the Is
land 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. Alter me lapse OF some
davs, beinu overcome BY the Spanish troops, they
dispersed on the oath OF August Lopez. thell
leader was captured some days after, aud exc
cuted on The lst of September, Many OF hi;
remaining followers were killed, or diet OF hun-
ger and fatigue aud the rest were made prison
ers Of these, none appear to have been tried
or executed Several Of them were pardonec
upon the application of their friends aud Others
and the rest about one hundred aud sixty it
number, were sent to Spain. OF the final dis
position made OF these we have 10 official lntor
NATION.
Such is the melauC holy result OF this llega
and i'll fa;ed expedition. Thus, thoughtes
yourg men have been induced, by false and frau
dulent representations, TO violate the law OF thej
country, through rash and unfounded expecta
tions OF assisting 10 accomplish political revolt
tons in other States, and have lost their lives il
the undertaking. Too severe 4 Judgment ca
hardly be passed, BY the indignant sense of tn
community upon those who, being better inform
ed themselves, have yet led away the ardor O
youth and an ill-dreclel love OF political liberty
The correspondence between this Goyernmel
and thai of Spain relating 10 this transaction
herewith communicated.
Although hese Offenders against the law
have forfeited the protection OF their country
vet the Government may, SO far as Is consisten
with its obligations To- other countries, and il
fixed purpose TO maintain and euinrce the laws
entertain sympathy for their uaoflaudug fam
Iesand friends, as well as feeling OF co-npas
sion for themselves. Accordingly no propere
fort has been spared, and none will be spared
TO procure the release of such citizens OF tn
United States engaged in this unlawful enter
prise, As are now m confinement in Spain bu
IL is TO be hoped that such interpoSiiou with tn
government OF that coOn;ry NAV not be consI
cred as adoriing any ground Of eynecialion ha
the Government of the United States will here
after, feel itself unler ans Obligation of duty Il
intercede for the liberation or pardon of spcI
persons rs are fragrant offenders against the Iav
of nations aud the laws of the Uuited Stales.-
These laws must be executed. II we desire L
maintain orr responsibility among the nation
Of the earth, il behooves Us 10 enforce steadil
and s,ernly the neutrality acts passed by Con
gress, and to follow, as far as may be- the vic
laton Of those acts with coudian punishment.
But what gives peculiar cripiualiiy TO thi
invasion OF Cuba is, that nnder the lead
Spanish subjects and with the all Of citizens
the United States, it had IFS origin, with many
in motives of cupilily. Money was advance
by individuals. probably in considerable q
mounts to purchase Cuban bonds, as they hav
-, M, aJ is-uoJ L,,T 7 c,o, .lo,htlo-, g,