The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1851-12-10

icu W tncH tftdi Auu sEuttnIc. IhfIts
Of the instructions from the Depart
ment Of State to him, and Of his letters
TO the Department. are herewith sub
mitted.
According tn the record of the exa-
mination, the prisoners all admitted
the offences charged against them, Of
being hostile invaders Of the island. At
the time Of the trial and execution the
main body Of the invaders were still in
the field. making war upon the Spanish
authorities and Spanish subjects. AZ
ter the lap.e Of some days. being over
come by the Spanish troops, they dis
persed ON the 24th Of August; Lopez,
their Leader, was captured some days
after, and executed ON the LIST Of Sep
tember. Many Of his remaining follow
ers were killed, or died of hunger or
fatigue. and the rest were made prison.
ers. OF these, none appear to have
been tried or executed. Several Of
them were par,loned upon application
of their friends or others, and the rest,
about one hundred and sixty in num-
Der, were sent to SPAN. OF the final
disposition made Of these we have no
Official information.
Such is the melancholy result Of this
illegal and ill-fated expedition. Thus,
thoughtless young men have been IN
duced, by false and fraudulent repre-
sentations. to violate the law Of their
country, 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 a judgment can
hardly be passed BY the indignant sense
of the community, upon those who, be-
ing better informed themselves, have
vet led away the ar,lor of youth and an
ill-directed love of political liberty.
The correspondence between this gov
ernment and that Of Spain relating to
this transaction is herewith communi-
Gated.
Although these offenders against the
laws have forfeited the protection Of
their country, yet the government may,
so lar as is consistent with its obliga.
tions to other countries, and its fixed
purpose 10 maintain and enforce the
laws, entertain sympathy for their un-
offending families and friends, as well
as feeling Of compassion for them
selves. Accordingly no>propcr effort
has been spared, and none viii be spar
ed, to procure the release Of such citi-
zens Of the United States, engaged in
this unlawful enterprise. as are now in
confinement in Spain but il is to be
hoped that such interposltion with the
government Of that country may not be
considered as alfording any ground Of
expectation that the government of the
United States will, hereafter, feel il.
self under any obligation of duty to in-
tercede Jor the liberation or pardon Of
such persons as are fragrant offenders
against the law of nations and the laws
Of the United States. These laws mus,
be executed. Ii we desire to maintain
our responsibility among the nations el
the earth, it behooves us to enforce
steadily and sternly the neutrality acts
passed by Congress, and to follow, as
far as may be, the violation Of those
acts with condign punishment.
But what gives peculiar criminality
to this invasion of Cuba is, that under
the lead of Spanish subjects and witt
the aid of citizens of the United States
it had its origin, with many, in motive,
Of cupidity. Money was advanced b,
individuals, probably in considerabl,
amounts, to purchase Cuban bonds, al
they have been called. issued by Lopez
sold, doubtless, at very large discount
and for the payment Of which the pub
Ilic lands and public property Of Cuba
Of whatever kind, and the fiscal re-
sources of the people and government
of that island, from whatever source I,
be derived, were pledged, as well a
the good faith Of the government ex
pected to be established. All thes
means of payment, it is evident, wer
only to be obtained by process Q
bloodshed, war, and revolution. Non
, will deny that those who set on foo
military expeditions against foreig
. States by means like these, are ia
more culpable than the ignorant an
! the necessitous whom they induce I
) go forth as the ostensible parties in tn
E proceeding. These originators Of tn
, invasion Of Cuba seem to have detel
!; mined, with coolness and system, upo
{ an undertaking which should disgrac
{ their country, violate its laws, and p,
to hazard the lives Of ill-informed an
: deluded men. You will consider VIII
e ther further legislation be necessary
E prevent the perpetration Of such offel
!, ces in future.
: No individuals have a right to ha;
: ard the peace of the country. or to vi
: late its laws upon vague notions Of a
: tering or reforming governments
other States. This principle is not o.
d ly reasonable in itself, and in accor,
! ance with public law. but is engraft'
h into the codes If other nations as we
, as our own. But while such are Il
! sentiments Of this government, it m;
h lbc added that every independent nate