The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1851-12-11
LANCASTER, DECEMBER 8, 1881.
PREsIpENT,s MESSAGE.
FelIOtv- Citi=ens of the Senate
ondof be House of ReDresenLatipes:

congratulate you and our common constItu
ency up on the favorable auspices under which
you meet for your first session, Our country is
at peace with all the world. The agitation
which, for time, threatened the fraternal rela-
tUna which make us one 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 pas
sed or forward TO the prospect before us, with
out feeling thrill of qualification at the same
time that he must be impressed with a grateful
senee OF our Profound obligations to benfcent
Providence, whose paternal care is so manifest in
the happiness of this highly-tavored land
Since the close of the last Congress certain
Cubans and other foreigners resident in the Unit
ed 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
of the equipment of another military expedition
against that possession of her Cath oc maes ty
in which they were countenanced, aided and
joined by citizens of the Uuted States On re-
ceiving intelligence that such designs were enter
taincd 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
proclamation, copy of which is herewith sub
mitted, | also warned those who night be in dan.
ger of being inveighed into this scheme OF its
unlawful character, and OF the penalties which
they would incur. For some time there was
sou To hope that these measures had suliced to
prevent any such attempt This hnpe, however,
proved to be deusive. Very early in the morn
ing of the third of August steamer called the
Pampero departed from New Orleans to Cuba,
having on board upwards OF four hundred armed
men with evident intentions to make war upon
the authorities of tho Island The expedition
was set on foot in palpable violation Of the laws
of the United States. Its leader wus a Spaniard,
and several Of its chief officers, and some others
engaged in it, were foreigners. The persons
composing it, however, were mostly citizens ol
the United States
Before tile expedition set out and probably be-
foro it was organized, a slight insurrectonary
movement, which appears to have been suppress
I'd, had taken place in the eastern quarter OF Gu
ba The importance OF this movement was uu
fortunately very much exaggeratedin the accounts
OF it 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
10 throw of the authority of the mot her country
but had resolved upon that step. and had begun t
well-coucerted enterprize for etiecting it. The
pergons engaged in the expedition were general
ly young and l.iniormed. The steamer in which
thew embarked left New Orleans stealthiy anC
without u clearance. After touching at Key West
she proceeded To the coast OF Cuba, and, on til,
night between the llh Il 10Th OF August landed
t!,e persons on board al Playtas within about .
leagues OF Havana.
The niein body proceeded to, aud took posses
ion of an Inland village, six leagues distant lcaV
ing others To follow in charge OF baggage, as 500
as the iioans o transportation could he obtained
The latter having taken up their line Of march t
connect themselves with the main body, aud hay
ing proceeded about four leagues into the country
were attacked on the morning of the 18th by
b.,,i. NJ S,,.t,iab and a hlpnlU CuulliCt
sued; after which they retreated TO the place
decentralization, where about fifty OF them Ol
tainsd boats and dsembarked therein. The
were however Intercepted among the keys net
the shore bya Spanish steamer cruising on I'll
coast captured and carried to Havana, and, altC
being examined by II military court, were eel
teuced to be publicly executed, aud the sentenc
was carried into effect on the 10th day OF Al
gust.
On receiving information OF what had occurre'
Commodore FOxhall a. Parker was instructed
proceed in the steam ligate Saranac to Havan
sad inquire into the charges against the persol
executed the circumstances under which IN.
were taken, aud whatsoever referred to their trl
aud sentence. Copies Of the instructions from Il
Department of State to him, and his letters 10 til
department, are herewith submitted.
According to the record OF examination, Il
prisoners all admitted the oHences charged AGAIN
them, oil oeing hosllle ilVuletS vi to 'eia''"'
the time ot their trial and execution 'le mn
body ot the Invaders was sui III tue H'id, ma
ing war upon the Spanish authorltles ahu oP"H
subjects. Alter tue lapse ot some Gays oe'l
overcome by tue Spanish troops, tnoy uISPerS'
on tho H4ih ot August Lopez their 'sa"eL' w
captured some days alter, and executeu on tno
OF September Many OF his remaining iolIo"e
were killed. or died Of hunger and fatigue, al
the rest were made prisoners. OF these. no
appear to have been tried or executed sever
OF them were pardoned upon application oI lh'
friends and others and The rest about ioo
number, were sent TO Spain Ot the iinal dlsp
stion made OF these, we have no official inform
ton.
Such is the melancholy result OF thls illegal a
i'll tated expedition. Thus, thoughllesS you
men have been induced, by false and irandule
representations, to violate the laws ol their cou
try, through rash and untounded expectations
assisting to accomplish political revolutions III o
er States, and have lost their lives III the uhu'
taking. Too severe judgment can hardly
passed, by the indignant SENSE ol the commnnl
upon those who. being better informed the
selves, have yet led away the ardor oil youth a
an ilEdirected love OF political liberty Inc
respondence between this government anu that
Spain,reIating to this transactlon,ls herewith co
munioated
Although these offenders against the laws hf
forfeited the protection OF their country, yet
government may, so far as is consistent with
obligations TO other countries, and its liked p
pose to maintain and enforce the laws. entert
sympathy for their unotiending families Il frien