Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-12-11
IOR PRrNTHNG.
Presidents Message.
FeHoU-citzenS Of the Senate
god offbo Ho,tSo Of Rporoc,


FeyIow-ciiaens Oft the Senate
and Of the House Of Representatives.
| congratulate you and our common constit-
uency upon 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 to dis
turb the fraternal relations which make US
one people, is fast subsiding; ard year OF
general prosperity and health has crowned the
ration with unusual blessings. None can
look back TO the hangers which are passed, or
forward to the bright prospect before us, with
out feeling thrill OF qualification, atthe same
time that he must be impressed with great
tul sense of our profound obligations 10 a be-
nelcent Providence, whose paternal care is
50 manifest in the happiness OF this highly
favored land.
Since the close of the last Congress, certain
Cubsns and other foreigners residents in the
United States, who were more or less con-
cerned in the previous invasion of Cuba, in
stead 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 pos
session of her Catholic majesty, in which they
were countenancei, aided and joined by citi
zcns Of the United States. On receiving
intelligence that such designs were entertain
cd. 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, 4 copy OF which is herewith
submitted, l also warned those who might be
in danger of being inveigled into this scheme
of It's unlawful character and of the penalties
r-h fbo.-
there was reason 10 hope that these meas
ures had suficed to prevent any such attempt.
This hope, however, proved to be dclusive.-
Very early IN the morning Of the third Of Au-
gust, q steamer called the Pampero departed
from New Orleans for Cuba having on board
upwards Of four hundred armed men, with ev-
Ident intentions to make war upon the author
Iles Of the island. This expedition was set
on foot in palpable violation of the laws Of
the United States. Its leader was Span
lard, and several of the chiefoficers, and some
others engaged in it, were foreigners. The
persons composing ii, however, were mostly
citizens of the United States.
Before the expedition set out, and probably
before it was organized, slight iDsurrection-
ary movement, which appears to have been
soon suppressed, had taken place in the east
ern quarter of Cuba. The Importance of this
movement was unfortunately so much exag-
gerated in the accounts Of it published in this
country, that these adrenturers seem to have
been led to believe that the Creole population
Of the island not only desired to throw of the
authority Of the mother country, but had re-
solved upon that step, and had begun we'll
concerted enterprise for efecting it. Tie
persons engaged in the expedition were gen
orally Young and Informed. The steamer in
which they embarked left New Orleans steal
lk.iy, and without clearance. After touch
ing at Kew West she proceeded to the coast
Of Cuba, and on the night between the l1th
and 18th Of August, landed the persons on
board at Playtas, within about twenty leagues
u Havana
The main body of them proceeded to, and
took possession OF, an, inland village, six leag-
ues distant, leaving others to follow in charge
OF the baggage, as soon as the means Of trans
portation could be obtained. The latter,
having taken up their line of march to con-
meet themselves with the main body, and hay
proceeded about four leagues into the coun-
try, were attacked on the morning Of the
18th by body Of Spanish troops, and bloody
conflict ensued after which they retrea-
ted to the place of disembarcation,. where
about fifty of them obtained boats aud re-em-
barked therein. They were, however, inter-
cepted among the keys near the shore by
Spanish steamer cruising on the coast, cap
tured and carried to Havana, and, after being
examined before military court, were sen
fenced 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 Sa-
ranac TO Havana, and inquire into the charges
against the persons executed, the circumstances
under which they were taken, and whatsoev-
er referred TO their trial and sentence. Cop
les of the instructions from the Department
Of State to him, and of his letters to that De-
partment are herewith submitted
According TO the record of the examina-
ton, the prisoners all admitted the offences
charged against them, of being hostile inya-
ders of the island. At the time of their trial
and execution the main hody of the invaders
was still in the field, making war upon the
Spanish authorities. After the lapse Of some
days, being overcome by the Spanish troops,
they dispersed on the 24th of August; Lopez,
their leader, was captured some daysafter, and
executed on the Ist of September Many of
hls remaining followers were killed, or died Of
hunger and fatigue, and the rest were made
prisoners. OF these, none appear TO have
been tried or executed Several of them