The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-08-23
From The Philadslphia North american.
The Cuban Invaders.

port about forty miles west Of Havana, with
a force of four hundred and fifty men and a
park of artillery; and, taking lesson from his
former experience at Cardenas or from the ridi-
cule which the nglorious abandonment of that place
drew upon him, he has initiated the we'll known ex-
ample Of Agathocle5 in ancient, and of Cortez in
modern times, and not indeed burnt his ships,
because he had but one, and that was chartered,
but sent her away-the sheet-footed Pampero-to
hunt for General Gonzales, and reinforcement OF
two hundred and fifty men awaiting orders at Jack
sonville
The die, in fact, has been cast, and upon what
cannot but appear desperate hazard. No one can
tell the result; nor can any deny that Lopez is
now in most serious position, cut off from friends,
supplies, and reinforcements flor that is practically
the cAse,) compelled to face an enemy vastly more
numerous and powerful at the worst than himself,
with no chance Of success, of life, except
what he hopes from the rising of the Creoles or the
detection of the Spanish soldiers in his favor. Sup
pose they fail. Suppose the Creoles hesitate, and
the "peninsulars" delay, the one party very
discreetly waiting for the action of the other,
how long can the invaders expect to sustain
themselves under the shock of the Captain Gene
rals attack; and what prospect is there of the
crults under Gonzales, or any other recruits from
the United States, ever joining thema The port Of
Cabahas is, as we said, But about forty miles from
Havana. 1t will, of course, be Immediately block
AIDED by strong naval force, more than suiii-
cient to prevent the return of the Pampero or the
entrance Of any other steamer from the Southern
States; and this is obvious difficulty that we
may assume that any fresh troops, whether sent by
the Pampero or any other vessel, will be sent to
some other pace-bIatanzas, or still more east
erly port-with view OF rousing the planters to
oxrnlt l.
But, in the meanwhile, the danger of that wor-
thy parsonage is much more obvious than his poll
cy- He cannot be expected to sit still, allowing
himseH to be shut up in Cabahas and overwhelmed
by numbers So near he is with this, the first,
party of invaders to the capital, it will be the aim
of General Concha to crush him at once, before
second detachment can make its appearance It
may be the interest of Lopez to gain time by post
ing to the interior, endeavoring to excite and arm
the peoples but it is not the interest OF the Captain
General to permit him and if the latter is any
thing OF soldier or a man Of sense, having any
reliance upon his Spanish troops whatever he will
not, but will compel him 10 action with his raw vol
unteers; and then we shall know what ia to be ex-
pected from American rifles alone against dsc-
Plined troops who do not happen to be Mexicans.
1t is most likely that the next news from Havana
will be of the most exciting character.
The intelligence of Lopezs landing will be a
spark to that powdery enthusiasm and blind pugna-
city in the South which cannot the free negroes
who make SO large accession to the numbers of
the PATRIOTS and SO anxious for Cuban lndepen-
dence and annexation; and vessels and officers are
ready, no doubt plenty more Of adventures will
be found rampant to try the experiment Of invasion
Besides the slogan of Cuban revolution, there will
be now the cry and additional stimulus of four hun
dred and fifty Americans in danger. Who knows
but that this was one Of Lopez's principal induce
ments to sending the Pampero away-the idea that
sympathy for many endangered Americans
would do more than sympathy for him or his cause
to hasten reinforcements relax the efforts of the
United States authorities to preserve the public
faith and honor! Gen. Lopez has the credit among
those who know him of being brave soldier, but
not particularly good gencral-better at leading
charge than directing battle arranging the
policy OF a campaign He may havc-and for the
sake OF the rash young men whom no has seduced
TO Cuba, 1t must be hoped he has-more shrewd
ness and sagacity than were attributed to him;
but in the time, whatever DO the truth in this
particular, he has got himself and his men into
something very like the Caudne forks; whence it
may require all his courage and theirs with sue
cor and encouragement of some kind from the PEG
pie of Cuba, to get them out again.
Since writing and placing the above in type, the
Cherokee has arrived in New York, and her news
from Havana, up 10 the 18th, will be found in our
teicgraPhir column. The information she brings
IN reference TO Lopez and his party is confused
and contradictory that it can scarcely be deemed
reliable, and their fate for the present is wrapped in
darkness Our readers, however, will be struck with
the account of the arrest Of large number of un
armed men in open boats-apparently persons who
had abandoned his expedition, and were endeayor-
ing to make their way back to New Orleans-and
of their execution at Havana under circumstances
OF the most savage cruelty and brutality. We can
hardly believe this account to be true-t describes
an atrocity so nconceivably gross and wanton.
III 1t should prove 80, however, the only result will
be universal conviction in the United States that
Spain has outlived the period of her fortunes in |
Cuba, and that Spanish officials ought not to be
permitted to remain there longer, to shock the
world with acts of blood and barbarism unworthy |
of Camanches or theIK King of Dahomey. Civilized |
people in other partso the world make distnc-
ton between armed banditt, pirates, or rebels |
or whatever they may be called, and unarmed Ones
not criminal, but flying from crime; and if Gene
raj Concha cannot do So he does not deserve to be
treated like civilized being.
1t will be seen that another account represents
the prisoners TAKEN and afterwards shot at Havana
10 have been wounded fugitlyes; the idea being |
that Lopez had been encountered and defeated by
the royal troops and compelled 10 fly to the msun-
tains these unfortunate men being portion of his
routed followers, separated from the main COM
mand, and captured while endeavoring to make
their escape in boats. In either case, we perceive
an act of inhuman severity on the part of the
island authorities, which will not aid their cause
or strengthen their power. 1t is impossible to tell
what the truth is; but the probabilities that the
invaders have experienced complete overthrow,
and that tbsir cause is for the present lost.
1t appears that the American mail steamer Fall
con was fire into and otherwise outraged and in
suited by fSpanish vessel of war. This is cir
cumstanc, which ought to be Immediately in
quired inc by the Government Of the United States,
which should take the most summary means to de.
mand and exact the fullest and most satisfactory
reparatiqh for the indignity.
KossTrH AND HIS CoMrANIoNs.-A letter from
Vienna dated the 30th ultimo, which appears in
the English papers, says:
"Tbs negotiations with the Porte relative to Kos
suth and the other refugees beginning to assume
very serious tone, for the Porte continues 10 ner