The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-12-05

Pub bIi'hed Every Day-tsunday Erosptsd)-
BY j. H. MADDOX.
.,s,os.......No. % sr. cuAsL.s sr..,,.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
and Of the House Of Representatives.
Congratulate you and our common constitu
ency upon the favorable auspices under which yor
meet for your first session. Our country is al
peace with all the world. The agitation which
for time, threatened to disturb the fraterna
relations which make one people, is fast sub.
siding and year Of general prosperity and health
has crowned the nation with unusual blessings
None can look back to the dangers which are
passed, or forward to the bright prospects before
US, without feeling thrill of qualification, at the
same time that he must be impressed with prate-
inl sense OF our profound obgationsto to beneficent
Irovi ience, whose paternal care is manifest in
the happiness of this highly favored land
Since the close Of the last Congress, certain Gu
bans and other foreigners resident m the United
States, who were more less concerned in the
previous invasion of Cuba, instead of being dis
couIaged BY its failure, have again abused the hos
Pitahy OF this country, BY making it the scene of
the equipment of another military expedition
against that possession Of her Catholic majesty, in
which they were countenanced, aided and Joined
BY citizens Of the United States. On receiving
inteiligence that such designs were entertained, /
lost no time in issuing such instructions to the pro
per officers OF the United States as seemed to be
called for by the occasion. By the proclamation.
copy Of which is herewith submitted, also warned
those who might be in danger Of being inveigled
into this scheme Of its unlawful character, and Of
the penalties which they would incur. For some
time there was reason to hope that these measures
nao sufflced to prevent any such attempt. This
| hope, however, proved to be delusive Very early
In the morning Of the third of August, steamer
called the Pampero departed from New Orleans
for Cuba, having on board upwards of four hundred
armed men, with evident intentions TO make wa r
| upon the authorities of the island. This expedi.
| ton was set on foot in palpable violation OF the
laws OF the United States. Its leader was Span.
iard, and several Of the chief officers, and some
others engaged IN it, were foreigners. The per-
sons composing it, however, were mostly citizens
OF the U Dited States.
| Before the expedition set out, and probably be.
fore it was organized, slight insurrectionry move.
ment, which appears to have been soon suppressed,
had taken place in the eastern quarter of Cuba,
The importance of this movement was unfortu.
nateiy so much exaggerated in the accounts of it
published in this country, that these adventurers
seem to have been led to believe that the Creole
population of the island not only desired to throw
off the authority of the mother country, but had
resolved upon that step, and bad begun we'll. con-
cered enterprise for effecting it. The persons en-
| gagged in the expedition were generally young and
| ili'ihformed The steamer in which they embark
l SN 'oh stcdHnuv ana WITHOUT a clear.
| ance After touching at Key West, she proceeded
| 10 the Coast of Cuba, and, on the night between
the lth and 10Th of August landed the persons on
board at Playtas, within about twenty leagues of
Havana.
The main body of them proceeded to, and took
possession of, an inland village, six leagues, dis.
tant, leaving others to follow in charge of the bag.
gage as soon as the means of transportation could
be obtained The latter, having taken up their line
OF march to connect themselves with the main
body, and having proceeded about four leagues inlo
the country, were attacked on the morning OF the
"a, by a body OF Spanish troops, and bloody
cona;o, "sued after which they retreated to the
,in ~ e.; "arkation, where about fifty of them
obtained boats anu nJ aneo nou .neferh. h !ney
were however, nercep. s,',is;na III nn nIas ,bs
the shore by Spanish steam, as "a ~ nf,as n.
coast, captured and carried to Hava s..u e..er as
being examined before military court, W 'e ~.
fenced to be publicly executed, and the sentel.
was carried into effect on the l6lh of August.
On receiving information of what had occurred,
Commodore Foxhall A. Parker was instructed TO
proceed in the steam frigate Saranac to Havana,
and inquire into the charges against the persons
executed, the circumstances under which they
We're taken, and whatsoever referred to their trial
and sentence Copies of the instructions from the
Department of State to him, and of his letters to
that Department, are herewith submitted
According to the record of the examination, the
prisoners all admitted the offences charged against
them, OF being hostile invaders Of the island. At
'ho Vi tuci Trial execution the main DOuy
OF the invaders was stll in the field, making war
upon the Spanish authorities and Spanish subjects
Alter the lapse of some days, being overcome by
the Spanish troops, they dispersed on the 24th Of
August Lopez, their leader, was captured some
days alter and executed on the LIST of September.
died OF hunger and fatigue and the rest were made
prisoners Of these, none appear to have been
tried executed. Several of them were pardon ed
upon application of their friends and Others and the
rest, about one hundred and sixty in number were
sent to Spain. OF the final disposition made of |
these we have no official information.
such Is the melancholy result of this illegal and |
lll-tated expedition. Thus thoughtless young men
have been induced, by false and fraudulent repre-
sentatons, to violate the law of their country, |
through rash and unfounded expectations of assist
ing to accomplish political revolutions in other
States, and have lost their lives in the undertaking.
90 severe judgment can hardly be passed, by |
the indignant sense of the community, upon those |
who, being better informed themselves, have yet |
ed away the ardor OF youth and an illdirected love
Of political liberty. The correspondence between |
this Government and that of Spain relating to this
transaction is herewith communicated |
. Although these offenders against the laws have |
torieited the protection of their country vet the
government may, so far as is consistent with its |
y. to other countries, and its fixed purpose
10 maintain and enforce the laws entertain sympa
thy for their unofending families and friends, as
wen as feeling of compassion for themselves |
Accordingly no proper effort has been spared. and
none will be spared to procure the release of such
citizens OF the United States, engaged in the
unlawful enterprise, as are in confinement in
Spain but it Is to be hoped that such interpositon
with the Government of that country NAV NOT he
considered as affordng any ground Of expectation
that the Government of the United States will.
hereafter feel itself under any obligations of dntv
to intercede for the liberation or pardon of such
persons as are lagrant offenders against the law of
nations and the laws of the United States. These
laws must be executed. Ii we desiie to maintain
our responsibility among tie nations of the earth.
1t 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 with the aid OF citizens of the United
states, 1t had its origin, with many, in motives of
cnPldity. Money was advanced by individuals,
probably in considerable amounts, to purchase /
Guban bonds, as they have been called, issued by |
Lopez, sold, doubtless, at very large discount, |
ana ior the payment Of which the public. lands and /
public property Of Cuba, Of whatever kind, and |
the hscal resources of the people and government
Of that Island, from whatever source to be derived
were pledged, we'll as the good faith Of the gov
expected to be established. All these |
means OF payment, it is evident, were only to be /
obtained by process Of bloodshed, war and revo-
luton. Nome will deny that those who set on foot
military expeditions against foreign States by means
IKE these, are far more cupable than the ignorant
md thnr IL