Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-08-30
THE ISSUE OF THE CUBAN CONSPIRACY.

With what sincerity and earnestness we hav
endeavored to guard our country from the mishaE
which has now second time befallen it, of havin
its name placed before the world in conjunction
with the successive unlawful and criminal efforts
TO invade and overturn the Government OF IN,
Island of Cuba-as much and as undisputed ter
ritory of the Kingdom of Spain as Long Island il
Of the State of New York-our readers will bea
witness. We have not failed in our duty TO place
the matter in true light before them; to expose
the too prevalent delusion, in regard TO the morality
and legality of such enterprises; to exhibit theii
danger as well as their wckedness and to demon
strae their ncompatibility with the duties and OBJ
legations, in regard to them, of all persons claiming
the character of citizens of the United States. If,
in these efforts, had had the general co-opera-
ton of the press of the United States, instead of
acquiescence in these projects by some, and a
positive encouragement Of them by another
part, the great national mischief might possibly
have been averted. Though, when we consider
the very general feeling on the subject in some parts
of the country, and especially in the City Of New
Orleans and its surrounding region, (the almost en-
tire desolaton of which would be one of the inevi-
table consequences of the complete of these
desperate enterprises J when we have money
lavishly subscribed troops enlisted, the foreign
leader of the enterprise in both cases haranguing
the People at public meetings in the midst of up
roarious appause-and even Officers of the United
States Government conniving at these enterprises
or SO intimidated by the general f,lrore as to be
deferred from attempting Tor become incapable) to
execute the laws forbidding their fitting out from
ports of the United States-we feel satisfied that
the power of the Press, could it have been rallied
to the rescue Of the National honor, might have
been exerted in vain.
Stimulated by the most exaggerated stories
of the value of the great prize represented TO
them to be within the reach of vaor and enterprise,
band of inexperienced youths, mixed up with
few veterans, and proportion, still young, of per-
sons who, on the battle-felds of Mexico, became
famiarzed with blood and carnage-composing
altogether body of men of ardent courage and
g heroic violence"-had been taught, by certain
presses favorable to the enterprise, if not actually
interested in it, to believe that by enlisting in il
they had placed themselves on the high road TO
fame as we'll as fortune.
How lamentable, alas the sad reverse Of all
that they had been thus taught to expect. Instead
Of being received with open arms by a People who
were to look upon them the instruments of deli
yerance, or being joined in mass by thousands at
time, (as the manufactured Telegraph Reports
and Proclamations had promised to them,) no hand
was stretched forth by the peasantry to welcome
Cd he
man Of the Government forces 60 over to them.
What punishment is not due-general condemna-
ton at least-to those authors Of all the frauds and
deceptions who responsible for the accumulated
horrors with which they have overwhelmed those
deluded young men who looked upon them as
oracles
To say that we deeply lament the unhappy fate
of the persons who, victims of the most cruel de-
ception have lost their lives in the Lopez expedi
ton-not to speak of those other adventures whose
fate is yet unascertained-would be but feebIy to
express the adherence, which we trust is natural
to u.s. OF deeds Of cruelty and sanguinary violence.
AS truly do we depore the event. as, before it hap
pened, we foresaw and deprecated it. Most sim
cere is our sympathy with the affection of the
whom this event has bereaved of the objects Of their
pride, hope, and affections.
But we must not suffer ourselves to be blinded
by the tears of commiseration to the enormity OIL
the crime not SO much of these unfortunate victims
as of those far less innocent than they, who, frs
blindfolding their dupes, led them to the edge o
the precipice, and then urged them over it into the
yawning gulf Yet, hear these very men now, il
the city Of New York, screaming themselves hoarst
with the cry of Revenge! Revenge! See then
posting up pacards at all the corners of the narrow
streets and blind alleys Of the city, calling public
meetings to express their vengeful wrath
Is this any thing else than the stratagem of the
arGcers of all these horrors to shield themselves
from the responsibility for what has passed, ant
east it, instead, upon those who have in vain en-
deavored to open the eyes of the People to the
evil deeds Of these conspirators against The public
peace! 1t is consoling circumstance that tht
PEOPLE have not responded to the call of these gen
try. They understand the matter. No journal ir
New York Of any character has seconded their cry
No man of any mark has made his appearance a
the meetings which have been held. Their pro
ceedings are of as little consequence as the persons
who made themselves most conspicuous on the &C
casion.
Few intelligent persons, uninfluenced by persona
interest or by purposes purely factious and dis