The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-12-06
EXTRACTS FROM
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

] congratulate you ana our common
constituency upon the favorable auspi-
ces under which you met for your first
session. Our country is at peace with
all the world. The agitation which,
for time, threatened to disturb the fra
ternal relations which make us one peo-
pie, is fast subsiding; and a year of GEN
tral 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 prospect
before us, without feeling a thrill of
qualification, at the Same time that he
must be impressed with grateful sense
of our profound obligations TO benef-
cent Providence, whose raternal care
is so manifest in the happiness of this
highly favored land.
Since the close Of the last Congress,
certain Cubans and other foreigners res
ident in the United States, who were
more or less concerned in the previous
invasion of Cuba, instead of being dis
couraged by its failure, having again
abused the hospitality of this country,
by making it the scene of the equip
ment of another military expedition
against that possession Of her Catholic
majesty, in which they were counten-
anced, aided and joined by citizens OF
the United States. On receiving in
tcIligence that such designs were enter
tanned, lost no time in issuing such in
structions 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 submitted,
| also warned those who might he in
danger of being inyeigled 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 had sutliced to pre-
vent any such attempt. This hope.
however, proved to be deluSive. Very
early in the morning of the third Of Au-
gust, steamer called the Pampero de-
parted from New Orleans for Cuba,
having on board upwards of 400 arme |
men, with evident intentions 10 max e
war upon the authorities of the island
This expedition was set on foot in pal
pable violation of the laws of the Uni
ted States. Its leader was a Spaniard;
and several of the chief oilc RS, and
some others engaged in it, were foreign
ers. The persons composing it, how
ever, were mostl Y citizens of the Uni
ted States.
Before the expedition set out, and
probably before it was organized, a
slight insurrecionarv movement, which
appears TO have been soon suppressed,
lad taken place in the eastern quarter
Of Cuba. The importance of this move
ment was unfortunately so much exag-
5sratcd i'll the accounts OF it published
in this country: that these adventures
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 resolv-
ed upon that step, and had begun we'll
enterprise for eiiecting it.
The persons engaged in the expedition
were generally young and ill-inlormed.
The steamer in which they embarked
left New Orleans stealthily and without
a clearance. After touching at Key
West, she proceeded to The coast Of Gu
ba, and, on the night between the 1lth
and 18th of August, landed the persons
on board at Playta, within about twenty
leagues of Havana.
The main body of them proceeded to
and took possession Of an inland village,
six leagues distant, leaving others to
follow in charge ofthe baggage, as soon
as the means of transportation could be
obtained. The latter having taken up
their line Of march to connect them
selves with the main body, and having
proceeded about four leagues into the
were attacked on the morning
Of the 18th by body ofSpanish troops,
and bloody conflict ensued; after which
they retreated to the place of disembar-
cation, where about fifty Of them OBJ
tanned boats and re-embarked therein.
they were, however, intercepted among
the keys near the shore by Spanish
steamer cruising on the coast, captured
and carried to Havana. and, after being
examined before a military court, were
Sentenced to be publicly executed, and
the sentence was carried into effect on
the 10Th of August.
On receiving information ofwhat had
occurred, Commodore Foxhall A. Par
ker was instructed TO proceed in the
steam.frigate Saranac to Havana, and in
quire into the charges against the per-
sons executed, the circumstances under
which they were taken, and whatsoever
referred TO their trial and sentence.
Copies of the instructions from the De-
partmen OF State to him, and of his let
ters to tina: Department, are herewith
submitted.