Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-12-11
P O. LIT I.C' A. L. =
Presidents Message.
Fellow citizens Of The Senate -A'i"s t'S'
-sassssG and of tie House of Representatives:


Fsllow citizens Of The Senate s7'A'i''e L''''
-sassssa and of he House Of Representatives: 20
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 an the world. y The agitation
which, for a time, threatened to disturb the fra
ternal relations which make US one people, is
fast subsiding and year Of general prosperi-
ty and health has crowned the nation with un-
usual blessings. None can look back to the
dangers which are passed, or forward TO the
bright prospect before u.s. without feeling a
thrill of qualification, al the same time he must
be impressed with a grateful sense Of our pro-
found obligations to a bene6cent Providence,
whose paternaI care is SO manifest in the hap
Piness Of this highly.fsvored land. 's7 1-,a's'
THE CUBAN EXPEDITION.
Since the close of the last congress, certain
Cubans and other foreigners resident in the U.
States, who were more or less concerned in
the previous invasion of Cuba, instead of be-
ing discouraged by Its failure, have again
abused the hospitality of this country, by max
ing it the scene of the equipment of another
military expedition against that possession of
her Catholic majesty, in which they were coun-
tenanced, aided and Joined by citizens Of the U.
States. On receiving intelligence that such
designs were entertained, / lost no time in is
suing sncb instructions to the proper officers of
the United States as seemed to be called for by
the occasion. By the proclamation, a copy of
which is herewith submitted, also warned all
those who might be in danger of being in
weighed into this scheme of its unlawful char
acter, and of the penalties which they would in
cur. For some time there was reason to hope
that these measures had suficed to prevent any
such attempts. This hope, however, proved to
be delusive. Very early in the morning Of the
Sd of Aug a steamer called the Pampero de-
parted from New Orleans for Cuba, having on
board upwards of 400 armed men, with evident
intentions to make war upon the authorities of
the island. This expedition was set on foot in
: palpable violation OF the laws of the United
States. Its leader was Spaniard, and sever
al of the chief officers, and some others engaged
in it were foreigners. The persons composing
ii, however, were mostly citizens of the United
States. .-,. =. ,...,.. ,t,..-7.,- l....,.....
Before the expedition set out, and probably
before it was organized, slight insurrection
movement, which appears TO have been soon
suppressed, had taken place in the eastern quar-
ter of Cuba. The importance of this move
ment was unfortunately so much exaggerated
in the accounts of it published in this country,
that these adventurers seem to have been led TO
believe thar Ihe Creole population of the island
not only desired to throw off the authority of
the mother country, but had resolved upon that
step, and had begun a well-concerted enterprise
for effecting it. The persons engaged in the ex-
lpedition were generally young and iil-informed.
The steamer in which they embarked left New
Orleans stealthily and without clearance. -
After touching at Key West, she proceeded to
the coast of Cuba, and on the night between
the llth and 18th of Ang., landed the persons
on board at Playtas, within about 20 leagues
of Havana .E7 - -afzaJ ei q .rl. asiS
The main body of them proceeded to, and
took possession of, an inland village, six leagues
distant, leaving others to follow in charge of
the baggage, as soon as the means of transport
ration could be obtained. The latter having
taken sp the line of march to connect them
selves with the main body, and having pro-
fceeded about four leagues into the country,
were attacked on the morning of the 18th by a
body of Spanish troops, and bloody conflict
ensued; after which they retreated TO the place
of Decentralization, where about Fifty of them
obtained 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 af-
ter 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 of what had occur
red, Com FoxhalI A. Parker was instructed
TO proceed in the steanf-frigate Saranac to Ha-
vana, and inquire into the charges against the
persons executed, the circumstances under
which they were taken, and whatsoever refer
red 10 their trial and sentence. Copies of the
instructions from the Department of State tc
him, and Of his letters to that Department, are
herewith submitted i2 sai ,t1.7Ft l@
- According to the record of the examination,
the prisoners all admitted the offences charged
against them, Of being hostile invaders of the
island At the time of their trial and execu-
ton the main body Of the invaders was still in
the field, making war uponthe Spanish author
tiles snd Spanish subjects. After the lapse Of
.o.,. davs. being overcome by the Spanish
froons. t6ey dispersed on the 24th of August
,Tonex' their leader, was captured some days
lafasr. and executed or the first of September
Many Of his remaining followers were killed
or died of hunger and fatigue, and the res
were made prisoners. OF these, none appea
to have been tried or executed. Several o
them were pardoned upon application OF lnei
friends and others, aad the rest, about LOO II
number, were sent to Spain. Of the final DIS
position made of these we have no official In
lformaiion.i sss-sD ADD ii .5...g s,.lg L..
Such is the melancholy result of this illegal
and ill-faied expedition Thus, thoughtles,
Young men have been induced, by false aud
fraudulent Representations, TO violate the Law
of their country, through rash and unfoundee
expectations of assisting to accomplish pollti
aeaj revolutions in other States, and have los
their lives in the undertaking.. Foo severe
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