The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-03
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
PelIoto. citizens of the Senate
and of the House of Represen tatiues:

meet for your first session. Our country is at
peace with all the world. The agitation which,
for time, threatened to disturb the fraternal
relations which make people, is fast sub
siding; and year of general prosperity and health
has crowned the nation with unusual bless
ings. None can look back TO the dangers which
are passed, or forward to the bright prospect be-
fore US, without feeling thrill of qualification, at
the same time that he must be impressed with
grateful sense of our profound obligations ben
ehcent Providence, whose paternal care is 80 man
est in the happiness of this highly favored land
Since the close of the last Congress- certain Cubans
and Other foreigners resident in the United States,
who were more or less concerned in the previous
invasion of Cuba, instead Of being discouraged by
it's failure, have again abused the hospitality Of this
country, by making it the scene of the equipment
of another military expedition against that posses
sion of her Catholic majesty, in which they were
countenanced, aided and joined by citizens of the
United States. On receiving intelligence that such
designs entertained i lost no time in issuing
such instructions to the proper officers of the Uni
ted States as seemed to be called for by the occa-
sion. 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
reason to hope that these measures had sufliced
to prevent any such attempt. This hope, howev-
er, proved to be delusive. Very early in the morn
ing 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 war upon
the authorities of the island. This expedition was
set on foot in palpabe violation of the laws of the
United States. Its leader a Spanard, and
several of the chief officers and some others en-
gagged in it, were foreigners The persons com
posing it, however, mostly citizens of the
United States.
Before the expedition set out, and probably be-
fore it organized, slight insurrectonary move
ment, which appears to have been soon suppress
ed had taken place in the eastern quarter of Cuba
The importance Of this movement was unfortunate
iy 30 much exaggerated in the accounts of it pub
lshed in this country, that these adventurers seem
to have been led to believe that the Creole popu
lation of the island not only desired to throw off
the authority of the mother country, but had re-
solved upon that step, and had begun we'll
concerted enterprise for effecting it. The persons
engaged in the expedition generally young
aud illinformed The steamer in which they
embarked left New Orleans stealthily and with
out a clearance. After touching at Key West,
she proceeded to the coast of Cuba, and, on the
night between the llth and 18th 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 Distant
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 into
the country were attacked on the morning OF the
18th by body of Spanish troops, and bloody con-
ic ensued; after which they retreated to the place
of disembarcaton, where about fifty OF them oe-
tanned boats and re- embarked therein. Ihey were,
however, intercepted among the keys near the
shore by Spanish steamer cruising on the coast
captured and carried to Havana, and, after beng
examined before military court, were sentenced
to be publicly executed and the sentence was car
red into effect on the 10th of August.
On receiving information of what had occurred
Commodore NFoxhall A. Parker was instructed to
and inquire into the charges against the persons
executed the circunvtances under which they
were taken. and wbtsoever referred to their trial
and sentence. CPies OF the Instructions from the
Department ol State to him, and of his letters to
that Denar,ment, are herewith submitted.
According to the record of the examination, the
rr;so,ers all admitted the offences charged against
Them. of being hostile invaders of the island. At
the time of their tria and execution the main body
oe The invaders was sill in the field, making war
mon the Spanish Authorities and Spanish subjects.
After the lapse of some days, being overcome by
the Spanish trops, they dispersed on the Gath of
August; Lope, their leader, was captured some
davs after. I'd executed on the lst of September.
Monv of "a remaining followers were killed, or
died IF 1ger and fatigue, and the rest were made
rr;soney. OF these none appear to have been tried
orexeAted. ~ Several of them were pardoned upon
nliAtyn of their friends and Others and the rest,
obo,t nc hundred and sixty in number, were sent
% s,yin Oftbo final disposition made Of these we
l.. no official information.
Such is the melancholy result of this illegal and
i'll. fatcd expedition. Thus, thoughtless young men
have been induced, by false and fraudulent repre-
sentations, TO violate the law of their country,
through rash and unfounded expectations of as
sisting TO accomplish political revolutions in other
States, and have lost their lives in the undertaking.
Too seSE7e Judgment can hardly be passed,
10y the indignant sense Of the community, upon
those who, being better informed themselves,
have yet led away the ardor Of youth and an ILL
directed love Of political liberty. The correspond
ence between this Government and that of Spain
relating TO this transaction ia herewith communi-
Gated.
Although these offenders against the laws have
forfeited the protection of their country, yet the
Government may, go far as is consistent with
its obligations TO other countries, and it's fixed
purpose to maintain and enforce the laws, enter
tain sympathy for their unoffending families and
friends, we'll feeling of compassion for them
selves. Accordingly no proper effort has been
spared and will be spared, to procure the re-
lease such citizens OF the United States engagedin
this unlawful enterprise, now in confinement
in span but it lie to be hoped that such int opposition