Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-12-08
.ralaeat'g Mesaagr,
of the Senate,

constituency upon the favorable auspice
under which you meet on your first ses
sion. Our country is at peace with al
the world. The agitation which for
time, threatened to disturb the traterna
relations which make US one people, is fas
subsdng; and year OF general prospert,
aud health has crowned the nation with un
usual blessings. None can look back Il
the dangers which are passed, or forward
to the bright prospect before US, wilhou
/ feeling a thrill OF qualification, at the same
lime that he mus. be impressed with O
sense of profound obligation 10 benef
cent Providence, whose palernal care is
SO manifest in the happiness Of this highly
favored country. -. sg-.,r,.
Since The close Of the las. Congress, Ger.
tain Cubans and other foreigners resident
in the United States, who were more or less
concerded in The previous invasion OF Gu
bu, ins.ead of being discouraged by its
failure, have again abused the hospitality
OF this country, by makingiI the scene OF
The equipment OF another military expedi-
tion against the possessions of her Catholic
majesty. in which they we're countenanced,
aided and joined by cilizsns Of the United
States. On receiving intelligence that
such designs were entertained, lost no
time in issuing such instructions 10 the prop
er officers OF the United States as seemed 10
be called tor 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 lis unlawful character, and of
| The penalties which they would INCUR
For some time there was reason to hope
| that these measures had sutficed to pre-.
vent any such attempt. This hope, how.
ever, proved to be deIusive. Very early
in the morning OF the third of August, u
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 Sc! on loot IN paIpnble. violation OF
The laws OF the United States lis leader
was u Spaniaid, and several Of the chief
officers, and some others engnged in il,
were foreigners. The persons composing
it, however, were mostly citizens of the
United States.
Before the expedition set out, and prob.
ably before it was organized, slight lis
surrec,ionary movement, which appears
soon TO have been suppressed. arose in the
eastern quarter OF Cuba. The importance
OF this movement was unfortunately so
much exaggerated IN the accounts publish
ed in this country. that these adventures
10 hav hoo lot In koI 81
Creole population oil the island not only
desired to throw of the authority of the
mother country, but had resolved upon
| That step, and had begun well-concerted
enterprise iur effectiug it. The persons
engaged in the expedition were generally
young and ill-iniormed. The steamer in
which they embarked left New Orleans
steallhiy aud without clearance. After
touching al Key West, she proceeded TO
The coast oil Cuba, and in the nigh. be. ween
the llth and IL of August, landed the per-
sons on board at Playlas, within about
twenty leagues of Havana.
The main body Of them proceeded to,
| aud took possesslon CT an inland village,
SIX Leagues distant, leaving others to fol-
low in charge OF The baggage, as soon MS
The means OF transportation could be OBJ
tanned. The latter, having taken up their
line OF march TO connect themselves with
the main body, and having proceeded abou.
four leagues into the country, were al.
lacked on The morning Of the 18th by
body OF Spanish troops, and bloody con.
| f1ici ensueo; after which they re;reated to
the place of Decentralization where about
| fifty OF them obtained boats and re-embork.
ed therein. They were, however, inter,
copied among the keys near The shore, by
Spanish steamer cruising on the coast,
captured aud carried to Havana, and, al.
Ter being examined by military court,
were sentenced to be publicly executed,
and the sentence was carried into effscl
on II 18th OF August.
On receiving Information Of what had
occurred, Com. Foxhall A. Parker was in>
sirucIed to proceed in the steam frigale
oaranac to Havana, and inquire into The
| charges against the persons executed, the
circumstances under which they were tak>
en-. 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 here
with submitted.
According to the record Of the examin-
alton the prisoners all admitted the offenc.
es charged agains, them, Of being hostile
invaders of the island. At the lime of
lner lral aid execution, the main body of
the invaders were still in tne field, aking
war upon the Spanish authorities, and
Spanish subjects. After the lapse OF some
days, being overcome by the Spanish
troops, they were dispers ed on the Oath Of
August; Lopez, their leader, was captured
some days after, and executed on the lst
of ofSeplember. Many Of his remaining
followers were killed, or died Of hunger
and fatigue, and the rest were made priso.
ners. Of these, none appear to have been
tried or executed. Several Of them were
pardoned on application Of their friends
and others, and the rest, about 100 in num-
ber, were sent tc Spain. OF the final dis
position made OF these, we have no official
information.
Such is tho melanchoiv res1i, of this