Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-12-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Feliow Ciiizens ofhs Senate
and House oc PeDuee,lidiires

stfuency upon the favorable nHspices under
which you meet for your first session. The
agitation which, for time, threatened to
disturb the iraierual relations which make
us one people, is fast sulisiding; aud year
of general prosperity aud health lns crown
ed the nation with unusual blessugs None
can look back TO the dnngers which are
passed, or iofw0rd to the bright prospect be-
lore us, without feeling y thrill of graiiira-
ton, ~ Tie Satur time hc must hc Impressed
with prairiul sense of uur profound ohl-
galiUns loa bcnriicenl Providence, whose
uatrfunl care is 81 manifest in the happiness
OF this highly favored land.
After narrative Of tho events of the Cuban
Expedition the President says:
Such is the melancholy result Of this ille-
gal aud ill-inicd expedition. Thus, thougli-
less young men have been induced, b. false
aud fraudulent representations, To violate the
law of their country, through rash aud un-
funded expectations of assisting to accom-
plish political revolutions in uiher Suites,
4 aud have LOST their lives ia ihc undertaking.
Too severe II Judgment can hardly he pass
ed, by the indignant sensc of tlIC comnitiui-
", upon those who, being better Informed
themselves, have yet led away the nrdor of
youth and an illdlrrclcd love nt political lib
cry. The correspondence brtwccn this
Government and that of Spain relating To
this transaction is herewith communicated.
Although these ulifudrrs against tie laws
lnye forfeited the protection ui' their colnry,
yet the Government may, 80 far as ~ con-
SSirnt with its obligations To oIhcr Countries,
! and lis fixed purpose 10 nlninnin aud en-
! force the laws, entertain sympathy for their
umnilindng families aud friends, ms well us
] ,,I. far fl.at,sslVas Ap-
cordingly no proper effort has been spared
| to procure the release of such citizens of the
United Siuies, engaged IN this unlawful en-
terprisc, ns are now IN confinement in Spain
hut il is to he hoped that such inierpoSiiion
with the government of that country nny
no; bc considered as aifording any ground
of expectation that the Government Of the
United States WILL hereafter, feel itself under
any obligation of duty to iniercede for the lib
Grafton or pardon Of such persons rs ure fia-
grant offenders against the laws of nations,
aud the laws of the United States. These
laws must be executed. II we desire to
maintain our responsibility among the ma
rions of the earth, it hehooves MS 10 enforce
steadily aud sternly the neutrality acts pass
eel by Congress, aud to follow, us far Us may
be, the violation of those acts with condign
punishment.
But what gives peculiar crilninaity to
this invasion of Cuba, is that under the lead
of Spanish subjects, aud with the aid OF citi.
zens of the United States, it Ind lis origin,
with many, in motives of cupidity. Money
was advanced by individuals, probably in
considerable amounts, TO purchase Cuban
bonds, as they have been called, issued by
Lopez, sold, doubtless, NJ very large dis
count, aud for the payment of which the
public lands and public property otCuha, oi
whatever kind, and tho fiscal recourses of
the people and government of the Island,
irom whatever source TO hc derived, were
pledged, rs well as the good faith of the gov
erllment expected TO he established. hllthcso
means ofpnyment, il is evident, were only
to bu obtained by process of hloOdshcd,
war, and revolution. None will deny HAT
those who set on inot military expeditions
against foreign States by means like these,
are far more culpnbc than the ignorant aud
the ncccssii0us whom they induce to go
forth as the osttnsible parties in the pro-
ceedng. These originuiors Of the iuvasiun
of Cuba seems 10 have determined, with
GOODNESS aud system, upon an undertaking
which should disgrace their country, violate
It's laws, aud put 10 lIHZnri the lives 0i ill-in.
iuImcd aud ,leludrd men. You will lconsil-
er whether further legislation br necessary
Ia prevent the perpeliaiun OF such offences
IN iulurc.
No individuals have right 10 huZirl the
peace oi'Ihe country, ar Ia violate lis laws
upon vague nolnrs of altering or reforming
governments in other Stnrs. This prluci-
pie is not only reasonable in ITSELF aud in
accordance with public law, hut is Scugraied
into the codes nf other mlipns Us wcIl as our
own. But while such are the sentiments of
this Government, it may I've added that every
independent nation must he presumed To be
uhle To defend It's possessions against unau-
thuriZcd individuals hmndcd together TO at
tack them. The Government Of The United
States. nj all times since it's establishment,
has nbsInined aud las sought IL restrain the
citizens of the country, from entering into
controversies between other pow crs, aud to
observe all The duties of neutrality. Al un
early period OF the Government. in the adj
ministralion of Washington, several laws
were passed for this purpose. The main
provisions Of these laws were rc-cnacieh by
the act OF April, 1918, hy which, amongst
other things, il was declared thai ii any per-
son shall, within the territory or jurisdiction
of the United States begin, or set on foot, or
provide, or prepare the mrnns for any mill
tary expedition or enterprise to hG carried on
from thence ngnnst the territory or domin-
ion of amy foreign prince or State, or of amy
colony, district, or people with whom lhr
United States are Mt pence, every person 50
offending shall he deemed guilty of hicl
, misdemonnor, aud shall he fined, not cx.
ceedng three thousand dollars, aud mpri
I soned not more than three years and ihis
: law has been executed aud enforced, to tho
/ full extent oithe power Of the Government
. from that day to this.
In proclaiming and ndhcring to the doe
c trine of neutrality aud non-nlervenlion, Tho
+ United States have not followed the lead o
I. other civilized nations; they have taken III,
;, lead themselves, and have been followed b,