The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-03
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Fsilop- citizens Of the Senate

| Ftlloto-ciii=tns Of the Senate
and Of fIe House II Representatives.:
] congratulate you aud our common constituen-
cy upon the favorable auspices under which you
meet for your first session. Our country is al
peace with all the world. The agitation which,
for time, threatened To disturb the fraternal re-
latioHs which make us one people, ~ fast subsld-
ing; and year Of general prosperity and health
has crowned the nation with unusual blessings.
None can look tack TO the dangers which are
passed, or forward TO the bright prospect before
us, without feeling thrill Of qualification, at the
same time that he mus, be impressed with CRATE
ful sense Of orr profop d Obligations to benef-
ut Providence, whose paternal care is 50 mani
fest in the happiness of this highly favored land.
Since the close OF the last Congress, certain
Cubans and other foreigners resident IN the United
Sta e., who were more or less concerned IN the
previous invasion Of Cuba, instead Of being dis
couraged by It's failure, have again abused the hos
pilaiiy Of this country, by making It the scene Of
the equipment Of another military expedition
against that possession Of her Catholic majesty,
~ which they wire countsnanced, AIDED and joined
by citizens Of the Unu-d States. On receiving IN.
diligence that such designs we're entertained, !
lost no time IN issuing such instructions to the
proper officers Of the United States ms seemed to
he called f,r by the occasion. BY the proclama.
tion, copy Of which is herewith submitted, also
warned those who might he IN danger Of being IN
veig led into this scheme Of its unlawful character
aud Of the penalties which they would incur. For
some time there was reason to hope that these
measures had suficed to prevent any UGH attempt
This hope, however, proved To- be delusive. Very
early in the morning 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 intentlons
to make war upon the authorities OF the island.
This expedition was set on foot ~ palpable viola.
ton Of the laws Of the United States. Its leader
a r. h. la.
and some others engaged IN II, were foreigners.
The persons composing il, however, were mostly
citizens Of the United States.
Before the expedition set out, and probably be-
fore IL was organized, a slight Insurreotionary
movement, which appears TO have been soon sup
pressed, had taken place ~ the eastern quarter o.
Cuba. The importance OF this movement was
unfortunately so much exaggerated IN the ac-
counts Of IL published in this country, that these
Adventures seem to have been led 10 believe that
the Creole population Of the island not only de
sired TO throw off the authority Of the mother
country, but had resolved upon that step, and
had begun a well concerted enterprise for efecting
it. The persons engaged IN the expedition were
generally young and ill-informed. The steamer
in which they embarked left New Orleans stealth.
lily 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 August, landed he persons on board at Play
tbs, within about twenty leagues Of Havana.
The mai body Of them proceeded to, and took
possession Of, an inland village, six leagues dis
tant, leaving Others to follow 10 charge of the
baggage, as soon as the means of transportation
could be obtained. The latter having taken up
{ cir line OF march to connect themselves with the
main body, and having proceeded about four
leagues into the country, were attacked on the
Of tie l3th.by body Of Spanish troops,
and a bloody conflict eusued; after which they
reiterated to the place Of Decentralization, where
about fifty Of them obtained boats and re.em
barked therein. They were, however, inter-
cepted among the keys near the shore by a
Spanish steamer cruising on the coast, captured !
and carried to Havana, and. after being examined