Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-12-03
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,
Feaoto citizens o5f the Senate
and Of the House Of Representatives,


congratulate you aud our common censtitu-
ency upon the favorable auspices under which
YOU meet for your first session, Our country is
at peace with all the world, The agitation which,
for lime. threaieued to disturb the lraternal re-
lations which make US one people, Is fast subsiA
ding; and wear of general prosperity and health
has crowned the nation with unusual blessings
None can look back to the dangers that are pass
ed, or forward to the bright prospect before us,
without feeling thrill of qualification, sat the
same time that he must be impressed with a
grateful sense Of our profound Obligations to a
beneRcent Providence, whose paterRat care is so
manifest in the happiness of this highly favored
land.
Since the close Of the last Congress, certain
Cubans and other foreigners resident IN the Uni
ted States, whe were more or less concerned IN
the previous invasion eff Cuba, instead OF being
discouraged by its failure, have again abused the
hospahly of this country, by making it the scene
of the equipment Of another military expedition
against that possession Of her Catholic majesty,
in which they were cOuntenanced, aided, and
Joined BY citizens of the United States. On re-
ceiving intelligence that such designs were enter
tanned, | lost no time in issang such instructions
70 the proper officers of the United States as
seemed to be called for by the occasion, BY the
United, False warned those who might be in dam
ger of being inveiged into this scheme of its IN
lawful character, and of the penalties which they
would incur For some time there was reason to
hope that these measures had sufficed te prevent
any such 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
boardppwards of four hundred armed men, with
evident intentions 10 make war upon the author
tiles Of the island This expedition was set on
foot IN palpabe violation of the laws of the Uni
ted States Its leader was Spaniard, and sew
eral of the chief officers, and some others en-
gagged in it, were foreigners. The persons COM
posing it, however, were mostly citizens Of the
United States.
Before the expedition set out, and probably be-
fore it was organized, slight insurrectionaly
movement, which appears to have been soon re-
pressed, had taken place in the eastern quarter of
Cuba. The Importance of this movement was
unfortunately so much exaggerated in the ac-
counts Of it Published in this country that these
adventures seem to have been led to 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
began well concerted enterprise for effecting it,
The persons engaged in the expedition We're gen.
orally young and iil.inforned. The steamer in
fy and without clearance. After touching al
Key West she proceeded to the coast of Cuba
and, on she Ilth and 18th of August, landed the
persons on board at Paytas, within about twenty
leagues of Havana.
The main body of them proceeded to, and took
possession of an island village, six leagues dis
tant. leaving others TO follow in charge of the
baggage, as soon as the means of Transportation
could be obtained. The latter, having taken uI
their line of march to connect themselves with
the main body, and having proceeded about fouI
leagues into the country, were attacked on the
morning Of the 18th by body Of Spanish troops
and Bloody conflict ensned after which they
retreated to the place Of Decentralization, where
about fifty Of them obtained boats and re.embark-
ed therein. They were, however, intercepted
among the keys near the shore, by a Spanish
steamer, cruising on the coast, captured and car.
ried TO Havana, and after being examined before
military court. sentenced to be pubIicl,
executed, and the sentence was carried into effec
on the 18th of August.
On receiving information of what had occurred
Commodore Foxhal A. Packer was instructed t
proceed in the steam frigate Saranae to Havana
and inquire into the charges against the person
executed, the circumstances under which the
were taken. and whatever referred to their sen
tenee Copies OF the instructions from Ia
Department of State to him, and of his letters t
that department, are herewith submitted.
According 70 the record ofthe examination, tn
prisoners all admitted the offence charged agan
them, of being hostile invaders of the island. A
The time OF their trial and execution, the mai
body OF the invaders was still in the field ,mal1in
war upon the Spanish authorities and SPANS
subjects. Aftertle lapse of some days, bein
overcome by the Spanish troops. They dispersed @
the oath of August; Lopez, their laeder, wa
captured some days after, and executed on tn
LIST Of September. Many of his remaining fol
lowers were killed, or died of hunger aud ia
tigue, and the rest were made prisoners. c
these, none appear to have been tried or execl
ted Several Of them were pardoned upon al
plcation Of their friends and others, and the res
about oae hundred and sixty in number, we
sent to Spain. Of the final disposition made
these we have no official information.
Such is the melancholy result Of this illeg
and iil-fated expedition. Thus, thoughtless your
men have been induced. by false and irauduIe
representations, to violate the law of their coul
try, through rash and unlounded expectations
assisting to accomplish political revolutions
other states, and have lost their lives In Il
undertaking. Too severe judgment can hard
be passed, by the indignant sense of the comm
nifty, upon those who, being better inlorme
themselves, have yet led away the ardor of you
and an -dKected love Of political liberty. I'll
correspondence between this Government an
that of Spain relating to this transaction is her,
with communicated. an
Although these offenders against the laws, hav
forfeited the protection of their country, yet tn
Government may, so far as is consistent with i
obligations TO other countries, and its fixed pul
nosa 10 maintain and enforce the laWa entartai
sympathy for their unoflendipg families an
friends, as well as feeling Of compassion e
themselves. Accordingly no proper effort ha
been spared, and none will be spared, to procur
the release of such citizens of the United State,
engaged in ihis unlawful enterprise, as are no,
in confinement ia Spains but it is hoped that sue
interposiiion with the government Of that countr
may not be considered as affording any ground q
exnectafnn that the Goyernnenf of The Unite.