The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-12-06


sons pa board al PlAytas, within about twenty
The main hody Of nsein proceeded o. and
took possession Of IAN inland village 80
leaguea distant leaving other 10 follow ~
charge OF the baggage, as soon A. the means
Of transportation could ba obtained They
having taken up their line Of march % con-
meet themselves with the main body aud
having proceeded about four leagues into the
country, we're attacked on the morning Of
tee 18th by body Of Spanish troops, aud
blo~iy conflict ensuedi ailer which they 70
treated t0 the place Of Decentralization, where
about my 81 them obtained boats and re-em-
harked therein. They we're, however, inter
cepted among the keys near the shore by
Spanish steamer cruising On The coast cap
tured and carried % Havana, and, amer be-
ing essminod before a military court, we're
sentenced 10 be- pnblirly executed, and the
sentence Was carried lnlo effect on the 10Th
OF August
On receiving information Of what had o.
rurred Commodore foAhAll a. Parker was
instructed 10 proceed ia the steam iigate haE
anac 10 Havana, aud inquire into the charges
against the persons executed, the oircuuAtaD-
res under which they had taken place, and
whatsoever referred 20 their trial aud SEN
teuoe. Copies OF the Instructions from the
Arror,iitr tnthr rrrurti Of the examination,
the prisoners all admitted the offences charg-
cd against them, Of being hostile invaders Of
the island. At the time Of their trial aud ex-
ecuiion the main body Of the invaders was
ILL ths-l-.Llr s'.s.l-
iah authorities and Spanish subjects Ailera
lapse Of s0mc days, being overcome by the
Spanish troops, they Dispersed on the Path Of
August Lopez. their leader was captured
some days AFTER, aud executed on the lst Of
September. Many OF bic remaining followers
were Killed, or died Of hunger aud fatigue,
and the rcst were made prisoners or these,
none appear 10 have been iriod or executed
Several Of them were pardonod upon applca-
ton OF their friends aud others, and the rest
about one hundred aud sixty ia number,werc
sent u Spain. OF the final disposition made
OF thcso We have no official information
Such II the melancholy r,'sult Of this illegal
aud Inflated expedition. Thus, thoughtlcss
Young men have been induced, by false and
fraudulent representations, TO violate the law
of their country, through rash and uniounded
expectations Of assisting To accomplish politi-
cal revolutions ~ other States, and have Lost
their lives ia the undertaking, Too severe n
judgment can hardly bc passed 10y the indig-
nant sense Of the community, upon those who,
bcing better informed Themselves, have yet
.
ed love uf political liberty. Tho corrcspon.
dcncc between this Government aud that Of
Spain relating 20 this transaction is herewith
communicated.
Although these offenders against thc laws
have forfeited the protection OF their country
yet the Government may, 30 far A. j. consist
cnt with ia obligations 20 other counirics,n and
is fixed purpose 10 maintain and enforce the
laws, entertain sympathy for their nnoiicnd-
ing families and friends, ~ well as a feeling
OF compassion for themselves Accordingly
no proper effort has been spared, and none
will bc spared, 10 procure the release Of such
citizens of the United States, engaged ~ this
unlawful cuterprizc, as are now Ia conhnc-
mcni in Spain; but it's 10 -hu -hopnd hat
such interpretation with the government of that
county may not be- considered M anorlng
any ground of expectation that the Govern
mcnt Of the United States will, hereafter feel
itself under any obligation oC duty to Inter-
cedc for the obligation OF duty 20 intercedc
TOR the liberation and pardon Of such persons
as are aagraut offenders against the law OF ma
tons and the laws Of the United States
These laws must bWvxecutod. IL we desire
I Ia maintain our rvspcctabiity atbong nntions
it behoycs ~ 90 enforce steadily and slernly
the neutrality acts passed by Congress, and
to follow as far y. NAV be, the violations Of
those acts with condign punishment.
what rivr- n T,,,S-,iIiar criminHiity ~
this invasion Of Cuba Is that under the lead
of Spanish subjects and with the all Of citi-
zens of the United Statrs, Il had ats origin,
with many, in motives Of cupidity, Money
VIZ advauCUt hy indiyiduhis, probably in con
siderable amounts, 90 purchase Cuban bonds,
as they have been called, issued by Lopez,
| sold, doubtless; at very large discount, and
for ,he payment oc which the public lands
and pii,ic prppcrty of Cuba. of whatever
kind, and the fiscal resources Of the people
and gpycrnmyitt Of thu ISLAND, from whatev-
err SOURCE t0'be derived, were pledged, rs well
as the a,qd faith Of the government eSpected
to bc Established. All these means of pay
hent it is evident, were only TO be obtained
by process of bloodshcd, war and revolu-
ton None will deny that those who set on
foot military expeditions against foreign States
10y means ike these, are far more culIable
than the ighorant and the neccssltous whom
they induce 10 90 forth as the ostcnsiblc par
ties in the proceeding. These originators of
THE invasion of Cub;rSecm 10 have dctermin-
ed, with GOODNESS and system, upon an under
taking which should disgrace their country,
violate its laws, and put TO hazard the lives
OF ill-intormed and'deludcd men. You will
consider whether further legislation be ncces-
sary to prevent the preparation ofsuch often
Gus w iutuTts
No individuals have right to hazard the
peace ofthc country, or to- violate its lava,
upon vague notions ofaltering or reforming
governments in other States. This princi-
Pile is not onlyErcasonable in inself and in
accordance with public law, but is en-
grafeh into the codes OF other nations rs well
as ourowu. But while such are the senti-
ments Of this Government, ii may be added
that every independent nation must be pre-
sumed to be able 60 defend its possessions n
gainst unauthorized individuals banded to-
-gether to attack them. The government Of
the United States. Mt all times since its estab-
iishment, has abstained, and has sought to re-
stain the citizens Oft the country, from enter
ing into controversies between other powers
and to observe all the duties of neutrality
At an early period Of the government, in the
administration of Washington, several laws
were passed for this purpose. The main pro-
visions of these laws were reenactod by the
act of April, 1918, 10y which, amongst other
things, il was declared that if any person
shall, within the territory or jurisdiction of