Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-12-06


congratulate you and common constituency 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 time threatened to disturb the fra
tsrnal relations which make people is fast sub
siding and year of general prosperity and health has
crowned the nation with unusual blessings. None
back the dangers which passed forward to
she bright prospect before without feeling thrill of
qualification the time that he must be impressed
with grateful of profound obligations to abene
acent Providence whose paternal is SO manifest in
the happiness of this highly favored land.
Since the close of the last Congress- certain Cubans and
other foreigners resident the United States who
more less concerned in the previous invasion OF Cuba
instead of being discouraged by its failure have again
abused hospitality of this country by making it the
OF the equipment of another military expedition
against possession Of her Catholic Majesty, in which
they countenanced aided and joined by citizens Of
he United States On receiving intelligence that such
designs entertained, lost time in issuing such
instructions to the proper officers of the United States
seemed to be called for by occasion BY the proclama
tion copy of which herewith submitted also warned
those who might be in danger of being nyeged into this
scheme of its unlawful character and of the penalties
which they would incur For some time there was rea-
nope that these had sufced to prevent
any such attempt This hope however proved to be de-
Iusve Very early in the morning Of the third of August
steamer called the Pampero departed from New Orleans
Tor Cuba having board upwards of four hundred armed
men, with evident intentions to make upon the
thorities of the island This expedition was set on foot
papable violation of the laws of the United States Its
leader Spaniar and several of the chief officers
and some others engaged in it. were foreigners The
persons composing it, however, mostly citizens
the United States. 5
Before the expedition set out and probably before
organized, slight nsurrectionary movement which
appears to have been suppressed had taken place
IN the eastern quarter of Cuba The Importance of this
unfortunately much exaggerated in the
accounts of it published in this country that these adven
1rers TO have been led to believe that the Creole
pulaon of the island only desired throw off the au
thory of the mother country but had resolved upon that
STEP and had begun weconcerted enterprise effect
ing it The persons engaged in the expedition were
rally young and i'll informed The steamer in which they
embarked left New Orleans stealthy and without clear
After touching at Key West she proceeded to the
coast of Cuba and the night between the 18th and 10Th
of August landed the persons board at Paytas within
about twenty leagues of Havana.
The main body of them proceeded to- and took posses
sion Of inland village six leagues distant leaving others
70 follow in charge of the baggage the means
of transportation could be obtained The latter having
taken up their line of march to connect themselves with
le main body and having proceeded about four leagues
into the country, attacked the morning of the
23th by body of Spanish troops, and bloody conflict
ersned; after which they retreaed to the place of dis
embarkaton where about fifty of them obtained boats and
re-embarked therein They however intercepted
among the keys the shore by Spanish steamer
cruising the coast captured and carried Havana
and, after being examined before military court were
sentenced be publicly executed and the sentence was
carried into effect the 18th of August
On receiving information of what had occurred Com
hall PARK tps+r
the steamfgate Saranac Havana inquire into the
charges against the persons executed the circumstances
under which they taken and whatsoever referred
their trial and sentence Copies of the instructions from
the Department of State him. and of his letters to that
Department are herewith submitted
According the record Of the examination the prison
all admitted the offences charged against them being
hostile invaders of the island At the time of their trial
and execution the main body of the invaders still in
the field, making upon the Spanish authorities and
Spanish subjects. After the lapse of days being
by the Spanish troops they dispersed the
Gath of August Lopez, their leader captured
days AFTER and executed the LIST of September Many
of his remaining followers killed. died Of hunger
and fatigue and the rest made prisoners OF these
appear have been tried executed Several OF
them paroned upon application of their friends and
others and the rest about one hundred and sixty in
her, Spain OF the final disposition made Of
these we have official information.
Sneh is the melancholy result of this illegal and faed
expedition Thus thoughtless young men have been in
duced by false and fraudulent representations to violate
the law of their country through rash and unfounded ex
Pectafions OF assisting to accomplish political revolutions
IN other States and have lost their lives the undertake
ing Too judgment hardly be passed. by the
indignant of the community upon those who being
better informed themselves have yet led away the ardo
OF youth and directed love of political liberty The
correspondence between this Government and Spair
relating to this transaction is herewith communicated
Although these offenders against the laws have forfeited
the protection of their country yet the Government may
far is consistent with its obligations other
tries and its fixed purpose maintain and enforce the
and friends well feeling of compassion for them
selves Accordingly proper effort has been spared,
and none will be spared TO procure the release of such
citizens Of the United States engaged in this unlawful
enterprise, in confinement in Spain but it is
20 be hoped that such nerposon with the Government
of that country may not be considered aforng any
ground Of expectation that the Government of the United
States will hereafter feel itself under any obligation
duty to nercee for the liberation pardon of such per-
sons as are fragrant offenders against the law of nations
and the laws Of the United States These laws be
executed Ii desire to maintain responsibility
among the nations of the earth, it behooyes enforce
teadily and serny the neutrality passed by Con-
qress, and TO follow far may be, the violation Of
those acts with condign punishment.
Dut what gives peculiar crmnay to this invasion Of
Gnba is that under the lead of Spanish subjects with
the aid of citizens Of the United States il had its origin
with many IN motives Of cupdity Money advanced
bJ individuals probably in considerable amounts to pur-
chase Cuban bonds they have been called issued by
Lopez sold, doubtless very large discount and for
the payment OF which the public lands and public pro-