The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-04
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

4
elected to FIJI those stations.
The House then adjourned
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fei'ow-eitisens Of the Senate and of the House
Of Representatives.
congratulate you and our common constitu-
sencv upon abe. taSorable auspices under which
you meet for your nrst session <tyeh country
e - '>Aa''e viii al the. world The asitction
winch Ior uine tnreateneo 10 olsIuro ta,s a.
| ternal relations which make us one people
is fast subsiding; and year of general pros
| perity and health has crowned the nation with
unusual blessings. None can look back to the
dangers which are passed, or forward to the
bright prospect before us, without feeling q
| thrill of qualification at the same time that he
must be impressed with grateful sense of our
profound obligations to a benefcent Provi-
dence, whose paternal 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
| United States, who were more or less concerned
| in the previous invasion of Cuba instead of
being discouraged by its failure, have again
abused the hospitality of this country, by ma
king it the scene of the equipment of another
military expedition against that possession of
her Catholic Majesty, in which they were coun-
tenanced, aided, and joined, by citizens of the
United States On receiving intelligence that
such designs were entertained. lost no time
in issuing such instructions to the proper Off
GERS of the United States as seemed to be
called for by the occasion. By the proclama-
ton, copy of which is herewith submitted
| | also warned those who might be in danger of
| H., xIoI e
| full character, and of the penalties which they
would incur. For some time there was reason
| to hope that these measures had suficed to
prevent any such attempt. This hope, how
ever, proved to be delusive. Very early in the
morning of the Sd of August, steamer called
| the Pampero departed from New Orleans for
Cuba, having on board upwards of 400 armed
men, with evident intentions to make war upon
| the authorities of the island This expedition
was set on foot in palpabie violation of the laws
of the United States Its leader was Span
lard and several of the chief officers and some
others engaged in it were foreigners The
persons composing it. however were mostly
citizens of the United States.
Before the expedition set out, and probably
before it was organized, a slight Instruction
airy movement, which appears to have been
soon suppressed, had taken place in the east
ern quarter of Cuba. The Importance of this
movement was unfortunately so much exagge-
rated in the accounts of it published in this
country, that these adventurers seem to have
been led to believe that the Creole population
of the island not only desired to throw of the
authority of the mother country but had re-
solved upon that step, and had begun WELL
concerted enterprise for effecting it. The per-
sons engaged in the expedition were generally
Young and ill-informed. The steamer in which
thew embarked left New Orleans stealthily and
without clearance. After touching at Key
West, she proceeded to the coast of Cuba, and,
on the night between the 18th and 10Th of Au-
gust, landed the persons on board at Playtas:
within about twenty leagues OF Havana.
The main body of them proceeded to, and
took possession of, an inland village, six leagues
distant, leaving others to follow in charge of
the baggage as soon as the means OF trans
portaton could be obtained. The latter, hav-
ing taken up their line of March to connect
themselves with the main body, and having
proceeded about four leagues into the country,
were attacked on the morning OF the 18th by
a body of Spanish troops, and bloody con-
Aict ensued after which they retreated to the
place of Decentralization, where about fifty of
| them obtained boats, and re-embarked therein.
l y
keys near the shore, by a Spanish steamer
cruising ON the coast captured and carried to
| Havana: and after being examined before n
military court were sentenced to be publicly
executed and the sentence was carried into
effect on the 10th of August.
| On receiving information of what had occur
red. Commodore Foxhall A. Parker was in
structed to proceed in the steam-frigate Saranac
to Havana, and inquire into the charges
against the persons executed, the circumstan-
ces under which they were taken and
whatsoever referred to their trial and sentence.
Copies of the instructions from the Department
of State 10 him. and of his letters to that De-
partmer,t, are herewith submitted
According to the record Of the examination.
the prisoners all admitted the offences charged
against them, of being hostile invaders of the
island. At the time of their trial and execu-
ton, the main body Of the invaders was still in
the field making war upon the Spanish author-
ties and Spanish subjects After the lapse of
some days, being overcome by the Spanish
troops, they dispersed on the oath of August :,
Lopez, their leader was captured some DAVIS
after, and executed on the LIST of September
Many of his remaining followers were killed.
or died Of hunger and fatigue and the rest
we're made prisoners. OF these, none appear
to have been tried or executed Several of
them were pardoned upon application of their
friends and Others, and the rest. about one
hundred and sixty in number, were sent to
Spain. OF the final disposition made of these.
we have no official information.
Such is the melancholy result of this illegal
and ll-hted expedition Thus thouchtiess
young men have been induced, by false and
fraudulent representations, to violate the law
OF their country through rash and unfounded
expectations of assisting to accomplish politi-
cal revolutions in other States. and have lost
their lives in the undertaking Too severe
judgment can hardly be passed by the indig-
nant sense of the community, upon those who,
being better informed themselves, have vet led
away the ardor Of youth and an ill-directed
love OF political liberty. The correspondence
between this Government and that of Spain
relating to this transaction is herewith com.
municated
Although these offenders against the laws
have forfeited the protection Of their country,
yet the Government may no far as h conssten'
J with its obligation TO other countries, ana i's
, fixed purpose to maintain and enforce the Jaws
entertain sympathy for their unohcnd.ng lam
lies and friends, as well ~ feeling OF compass
} sion for themselves. Accordingly, no proper
effort has been spared, and none Will DE spared
TO procure the release, Of such citixens Oh ths
United States engaged in this unlawful enter