The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1851-12-09
PRESIDENTS
nj f. S S A c. f /.
FeiiOis Ciiisens Of the Senate


tuercy 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 dis
turb tha fraternal relations which make us one
people,Is fast subsiding. and year OF gene,al
prosperity aud health has crowned the nation
with unusual blessings None can look back
&c the dangers which are passed, or forward TO
the bright prospect before us, without feeling a
thrill of qualification, at the same time that he
must be impressed with n grateful sense Of our
profound obligations to benihcent Providence,
whose pateruai care is so msnifest ia the hap
pness OF this highly favored land.
Since the close Of the last Congress certain
Csbans and other foreigners resident in the u :
Dited States, who were more OF less concerned
in the previous invasion of Cuba, instead OF be-
ing discouraged by its failure, having again a
bused The hospitality OF this country, by max
3ng tthe scene of the equipment of another
military expedition against that possession of
her Catholic Majesty, in which they moro 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 10 the proper Off
GERS OF the UGited States as seemed TO be CO
ed for by the OCCASION. By the proclamation,
copy Of which is herewith submitted, | also
warned those who might be in danger of being
hnveigled into this scheme, of its o wful char
acter. aud OF the penalties which they would in.
cur. For some lime there was reason TO hope
that these measures had sufliced to prevent any
such attempt. This hope, however, proved 10
be delusive. Very early in the morning of the
third Of Angus, steamer called the Pampero
departed from New Orleans for Cuba, having
on board upwards Of four hundred armed men,
with evident intentions TO make war upon the
authorities of the island. This expedition was
set on foot in palpabe violating to the laws of
the United States. It's leader was a Spanlard
and several OF the chief officers and some 9TH
ers engaged in it, were foreigners. The per-
sons composing it however, were mostly ei
zens Of The United States.
Before the expedition set out and probably
before il was organized, a slight insurrec ctionary
movement. which appears to have been soon
suppressed, had taken place in the eastern
quarter Of Cuba. Tho importance Of this
movement was unfortunately so much exage.
rated IN the accounts Of il published in this
county, that these adveniurers seem TO have
been lead TO believe that The Creole popua
lion Of the Island not only desire to throw off
the authority Of The Mother Country, but had
resolved upon that step, and had begun we'll
roncerted terpriso Tor affecting it. The per
sons engaged in The Expedition we're generally
young and III infuimed. The steamer in which
they embarked left New Olesns sieathily and
wllhrHt clearance. Afer touching at Key
West she proce, ded to the c"ast nf Cuba, aud
on :he night between the llIh and i2th Of Au
gust, landed The persons on bosrd al Paytas,
within about twenty leagues of H.vanna.
The main body Of them proceeded TO, and
took possessin OF an inland Village, SIX leagues
distant, leaving Others to follow in charge Of
the baggage, as soon the means of transpor-
taion could be Obtained. The latter having
taken their line OF march 10 connect themsei-
YES with the main body, and having proceeded
stboGt four leagues il The country, weIe attack
ed on the morning of the 18th by body OF
Spanish troops, ard bloody conflict ensued;
alicr which they retreated TO the place uf dis
embatkation where fifty of lhem obtained boats
and re-embarked therein. They were, how
ever, intercepted among the Keys near the
shore. by Spanish steamer cruzng on the
coast, captured, and carried To Havana, and. az
Ter being examined before a military court.
wero sentenced to be publicly executed; and
the sentence was carried into effect the 6
of August
On receiving information Of what had occur
ed, Commodore Foxhali A. Parker was in
structed 10 proceed in the sIeam-frgae Saranac
10 Havana, and inquire into The charges against
the persons executed. tho circumstances under
which they we,o taken, and whatsoever referred
10 their trial aud sentence. Copies Of the ln-
;struclions from the Department OF Stale to him
and Of his letters To that Department, are here
with submitted.
According to the record OF the examination
the prisoner all admitted The offence charged
against them; OF beiug hostile invaders OF The
island. AT The time of the trial aud execution
The main | ody of the invaders WAS slI in the
field, making war upon the Spanish authorities
aud Spanish subjects After the lapse OF some
DAYS, being overcome by the Spanish troops.
they dispersed the 2Ith OF Aug Lopez,
their leader, was captured some days after and
executed on the lst Of September. Many Of
his remaining followers weie killed, or died OF
hunger aud fatigue, and the rest was made prs
oners. Of these, none appear 1, have been
tried or executed Several Of them were par
doned upon application Of their friends and
others, aud the rest, about one hundred and SIX
W in number, were sent To Spain. Or tho q
nal disposition made of these have no ofli
cal Information.
Such is The melancholy result Of this illegal
and illfaed expedition. Thus. thoughtless
young men have been induced, by false and
fraudulent representations, TO violate the law Of
their country, through rash aud unfoundec ex-
peciions OF assisting TO accomplish political
revolutions in other States, and have lost their
dives in the undertaking. Too severe judg-
ment can hardly be passed, by the indignant
sense OF the community, upon those VINO, be
ing better Informed themselves, have yet led
away the atdo, Of youth aud an i'll directed love
OF political liberty. The correspondence be-
tween this Government and that Of Spain re.
alaiing 10 this transaction is herewith communi-
caed.
Although these offenders against tho laws
have forfeited the protection Of 'heir country
yet the Government may, so far as is consistent
with its obligations to other countries, and It's
fixed purpose do maintain aud enforce the laws
entertain sympathy tor their unoffeuelng 'am'-
lies snd fiends, Us well as feeling oi comPas
sion for themselves. Accordingly no proper
.ffort has been spared, aud none will be spared
10 procure the release of such eiiizens OF the
United States, engaged 10 this unlawful enter
prise. as are now 10 confinement IN Spain; but
IN is tn he hoDed that such iDteTpostiOD wiit