Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-02-24
G U b A


thing more, viz: that the Captain General is using
all the extraordinary powers vested in him, to pre-
pare for the defeat and destruction OF the hardy
adventures, should they really endeavor to effect a
landing, and rcvolutionize the Island. lie has
proclaimed martial law, declared Cuba III a state
of siege, announced the blockade of her ports, ar
rested large numbers of suspected patriots, placed
the military force of the Island on complete war
footing organized his battalions so as to be readily
concentrated and thrown upon any particular point
without delay, enlisted formidable regiments OF
volunteers, and finally issued proclamation IN
which he avows his intention OF giving no quarter
to the pirates. These precautions and man@uvres
indicate on the part of Concha settled belief that
an expedition Is on foot and may be shortly ex-
pected in the Island Concha is well served by
his e1nissaries in this country. They furnish hlm
with faithful transcript of all that occurs, ana
sometimes we believe, they overstep the limits OF
rca|ty and transmit him, for fact, mere runor and
vague snrmse.
The question naturally arises is there any solid
truth in these outgivings? The Northern papers
contain dispatches from this quarter which assert
roundly enough that men are daily rccruing tor a
razzia upon Cuba, that the libusters lack neither
money. nor the munitions Of war, and that one
division alone Of the revolutionary army is COM
posed of $500 men, This is all the breath and
br,lit of common repart and we are incapable OF
giving il either authoritative affirmation On denial
Certain is it that the street talk is of Cuba, that
every man has heard of another projected expedi-
ton, and that no man can give PLAIN and sub
stantial form to hts knowledge but !. the mere
vehicle OF such street rumOr as is grcedly caught
up and ndustriously circulated by idlers and quid-
nuncs. If an expedition is maturing, its leaders
have far kept their own secret that the mass OF
the community possess nothing beyond the va2ucst
information. In fact, five are to conclude that the
formidable preparations of Gen. Concha are upon
authentic information, he knows much more con-
corning the designs and doings of the Cuban junta
| than we who live, move and have our being In
their midst.
We take it, however, that something OF the sort
is brewing, but whether it will ever be carrld into
complete effect is quite problematical AS for the
invasion of Cuba by handful Of rash adventures,
such as composed the expedition under Lopez, the
idea is preposterous Nothing short of we'll
drilled and competent force of several thousands
would have the slightest chance Of success, and
even then the enterprise might well be considered
desperate Cuba was never better guarded than
now. The Capt. General has employed all the
resources at his command to place the Island in
the strongest position for defence. For an fnva~
sion of Cuba, to be attended with the remotest
chance of success, it must be effected by an army
not an undisciplned reg iment Of adventures
and that army must be provided with park OF
artillery, it will be swept away like chaf by the
canon of Her Most Catholic Majesty Surprising
however, that the expedition is adequate in point
of numbers and sufficiently supplied with the en-
ginery of war, We apprehend there will be consl-
derable difficulty in getting to Cuba The coast is
thoroughly guarded by the Spanish cruisers. Our
own navy is under instructions to prevent viola
ton of the neutrality laws. British and French
rs fbo nd wi 10
the Spaniards to intercept the expedition. 1t could
not possibly reach the Island in masses, but could
only attain its purpose by Selling favorable oppor-
tunities to disembark small detached parties at
various points, This would be a dangerous policy,
for without doubt the Cuban authorities would
pounce upon such fragments Of the revolutionary
force, and annihlate them, if possible, ere gene
raj junction could be accomplished. Thus we see
the purposes of the Lone Star patriots hedged
round with embarassments and though in our
ignorance of their numbers or their precise plans,
our remarks are somewhat conjectural, yet we
know enough of the preparations made by the
Captan-General of the Island, and of the force at
his disposal to justify the general conclusion that
an invasion of Cuba is an Herculean task.
But if an expedition of five or seven thousand
men starts for Cuba reaches the Island and unites
its strength in one compact mass the difficulties Of
the attempt have only begun. That Cuba could be
released from the Spanish domination, if the natives
of the Island were unanimously in favor Of indie
pendence, and determined to achieve it, admits of
small doubt. But we have no grounds to warrant
any belief in this unanimity Of feeling. Either it
does not exist or its manifestations are completely
suppressed by the stern rule of the Spanish author
tiles Unless the inhabitants of Cuba sympathise
strongly with the invaders, and are ready to join
them the moment they touch the soil Of the Island
it is palpabe that long, sanguinary and exhaust
ing struggle must ensne in which determined cour-
age and nvncible resolution will avail little against
immense superiority of numbers, with thorough
knowledge of the country. Such a contest may be
long protracted, but We think must result in the
determination of the invaders.
We cannot but regret these continued efforts to
free Cuba, when she herself appears so indif-
ferent to her fate Let not the blood of our coun-
trymen be vainly shed in chimerical attempts to
give liberty to the Queen of the Antilles, while she
bows her head meekly beneath the Caudine forks.
Besides, these reiterated rumors Of expeditions,
while they do not advance one jot the freedom Of
Cuba, greatly hamper and injure the commerce be-
tween the United States and that Island, and main-
tain irritating feeling between the Spanish Gov
eminent and our own, highly prejudicial to the
settlement Of existing controversies.
New Orleans Bee, Of Wednesday.
NIAGARA FALLS IN THEIR WINTER RoBE.-The
Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, of the 9Th inst,
thus notices the sublime aspect Of Niagara Falls in
their winter robe:
Probably there is no sight in the whole world so
mpressivey grand the Falls present at this time.
The unprecedented duration of cold weather has
allowed the spray, which winter and summer falls
in an unceasing shower, gradually to accumulate
in huge cones upon the rocks at the foot and in
front Of the Falls to an immense size and height.
The trees on Goat Island and on the Canada side
present an aspect of being chsseled from alabaster
or Parian marble-everything within the influence
of spray from the cataract presents this sngularly
beautiful pharmaceutical, SO immense has been
| the accumulation of the frozen spray upon the
trees as in some instances to break down trees with
trunks over foot in diameter. The streams which
ever percolate through the overhanging rocks on
each side Of the Falls gradually CONCEALED into
the semblance Of immense stalactitcs and in some
instances present the appearance Of regular colon
AIDES. Then when the sun lights upon the scene, it
gives the beholder more the idea Of fairy land than
Of reality. Those who wish to view scene of un-
equalled grandeur should now improve it.
JEREMY TAYLoR's IDEA OF FRIEND.-A friend
| shares my sorrow, and makes it but moiety; but
he swells my joy, and makes it double. For so two
channels divide the river and lessen II into riyuets