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sent les agents de même qualité de la nation la plus favorisée. Il en sera de même en Belgique pour les Agents Consulaires de Sardaigne.

XXV. Les Consuls respectifs pourront faire arrêter et renvoyer soit à bord, soit dans leur pays, les matelots qui auraient déserté des bâtiments de leur nation dans un des ports de l'autre. A cet effet, ils s'adresseront, par écrit, aux autorités locales compétentes, et justifieront, par l'exhibition en original ou en copie duement certifiée des registres du bâtiment ou du rôle d'équipage ou par d'autres documents officiels, que les individus qu'ils réclament faisaient partie dudit équipage; sur cette demande ainsi justifiée, la remise ne pourra leur être refusée. Il leur sera donné toute aide pour la recherche et l'arrestation desdits déserteurs, qui seront même détenus et gardés dans les maisons d'arrêt du pays, à la réquisition et aux frais des Consuls, jusqu'à ce que ces agents aient trouvé une occasion de les faire partir.

Si pourtant cette occasion ne se présentait pas dans un délai de 2 mois, à compter du jour de l'arrestation, les déserteurs seraient mis en liberté et ne pourraient plus être arrêtés pour la même

cause.

Il est entendu, que les marins sujets de l'autre partie seront exceptés de la présente disposition, à moins qu'ils ne soient naturalisés citoyens de l'autre pays.

Si le déserteur avait commis quelque délit, son extradition serait différée jusqu'à ce que le tribunal qui a droit d'en connaître ait rendu son jugement et que celui-ci ait eu son effet.

XXVI. Les navires, marchandises, et effets appartenant aux sujets Belges ou Sardes qui auraient été pris par des pirates, dans les limites de la juridiction de l'une des 2 Parties Contractantes, ou en haute mer, et qui seraient conduits ou trouvés dans les ports, rivières, rades, baies, de la domination de l'autre Partie Contractante, seront remis à leurs propriétaires en payant, s'il y a lieu, les frais de reprise qui seront déterminés par les tribunaux compétents lorsque le droit de propriété aurait été prouvé devant ces tribunaux et sur la réclamation qui devra en être faite dans le délai d'un an par les parties intéressées, par leurs fondés de pouvoirs ou par les agents des Gouvernements respectifs.

XXVII. Lorsqu'un navire appartenant aux citoyens du pays de l'une ou de l'autre des Parties Contractantes fera naufrage, échouera ou souffrira quelque avarie sur les côtes ou dans les domaines de l'autre Partie Contractante, celle-ci lui donnera toute assistance et protection comme aux navires de sa propre nation, lui permettant de décharger, en cas de besoin, ses marchandises, sans exiger aucun droit, ni impôt, ni contribution quelconque, jusqu'à ce que ces marchandises puissent être exportées, à moins qu'elles ne soient livrées

à la consommation intérieure. Ce navire, en toutes ses parties ou débris, en tous les objets qui y appartiendront, ainsi que tous les effets et marchandises qui en auront été sauvés, ou le produit de leur vente, s'ils sont vendus, seront fidèlement rendus aux propriétaires sur leur réclamation ou sur celle de leurs agents à ce dûment autorisés; et dans le cas où il n'y aurait pas de propriétaire ou d'agent sur les lieux, lesdits effets ou marchandises, ou le produit de la vente qui en serait faite, ainsi que tous papiers trouvés à bord du vaisseau naufragé, seront remis au Consul Belge ou Sarde dans l'arrondissement duquel le naufrage aura eu lieu, et le Consul, les propriétaires ou les agents précités n'auront à payer que les dépenses faites pour la conservation de ces objets.

XXVIII. Le présent Traité sera en vigueur pendant 8 années à compter du jour de l'échange des Ratifications, et si un an avant Pexpiration de ce terme ni l'une ni l'autre des 2 Parties Contractantes n'annonce par une déclaration officielle son intention d'en faire cesser les effets, ledit Traité restera encore obligatoire pendant une année pour les 2 parties, et ainsi de suite jusqu'à l'expiration des 12 mois qui suivront la déclaration officielle en question, à quelque époque qu'elle ait lieu.

XXIX. Dans le cas où l'une des Hautes Parties Contractantes, par l'effet d'une mesure législative, rendrait l'application générale des faveurs qu'elle concède, savoir: la Belgique, par rapport aux huiles, vins, marbres, fruits; et la Sardaigne, par rapport aux ouvrages de fer, verres et cristaux, tissus de laine et de lin, la partie qui se croira lésée aura, pendant 6 mois à compter du jour où une semblable mesure aura été mise à exécution, le droit de dénoncer le présent Traité, qui cessera ses effets un an après que cette dénonciation aura été faite à l'autre partie.

XXX. Le présent Traité sera ratifié par Sa Majesté le Roi des Belges et par Sa Majesté le Roi de Sardaigne, et les Ratifications en seront échangées à Turin, dans le délai de 4 mois ou plus tôt, si faire se peut.

En foi de quoi, les Plénipotentiaires l'ont signé et y ont apposé leur sceau.

Fait en double original à Turin, le 24 Janvier, 1851.

(L.S.) H. DE BROUCKERE.

(L.S.) C. CAVOUR.

MESSAGE of the President of The United States, on the Opening of Congress.-Washington, December 2, 1851.

FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE SENATE,

And of the House of REPRESENTATIVES,

I CONGRATULATE you and our common constituency upon the favourable auspices under which you meet for your first session. Our country is at peace with all the world. The agitation which for a time threatened to disturb the fraternal relations which make us one people is fast subsiding, and a year of general prosperity 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 a thrill of gratification, at the same time that he must be impressed with a grateful sense of our profound obligations to a beneficent Providence, whose paternal care is so manifest in the happiness of this highly-favoured 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 making it the scene of the equipment of another military expedition against that possession of Her Catholic Majesty, in which they were countenanced, aided, and joined by citizens of The United States. On receiving intelligenee that such designs were entertained, I lost no time in issuing such instructions to the proper officers of The United States as seem to be called for by the occasion. By the proclamation, a copy of which is herewith submitted, I also warned those who might be in danger of being inveigled into this scheme, of its unlawful character, and of the penalties which they would incur. For some time there was reason to hope that these measures had sufficed to prevent any such attempt. This hope, however, proved to be delusive. Very early in the morning of the 3rd of August, a 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 palpable violation of the laws of The United States. Its leader was a Spaniard, 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 insurrectionary movement, which appears to have been soon suppressed, had taken place in the eastern quarter of Cuba. The importance of this movement was unfortunately so much exaggerated in the accounts of it published in this country, that these adven

turers seem to have been led to believe that the Creole population of the island not only desired to throw off the authority of the mother country, but had resolved upon that step, and had begun a wellconcerted enterprise for effecting it. The persons engaged in the expedition were generally young and ill-informed. The steamer in which they embarked left New Orleans stealthily and without a clearance. After touching at Key West, she proceeded to the coast of Cuba, and on the night between the 11th and 12th of August, landed the persons on board at Playtas, within about 20 leagues of Havana.

The main body of them proceeded to, and took possession of, an inland village, 6 leagues distant, leaving others to follow in charge of the baggage, as soon as the means of transportation could be obtained. The latter having taken up their line of march to connect themselves with the main body, and having proceeded about 4 leagues into the country, were attacked on the morning of the 13th by a body of Spanish troops, and a bloody conflict ensued; after which they retreated to the place of disembarkation, where about 50 of them obtained boats and re-embarked therein. They were, however, intercepted among the keys near the shore by a Spanish steamer cruising on the coast, captured and carried to Havana, and, after being examined before a military court, were sentenced to be publicly executed, and the sentence was carried into effect on the 16th of Angust.

On receiving information of what had occurred, Commodore Foxhall A. Parker was instructed to proceed in the steam-frigate Saranac to Havana, and inquire into the charges against the persons executed, the circumstances under which they were taken, and whatsoever referred to their trial and sentence. Copies of the instructions from the Department of State to him, and of his letters to that department, 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 execution, the main body of the invaders was still in the field, making war upon the Spanish authorities and Spanish subjects. After the lapse of some days, being overcome by the Spanish troops, they dispersed on the 24th of August; Lopez, their leader, was captured some days after, and executed on the 1st of September. Many of his remaining followers were killed, or died of hunger and fatigue, and the rest were 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 160 in number, were sent to Spain. Of the final disposition made of these, we have no official information.

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Such is the melancholy result of this illegal and ill-fated expedition. Thus, thoughtless 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 political revolutions in other States, and have lost their lives in the undertaking. Too severe a judgment can hardly be passed by the indignant sense of the community upon those who, being better informed themselves, have yet led away the ardour 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 communicated.

Although these offenders against the laws have forfeited the protection of their country, yet the Government may, so far as is consistent with its obligations to other countries, and its fixed purpose to maintain and enforce the laws, entertain sympathy for their unoffending families and friends, as well as a feeling of compassion for themselves. Accordingly no 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 enterprize as are now in confinement in Spain; but it is to be hoped that such interposition with the Government of that country may not be considered as affording any ground of expectation that the Government of The United States will, hereafter, feel itself under any obligation of duty to intercede for the liberation or pardon of such persons as are flagrant offenders against the law of nations and the laws of The United States. These laws must be executed. If we desire to maintain our respectability among the nations of the earth, it behoves us to enforce steadily and sternly the neutrality Acts passed by Congress, and to follow, as far as may be, the violation of those Acts with condign punishment.

But what gives a peculiar criminality to this invasion of Cuba, is, that under the lead of Spanish subjects and with the aid of citizens of The United States, it had its origin, with many, in motives of cupidity. Money was advanced by individuals, probably in considerable amounts, to purchase Cuban bonds, as they have been called, issued by Lopez, sold, doubtless, at a very large discount, and for the payment of which the public lands and public property of Cuba, of whatever kind, and the fiscal resources of the people and Government of that island, from whatever source to be derived, were pledged, as well as the good faith of the Government expected to be established. All these means of payment, it is evident, were only to be obtained by a process of bloodshed, war, and revolution. None will deny that those who set on foot military expeditions against foreign States by means like these, are far more culpable than the ignorant and the necessitous whom they induce to go forth as the

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