The Yazoo Democrat., 1850-10-03

Re.d the following letter from the Mother
,oe Toseph A. Grnffam mate ofthe Georgiana'
IL sod 10 the Editors Of the Delta. 1t will
D noro,, .cted that he and Capt Benson and
,Lo r.,,o ., the Susan Loud were condemned
IL CHI, authorities 10 be shot, their pun
y 'y VIZ 80. 0erwurds commuted for banlsh-
,,saS ''D",~. :. go, k in the chaingangs. Those
-...on,, bic for the neglect, which
""o ,Il,.,s - i.nc,, turately FOR these inno-
cent men, should be h, 'lo 10 d severe account
The letter is toucM ng narrative OF facts
Read it. G.. o, ,e,o
Eds. Del!a-HovoRRD SIRs .5eI lgu,A Ii ~,
moment to the complaints ofa ,Gasarb a
er. Alter hearing that my soL 81, '4aor,ri.
GralTam, mate Of the unfortunate b, - ,ba
ana, was prisoner IN the hands Of, 80 yv
mercy Of the Cuban authorities l -. sIf
home on the 9th Of August, to dcvo
If possible, to his release The GeOr 80.
sailed from here CT was supposedly for 70
gres. Or Coutoy, on the high seas, she \
captured by the Sp1niards on suspicion Of d,
signs against the island, nnd NIL her crew ant
passengers were taken prisoners and carried to
Havana. Four months were these poor fell .
lows kcp; in irons in prisonship. Our gov
crnment finally demanded dIem, aud after
much delay, aud tedious interchange Of nego-
Nsilas, they were al delivered up but Capt
1},u 'oH and the two MATS OF tPe brig and bark
These we're condemned to be sliot. was told
|, H,vanns, that the Alconle A'coy refused
sirn the warrant. After a long alterca-
Il, nd much excitement in Havana, that
,v conn, ,utcd the punishment to bnnishment
nnris,pmen, in some penal scttcn, ent: Cupt
bsnson for ten years, bis mate j. A. GfCh-
IAN for yeers, an the mate of the Snsa u
,,ud four years, They are not ouly banis.1et,
h, also condemned to work in the chain-gaf.rs
m nc some barbarian people.
Now, my dear sirs, place yourselves in myl
uation, and v)u may appreciate the distress
bad agony watch this news communicated to ,
be- heart of a doqling mother. l have taken -,
ny life in my hand; n widow and alone,
ama from Camden. Nc, ~ Washington, to
htcrcade with our Government to interfere IN
chaf of my son; but they made nv heart sick ''
.i.h assurances that the matter would be at {
ead,d to in due time, as if II had no; already
cen before our government abundant um' TO z
ave secured the release of these American !
prisoners, thus unlaw:ully detained by d for 4,
eign power. IN
From Washing on went to Havana. There
had an interyi W. with the Governor Gene
tal OF he island He also pros.rdtcd my heart =
Ind life by Informing me that il was imp1ssi- | l
BE for him to do anything for the prisoners, I
Is they had sailed on the lG.h; but he remarked {
hat he thought they would be given up by the
Spanish Government il demanded by ours. {
Mr.. MorIlnd, the acting Consul, also told me
That our Government was bound to demand +
.hem; not only the liberty of the men, bat a
reimbursement Of their losses and retur~ Of
heir property. At Havana learned that the .
hen were convicted on the testimony Of
raitor, who swore TO everything the Splniards
desired him to say, and in return for it, he
MAS never put in chains, but allowed great
liberties and favors among them.
The people in Havana wonder that our peo-
Bic are so quiet under such a gross national
insult aud injury. They say that if the press
vas to take the matter in hand their release
youll soon be accomplished. Dear sirs, will
GU aid with your efforts the prayers and eXcr-
lns Of mother, who, at the age OF siXty-two,
as made this long and perious voyage to ac-
omp,i'h her sons redemption from captivity
onsidsr the distress of the wives families
fCapt Benson and his mate, J. A. Grailam
onsidar, too, that they ar. American citizens
no were engaged in lawful occupliion in
hing a vessel upon the high seas aud were
uictly returning to the United States, when
ley we're seized and borne OFF into Spanish
N1piyty leave this city in two hours for
Washington, where shall spare no oif1rts to
Emulate our authorities to action. In the
leantimc, much might be done to promote the
uccess Of THE appeal Of the widowed and talh-
rless, BY the generous cXertions OF the press
am too poor to reward their efforts 10y any
tlug but thanks, and my prayers for their /
ereseut and eternal welfare.
am, very truly, your friend,
SARAH GRAFFMAN.