The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-25

The RELEASE OF TIE CoNToY PRISONERS. we
have received private information from the highest
authority in Havana, which throws additional |
light upon the release of the Contoy prisoners, |
and upon the future designs relative 10 the prison.
ers taken in the Georgiana and susan Loud.
When the steamer Vixen arrived at Havana,
Commodore Morris, who was commissioned by
the United States government to demand the re-
lease of those ncarcerated in the dungeons OF the
Moro, called on the Captain General. The Captain
General fixed, as a time for an interview, twelve
o'clock of the same day. II appears, however,
that at eleven o'clock, one hour before the time
specified fortytwo of the prisoners were released,
each being informed that, if he should ever be
taken within the dominion of Cuba or Porto Rico,
he would be liable to Imprisonment for two years
and it was added, as melancholy consolation,
that chain and ball would be attached to his
ankle, 10 control any indsposition toward any
active labor imposed by the authorities.
With respect 10 the other prisoners, matters may
not turn out quite favorably The forty-two
who have been released tried, and the
evidence found insufficient to produce con-
vction, even though of their own number
| turned States evidence. The remaining pr-
| soners, it appears, are held by a stronger claim
| than that which detained the others. They
were connected with vessels in which were
large munitions of war, and the sailing papers of
| which made no mention of these formidable agents
of invasion and revolution. Not being able 10 ex-
! plain, to the satisfaction of the Cuban authorities,
their position in this particular, they are liable,
under the law of nations, to suffer the penalty
which their situation has brought upon them.
In view Of their probable lamsntable end, we can
not refrain from referring once more to the conduct,
or rather want Of sagacity and activity, displayed
by the recent government at Washington. Here
were arms, ammunition, means, and appliances of
war, proceeding in American vessels directly from
our shore, if not from very arsenals and depo-
STORIES, without single obstacle appearing in the
shape of government power TO avert the certain
result predicted by every sensible man in this coun-
try. While we hope that those now in the
| hands of the Cuban authorities may be released,
because they the dupes of men far more guilty,
yet what shall we say of that cabinet, whose super
| cilious Indifference, or rather negative assistance,
| has done so much TO jeopardiZe the liberties and
lives of an indscreet portion of our citizens They
have much to answer for in this business; and our
only hope is, that the present government at Wash
ington will be able TO lessen the aggravaton of
their predecessors SINS by diminishing the terrors
which may result, if some judcious action does
not mark our future correspondence with Cuba
respecting this unhappy affair.
| While We would have the laws of nations res
pected, we would see Spain take nobler step
than TO punish the weak victims of indiscreton now
In her power, for the want of the culprits who
are roaming through this land in search of some
new nucleus OF mischief.