The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-06


Of that Journal to quote the article TO which refers and
10 quote also the explanation given Of it by
ponden if it does not wish TO impose on its readers
There is nothing SO unbecoming the chaacero the press
as the devotion of its columns to wanon missatements
OF facts The Washington Union has never said any
thing deroga,ory to the character OF the Methodist
Church. 1t has never denounced the members of that
numerous and respectable denomination Of Christians or
applied 10 them any ephes. Individually or collectively
inconsistent with the highest respect Tor their general
character for pie,y and pure morality.
rns views OF sho Administration A. to tho Alleged
Trial Of American Prisoners In Cuba.
We have already noted the fact that the President in
his message takes exception to the suciency and le
gaty of the alleged trial upon which the fifty American
they were, making their way home
from Cuba in open boats-were shot
The nature OF this trial is thus officially stated by
Commodore Parker in despatch to the Department of
State. under date OF Havana, September 8, 1851
"He tCa Concha] stated that he considered
them as yvates and they had been denounced In the
proclamation of the Presdest Of the Unifsd States that
they tried nsdmne and fun proof Oade
of guilt and of their participation in the invasion OF
the by Lopez He did consider himself liberty
furnish with the proceedings on tho trial. but would
send them his government, and to the Spanish
minister Washington, who would do whatever right
in the matter the call OF the government of the United
States The r1rcufion delayed from halfpast
O'clock eleven, in order to give the prisoners an
opportunity Of writing their friends during whseh period
made the declaration that they constituted part oil the
forces CT Lopez"
AT the time when these prisoners were thus tried in
summary manner and shot, he 7h article OF treaty
with Spain OF 1895 was in full force, guarantying
tain legal and regular ormaties and privileges OF al
TO ann and oil Aeredn offenders against the Spanish
authorities in Cuba, who might be seized, arrested or
detained" to answer for any such offence. The article
reals as follows
"ARr L. And isageed that the subjects citizens OF
each of tho contracting parties, their vo.ses effects,
shall be liable any embargo deenion the part
Of tho oher military fxpedifioH or other public or
private purpose whatever And in ali of seizure, de-
cnou for debts contracted, Offences committed
by citizen subject Of the parry within the jurs
dicon Of the other the shall De made and prosecuted
by order and authority Of dp only ACCORDING
REGULAR PROCEEDINGS SUCH CASES. tSe
poccdea Hnicamtxfs por order autordad de la usica,
ios ramits ordirarios "gnidos an soafs oaso'
7hs ard Stcfs Of both parts shall BE- aHoced
employ seh adroca soeitors wotarits, ngent AID fac.
tors they may Judge proper. all their Affairs asd all
iar schich they may Be concerned, before the
ibswa Of the other party AID sseh agents shall haze free
BE- present. al the Proceedings in such AID
fakrg OF all examinations and svdencs hioh BE-
hibtfsd in the said trials"
There is no rre,ence in any quarter that the Amer.
lean prisoners question, after they had been sezod
rested and detained to for their offence received
any such trial. enjoyed any such privileges intended
to fair trial. here specifically described
and secured all American offenders They had no due
and regular OF legal proceedings They had no &C
cess TO- aid FROM advocates and agents On the con.
ary, the captain general tells Commodore Parker that
taking the Presidents proclamation for his guide in their
case. be held them 10 be poies" and had them summa.
ry examined and shot SUCH Even assuming Con-
cha's very view OF their character to be
true, his for refusing them the due legal
trial secured by the treaty is altogether insufficient
because the treaty itself coniempates the offence OF pra
Cyl makes the prva,eer praie and as SUCH secures 10
him the trial described in its 7h article Indeed the fac,
well known that, in view OF the state OF public Justice
in Cuba when the treaty negotiated the 9TH article
was inserted for the very purpose OF rescuing all Ame
can offenders from just those summary proceedings upon
which Concha shot these hapless and misguided young
Americans Concha regarded himself as authorized by
the Presidents proclamation abrogas the treaty in
their case did in fact abrogate it, and the President in
his message silently acquiesces in its abrogation,
But the acquesesnce Of the administration in this alb
roSaton OF the rights OF trial secured to these American
prisoners by treaty not always silent On the 9th Of
September while Commodore Parker on the spot, was in
forming government how the fifty FIRST cap
tured had been dealt with, it already known at
Washington that Lopez had been executed and tina, one
hundred and 6tyfUe American citizens. associated
his expedition, had been arrested and imprisoned, and
awaiting their fate in the dungeons Of Havana On
that same dayhs 9Th of Sepcmberhea acting Secretary
Of State oai despatch 10 MIR Calderon 10 intimate
he private ,cishe q OF the American government that
Mr. Caderon would his influence with Concha TO have
these one hundred aud fifty five prisoners lenieny treated
now tina, Lopez is out Of the way" And in this most
strange official document occurs the following passage
which shows that our government, while taking leave
thus to make known its "prvats wishes on the sub
iec expressly dissmed any right officially to incrposs
TO the end that these should be sho, like their
companions without any such trial As the treaty secured
to them. or. indeed without any pretence OF trial a, all
Tbs undersigned begs Mr.. Calderon distinctly 10 nm
dersand that riGAi 70 claimed the part Of this
soptr"ms~t 10 st0vs~s officially wh rsgard th MATTER
but that the foregoing remarks osd ssyiy ibody
ing ne private wshss Of this sovWw~ss~f and worthy
the consideration Of cminen,y humane and kindly
disposed A. her Catholic Msjssy representative in the
United States" h6f If.af It'd
Surely this is plain enough I, says emphaticay 10
the Spanish authorities. /" Do a. you please. Give
formal trial OF informal trial, or shoot without any