The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-17
MONDAY. NOVEMBER IT, 1856
The Thrasher Case.

ton relative to this case, which has excited ouch
general interest and indignation in the minds OF
our citizens The sympathies of all who read
these extracts must be most warmly excited In
behalf of the sufferers, both in and outside of
the prison cell, TO which the jealous fears of a
suspicious government have crually consigned
an American citizen. II is cruel case in all its
aspects The Picayune says:
We have received several letters from Havana
in reference to Mr. J. S. Thrasher's arrest and
Imprisonment Want of space will not permit
us to publish them entire, and we therefore
obliged to confne ourselves to the following ex-
TRACES The FIRST speaking of Mr. Thrashers
mother, says:
al have seen the good old lady, Mrs. Thrash.
er, who looks the right mother for such a son.
She lives at Regia, and came over to ask per.
mission Of the captain-genera to see her son,
but he would not see her, because it was not
the fixed day of receptions She is no woman
to weep over this Spanish enormity. She has
faith in her son-in his hOnor-and that COM
forts her aged heart. Mr.. Thrasher is to be
tried by sort of court marshal, but the sentence
was passed before he was arrested, and nothing
remains but a few formaties to conform the
proof 10 the accusation, in accordance with the
order OF the supreme authorities.
Another letter, dated November LIST, says that
Mr. BENZ. F. Thrasher, brother of the gentleman
now in the Punta Castle, had been arrested and
his papers seized. These consisted only of let
ters from his school companions of years back
and few business notes. The writer says:
"Benj. Franklin Thrasher, brother of John g.
Thrasher will not remain long in confinement,
as his whole life has been unmixed with any
sort oftrouble, life of untring industry to sus-
tain himself and his aged parents, who depend
upon his labor for their daily living. The ia
Their Of these young men was citizens of Port
land, Me-, (they we're born there,) and came to
this island eighteen or twenty years since to es-
tablish bakery, and the family have lived in
quiet industry and the exercise of kindly
charity towards the unfortunate Of their own
land, stangers here, as we'll as ministering to the
afflicted of their temporary home The father
is paralytic, and may be considered as on his
death-bed; and the mother is incompetent, from
her age and sex, to manage the business, 80
that much distress follows even few days de-
tentiOn Of the son from his duties
We are in hopes that Com. Parker
will be here soon with the Saranac, which will
be Of some service, perhaps, to check farther
outrages upon American citizens, although it
will probably be too late for the case of John S.
Thrasher. 1t may induce the prompt consider
alton of his brothers case and his release, how
ever" 6
We have also been permitted to make the
following extract from private letter, received
by gentleman in this city from friend in Ha
vana, whose position is such as TO give great
weight to his opinions. Speaking of Mr.. Thrash
er, he says
81 am very fearful for our poor friend He ha.
been confined upwards of eight days, incomu,si
cado, SOLITARY confnement) | understand tina
he has made himself bitterly obnoxious to THU
government, who are fearful that if they sent
him out of the island, his extensive knowledge
of the country and people would make him
formidable enemy. They have, therefore, de
termined to deal with him in such manner as {
put it out Of his power to do them any harm
One of his best friends alarmed me very niue
last night by declaring that the government ha
determined to bring him before the militar
commission, probably next week, and that the
would use every endeaver to infct upon hin
the extreme penalty of the law inning al III
garrote' cannot credit that these people vii
60 to such extremes, but have no doubt tina
he will be sent to preside at Ceuta for ten years
The feeling entertained in New Orleans, il
relation to the barbarous treatment of ON
whose only alleged offence was of poltica
character may be judged from the indignant com
ments of the papers from which we have jus
quoted. Weappend those comments, since they
give very clear exposition of the real merits o.
the case
]. S. Treaty betOeen The United
States and Spdn-The arbitrary and vindictve
conduct Of the Spanish authorities towards Mr.
}. 5. Thrasher, has attracted the notice of the
American government, as it has excited the in
dignation of the American people. This gentle
man has resided in Cuba for nearly twenty years
and during large portion Of that time, has been
the editor of the Faro Industrial, paper OF
good standing and profitable as an investment
In the conduct and management of that journal
he could not have offended the Spanish author
ities inasmuoh as the censorship of the press in
the island is such that nothing Objectionable to
the government can find place in paper pub.
hshed in Cuba. The ground upon which he
was arrested without formal accusation, and
latterly thrown into dungeon without having
been appnsed OF the charge upon which he was
seized, does not pertain to his character of Jour
nalist. 1t was for something else than wha
appears to the public; and what that something
else is, neither Mr.. Thrasher nor his friends cal
say, as the authorities have not degned to Civ
Mr. Thrasher clue TO the reason of his deten
ton, nor have any of his friends been allowed
knowledge of the proceedings upon which h,
was arrested.
It is probable, indeed il must be, that Mr.
Thrasher was taken in custody from suspicious
which the Spanish government entertains OF
every American residing in Cuba who does not
discard from his mind all sense Of national feel.
ing, and suppress within hin the sympathies
which belong to bis birth. These jeaousies
always active enough, have been rendered more
intense and vicious by the recent attempt to
revolutionze the Island. 1t is not impossible
that some of Mr.. Thrashers rivals in business
have taken advantage of the temper of the au
tborities TO get rid Of him and for this reason
have watched and wayaid him, to find grounc
Of impeachment against him and in this ignobl'
calling have magniied acts Of humanity toward
his countrymen in the throes Of death int
reasonable practices against the authorities
However this may be. whether the jeaIoSsss'
Of rivals have contributed 10 bis overthrow, o
he has been swept from the light Of day by IN
suspicious tyranny Of the csptaiD-geDeral, 0
even If there be lawful cause OF arrest and de
Il a..