The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-09-01
AUeusr 10, ls6l-6s o'clock.
From, the Neio Orleans Bee, august %.
From The Neto Orleans True Della, August %.
The Havana Tragedy,

The Havana Tragedy.
The community is convulsed with rage and in
dignation at the terrible vengeance taken by the
Captain General of Cuba ofthe unfortunate young
whom the fortune Of and deplorable
fate placed in his power. The feeling now abroad
is akin to that which pervaded every portion Of this
Republic on the receipt of the news Of the massa-
ores of Golad and the Alamo in Texas in 1895.
The feeling is equally natural and just but when
under cover of it bands of desperadoes assemble
together, break into dwellings,, plumber them Of
their contents and into stores the merchandise of
which they scatter to the winds of Heaven, carry
off in triumph, society is resolved into its original
elements, and chaos is ceme again.
The extraordinary spectacle ia Witnessed OF
great commercial city actually in the hands ofn
mob, and the most daring spoliatons committed
in the presence Of an inactive or paralyxed chief
magistrate. Threats on a hundred tongues OF
fellows, doubt subsidised for the purpose Of de-
stroying property, because we dared, before
the sailing of the Pampero, to advise the young
against the madness Of rushing blindfold to
aid people who we had too much reason to believe
were faithless, cowardy, or unresolved, as to un-
dertake an invasion with numbers 80 few that de-
etruction was inevitable This was the sum of our
advice, this is the extent of offending, and for
this our property is menuced with destruction, our
persons with outrage
Have we been found in any single instance mis-
leading the people? Can solitary instance be adj
duced wherein we have been unfaithful to great
trust as public journalists Can the viest pander
the press point with his corrupt and trembling
finger single line that has ever appeared in
these columns wanting in true republicanism, de-
icient in ardor for the greatness, glory and honor
of our country? No; butwe are denounced in this
Reign of Terror and official incompetency for hav-
ing dared to examine the atrocious fabricatons by
means Of which our young men were being scduced
to destruction; for presuming to print, on the au-
thorty of American merchants, information
then believed and know to be true, in regard to
the wild exaggerations of Cuban revolt, artfully
concocted to infame the aginntion and rouse the
spirit of liberty living and burning brightly
in the American heart.
Is it crime to advise caution? Shall our propera
ty be destroyed and our persons outraged for stat.
ing, as duty demanded of US, the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Do the
relatives Of our brethren, torn from us forever,
reproach us because we implored them not to en-
bark mere handful of men to fight against fearful
odds doubtful promises of support, made through
the columns of newspapers? Have our worst Tears not
been realized? Have our young not been led to in
eyitable slaughter? OF what avail was their incom
parable valor against odds SO overwhelmingly dis
proportionate? What could they effect, surrounded
on all sides by enemies. succored or befriended BY
none? What must have been the desolation of hope
that could drive such men as Crttcnden and Kerr,
Cook and Vicnne, and their gallant associates, to
sea in wreched boats in the desperate expectation
of escaping the terrible death that they well knew
awaited them if captured by their enemiesf
Here are two letters placed in our hands for pub
LEGATION by Messrs. Stanton & Co., and the rela-
tives Of Mr.. yienne. We beg our readers to Pc
ruse them carefully, and compare them with the
letters published in what called the Cuban Off
ca organs, in relation to these events. The italics
are those of the writer's:
On BoARp 4HE MAN-orwAR EsrERAnzA,
August l6, 1851.
THEIRS: Before die, am permitted to address my
last words in this toorld
Deceived by false Visions embarked in the ex-
petition for Osba We arrived, about four hun
dred in number last week, and in about an hour
from now. we, mean fifty of ue, will be lost
was taken prisoner after an engagement, and, with
fifty others, am to be shot in an hour.
die, my dear brothers and sisters, repcntant
sinner, having been blessed with the ast rites OF
| our holy religion. Forgive me for all my foes OF
my life, and you, my dear and affeconate sisters,
| pray for my poor soul
! 4, go to my dear mother and console her
me- Love ef her form for my ID Kiss my brothers and
! all your dear children. To Father Blackney, my
last profound respect; to Father Lacroix and Fa-
Their D'IIau, macs for the repose OF my soA.~
| My dear mother-in law, farewell! Poor faciso
| is shot, and dead by this time
! give and bcqucath my dear child to YOU and
you alone Good bye Il; good bye =
and T. / did my duty. Good bye all
iOu' u'A' '' HoNoRE Tactic vIxSsr.
! Mr.. Antonio Costa has promised to do all he can
| to obtain my body. If 80, please have me buried
| with my wife
HAVANA, on board a man Of war,
| Eight o'clock, a. m, August 10, 1851.
| srASroN s. Co.--MY DEAR FRIEsDs; About fifty
| of ue Colonel Crttendcn's command, were taken
! nrisoners yesterday, have not received our SEN
tence yet, but no doubt we will all be shot before
| sunset. Lopez, the scoundrel, has deceived us;
there is no doubt but all those reports about the
/ Cubans rising all trumped up in New Or
| leans. Lopez took nearly his command and do
serted us--we attacked by some five or seven
| hundred of the Queens troops the sccond day at
| ter we landed. Our own gallant Colonel Critten-
| den done all that any man could debut we saw
we had been deceived and retreated TO the sea-
shore with the intention Of getting off to our coun