The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-05
From the Plaiadtalsr.
Letter from Capt. Keily-COnsu! owen.
CLEVELAND, Ohio, Sept. 80, 1851

CLEVELAND, OHIO, Sept. 80, 1851.
DEAR Sir II see letter going the rounds
Of the newspapers from Alien +. Oven, U. 5
consul at Havana. Permit me, through tho
columns OF your paper, 10 correct some OF h's
statements in regard to his conduct toward Col
Crittenden's command aud other American pris.
oners since confined ia the Punta at Havana. In
the first place he says:
o. reside about four miles from this place, and
not being well on the morning of the l6!h, did
not reach my office till some time after 10 o'clock,
where, for the first time, heard Of the capture
Of about fifty Of the men who had come with
Lopez to this island in the steamer Pampero.
at the same time heard that the prisoners had
been tried, found guilty, condemned, ordered to
be executed, the order for their execution sent
forward, and that they were about being removed
from the harbor, where they were, to the place
Of execution" ....
This is the most perfect collection of false
hoods ever met with ma is only cqualled in
absurdty by the audacity Of the man in thus at.
tempting to justify his conduct through the Am
erican press. He does not live four miles out
Of town, was he sick at tho time referred to.
He did know in time Of the arrest Of Col.
Crittenden and hi, party, ard was sent for by
them, and positively refused TO see them, on the
score tina. they wer, outlaws. The American,
German, and English citizens resident in Havana
will testify to this whenever called upon.
The American consufs assertion, that the
prisoners had been tried. found guilty and con.
dcnlnet, is n fal,thood ttilt tS'ely man in the
United States at all acquainted with Spanish
law and Spanish rule, must see at oncr 1t is
not the custom to try prisoners in Havana,
other than to gGrrote or by shooting in the back,
which MIR Owen knew at the time he renned
his letter, az well rs the governor. general did
himself; and Judging from Mr.. Ovens conduct,
should think he was more in dread Of getting
in prison himself than anxious to get others
ont. The governor general exercises great in
h1encc over cowardly wretches like Allen T..
Owen, no matter what country they may hail
from. Hence account, in Il great IN. assure, for
his neglect of duty in permitting the Americans
to be shot.
With regard to the other prisoners, his con-
lrct is equally outrageous. When | reached
the prison, found eight or ten Of my comrades
there, and they all said that the consul had not
been to see them. also sent, the same
evening, BY an American merchant at Havana,
to Mr. Owen, and he refused to come, saying
that our government did not recognize u.
When Capt Platt Of the sloop-of,wa Albany.
visited us, ! sent to Mr.. Oven by him, aud he
again refused to come. ...
Then Lieut., Taylor Of the Albany, said he
would make him come" and the next morning
Mr.. Oven paid rs visit with Capt. Platt AS
he came in, the AMERICANS gathered around him,
and for so .ne reason he backed through the door,
and held conversation with us, with The CRATES
intervening. | then asked him TO assist me in
corresponding with my friends in the United
States He refused to help me, and said would
be sent TO Spain.
Many of the prisoners then gave up all'hope of
assistance from the American consu, and threw
themselves on the protection of Mr.. Crawford
the British consul. Two of the Mississippi vol
unteers, Am .ricans, called thcrseIve Iri.hmen.
in order to obtain assistance from the English
consul.
After was relra ed. and while remaining on
board the ship Norma, the A peri"an consul
asked tr;e ii. Of mine from New Orleans, if |
knew Why was released. Nv friend said no.
| Mr. Ow"n then said, that did MT want the
credit or the blame of my release to rest upon
| him
Ny olj.r' IN pul lshiny mi. letter l.. 20 1,
fcnd the reputation VI my gallant companion,
n,w in prison. bv refining the talsehood of MIR
| Owens letter aud TO show to the American
people the true character Of their consul IT Ia
! vana.
win the paper. that have published Mr.
Ovens letter give ihis place in their columns
J A. KELLY.
| Late Captain Cuban Expedition.