The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-10-07
From the Buffalo Courier.
M EIII.uore, . Doing. al HAVANA

The universal sentiment OF the people has forced the
wing press from The apathy with which they regarded
She conduct OF consul al Havana and none, be.
teve attempt 10 duse the idea that the unfortunate
sufferers actuated by motives OF avarice although IN
all this they only echoed the words OF The President who
declared that seh expeditions only he regarded as
adventures for ptundf and robbery" lie thus viewed
these IN the same light other banded robbers Ihs
position the wing papers now no longer hold, od seas
OF The adventurous youths who formed ihal aoh as
brave and unfortunate men, who so lar from asepns
themselves robbers aad pirates thougtN hat IKE Lalay
cite and koscusko, they undertaking service oi
no small danger indeed but which, ii successful would
result in adding another liberated nation 70 hls henis
phere. Misled by Lopez, who had a weak ana narrow
mind but violent animositles towards SPAN, and de-
ceyed by ne articles written by men who judged
rashy abused The public confidence. and kept aloo in
tbr day and hour OF danger these young soldiers have
found an early and unhonored grave in island yet in
capable of approaching their motives, and unworthy TO
contain their remains. They pracsed no atrocities re-
which, no other proof afforded should forever pre-
vent every just and democratic mind from ascrblng 10
any the honor OF being hero of any battle
field where Americans engaged
The nature OF the charges against Mr.. Owen is well
known i Is too papably proved by the following we'll
authenticated statement:
To The Anpiean Public.
'We the undersigned, prisoners incarceraed in the city
prison Of Havana on account Of our with the late
withhold expression OF our feelings the
American consul Mr. Allen +. Owen, OF Georgia, at
snce by his presence; but that lime, although
rspSstcdy solicited has always steadily refused revisit
are. feel this kind deeply than if other
wise ccumsancsd How to account Tor i we know NOT
manly or IN, ha, more . deS1ang &c hom, NAV
know what kind OF man is placed at the head OF their al
'ssgned by Robert NJ. Order, captain commanding
company b; Lieutenant Edmond II. Mcdonald John b
Brown. VIM l.; Wilkinson, Charles A, Downer Peter La
Coste, and one hundred and iity-ihree others"
This is sufficient proof of the intentional omission OF
the consul; and with reference to those who were exc
cnted, he himself states that residing four miles from
Havana, and being unwel, ne did not reach ms Office
until after 10 o'clock, when he learned, for the first me
that Crtendens party had been arrested condemned and
were soon to be executed No time then remained for
him to afford any aid The negligence in this case is
,ainly criminal Knowing that of the kind might
have been expected he should have been al the post Of
duty at Havana ready to attend to the events which he
must have expected TO and The right to plead that
moderate word unwe" does not always clear school
boy far less does vindcae American official when
the hives Of many Of his fellow are endangered
by his absence, might be saved BY his presence.
This conduct OF own consul ls rendered upon the
face of il more conspcuousy ignomnious by the appar
contrast between his deeds and those of the British
consul, Joseph T. Crawford and his secretary, w. Sid
ney Smith, and the secretary of a German society This
will be seen from perusa of the following statement by
J. 5. Thrasher:
"HAvANA. September ii, 1851.
"15 the Editors of the Journal of Commerce:
Having been requested by very large portion of the
friends informing them of their situation and bad health
have thought best throw observations which must
form of a circular, and have the honor address
You thu thus at the reqne, Of the prisoners
and as fast they arrived they shaved Of their hair
curing The rss lew OBJ
nin permission to visit them. The British CONSUL Joseph
by bis secretary. Mr. w sidney smith, who has never
ceased in his in their behalf the the most
American consul asked for and obtained permission and
as was subsequently, informed by the prisoners told them
Of the law, and he could do nothing for them" During
several days only means OF contributing the anchor
nj fhpF wu Mr. S1nItl Tho
tnned to visit them twice daily, taking them small
forts, and speaking in their behalf by which means be
improved IN very great degree their situation lie took
up subscription among the English residents for the pur
subjects aud the secretary o. the German Society,
sequence of receiving letter from Captain Sehc
the that the English consul had provided for
was not able to obtain permission to see them until
Friday 9th instant, at noon, when found that twenty five
had that morning been to The hospital and that
few OF the others had had their chains taken oor what
reason could not The Americans and others
found very much dispiged ia consequence Of the Ian
guage Mr. Owen had he'd to lhem anu from seeing Others
much better cared for; and did what could 10 cheer
hem, assuring them would do my utmost to have them
had been IT, - : 'N''' 100
Capt J. A. Kelly and Col Haynes, two OF the released
prisoners, confirm the statements we have given, and
show that the Spaniads themselves evinced more
sympathy than the American consul We learn from the
New York Tribune that
"Capt Kelly speaks without complaint the treatment
received by the prisoners They fed and cared
for and made comfortable the circums of
allowed He ID cautious in condemning the conduct
OF Mr. Owen, the American consul Havana but thinks
he should have pursued different course himself
1.-THE prisoners greatly indebted among others
the Kindness and attention OF Mr. Fulton the proprietor
Futon's Hotel, who spared pains provide them with
every possible comfort, by which The misery OF their cond
ton was greatly alleviaed.
AT the interview of Capt Kelly with Governor General
Concha, in which his discharge him. the
latter stated that he should released all prisoners
and sent the back to New Orleans IL II had been for
the oursges OF the mob In that city.
"OR parting with Concha, Capt Kelly received him
his passports without charge letter of introduction the
Spanish consul In this city. and sixty dollars cash. be-
sides an Indifferent suit of clothes"
On the conduct of Cubans is only Just TO renew
the testimony OF Mr.. Thrasher, who says
son leaving the prison, spoke several OF my friends
about raising funds for the prisoners md great the
interest shown In their behalf that efforts
with the utmost success take this occasion pay
tribute those Cuban gentlemen so y pro-
vIded with funds, which my efforts would ha
been barren ard also 10 many American friends, who
tloued not only money but personal efforts would gladly
mention name but the impossibiy naming all would
render the parucuarizing OF few apparently nvdtous
Such is the presented against Mr. Owen our con-
sui free press has undoubted right censue his
acts, which stain the annals Of the nation But
he IS also entitled TO be heardhs statements and his po
sltion are entitled To consideration As American and
soutEerner IL is impossible that his refusal TO see the
prisoners was made without pain To himself His
sympaihies must have been with them. We can
not think otherwise. He is said by those who know him
well to be gentleman Of great kindness and ubany oil
nasure and we are not without hopeful suspicion that
,ne good ohces OF the British officials prompted by
ns request lie himself states that
lne charge made against him of indifference to tho
unounded cslumny He Ia rther saws hat IL !, ,g..
able he would solenny declare before Cad Thai i; nj.