Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-09-29

We have received, says the Whnshing-
ton Republic, the following letter from
ALLEN /. OWEN, esq, our Consul at Ia-
vana, and submit il without comment to
the consideration Of his countrymcn.
CONSULATE OF THE UNrTrp STATES.
Havana Sept l6.
To he Editor ofMe Rcpubiic
SIR:-In your weekly issue Of tho 18th
ut. you do me the justice to object to my
condemnation without hearing. and to
say that ! am probably able to explain, to
the satisfaction Of my counirytnon, my n
mission to act relative to tho execution Of
| the prisoners who were shot here on tho
| 10th ult.
do not doubt that shall satisfy every
impartial mind that ! am undcscrvipg cen
sure, and that had no opportunity Of do
ing anything in behalf Of the unfortunate
men who met SO sad fate.
reside about four miles from this place
and, no, being well on the morning Of tho
10th, did not reach my office till some
tune aficrtcn o'clock. where, for tho first
time, heard Of the capture Of about fifty
OF the men who had come with Lopez to
this island, in the steamer Pampero. lot
the same time heard that tho prisoners had
been tried, found guilty, condemned, or
dercd 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 exccu-
| ton.
Shortly afterwards, the American resi-
ding here, who. it is said, called on me,
came and mentioned the subject to me,
when said to him, it was too late, and
that could do nothng--thal should not
have time 10 get permission and see tho
prisoners. Oflhis felt perfectly satisfied
at the time, ard have since been confirm
ed IN this opinion by the highest authority
in the island, who informed me that tho
execution, which had already been order.
cd before ] reached the city. would not
have been postponed for me TO have an in
terview with the prisoners, inasmnch as all
| could have asked to be permitted TO do.
had already been done BY a gentleman
known tosonc Of the prisoners, and for
whom they had sent.
''obn HtteT Tue American referred 10 lett
my Office, | received the information that
gentleman known 10 some Of the prison
crs had been sent for by them, and to him
they had delivered the articles and mes.
sages they desired to be conveyed to their
friends. 1t was but n short time after
wards that ] sent to palace ofihe gov
ernor and Captain General and heard that
the prisoners had then been executed.
You will thus see that | had no time
to act, and that il was not in my power to
do anything for the unfortunate men who
had been induced to invade Cuba with the
expectation that they would find the whole
island IN a state Of revolution, and III at they
would be received with open arms by tho
whole native population at least.
The charge ofindGerence 10 the dread
iul condition Of such number Of men, tho
biticrcst enemy have earth will not
believe; and all must believe it a bass
falsehood and unfounded calumny.
1t It were allowable on such an occasion,
would most solennly declare before God
that, in my judgment, at the time and I'M
der the circumstances, it was not IN my
power either 10 have an interview with tho
prisoners, or to have done any thing IN
their behalf .
l am, very respectfully,
Your obcdicnt servant
A. + OWEN.