The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-12-09

l conferred with our Consul. and
he passed several communications
in my behalf to the government here,
all of which have been utterly dis.
regarded and not replied to. On
the 18th, was informed that I was
to be brought up the next day for
sentence. Immediately wrote to
my nominal defender to come at
once to consult with me, and to bring
with him The proceedings which arc
IN writing. lie replied re15aIy that
he would come in the afternoon. lie
dta net come, aud | extended at
once a protest against the proceed.
ings, allc.inS that | had not been
heard, and lhat neither myself nor
my legal advisers had been consulted
Tor a proper defence. | sent this to
the President OF the Military Com.
mission that night, Who refused to
receive it, saying that it could only
be admitted b. the Captain General.
The American Consul, Mr.. Owen,
as soon as Informed Of this, pro.
ccedcd to the palace, and protested
against sentence being pronounced
as had not been heard in defence.
in the morning my nominal
defender came to my prison to inform
me that, he had been allowed by the
court, omly twem'y.tow hom's to
prepare ny defence that lie haA hecn
occupica till that moment crunini,4y
tie proceedings, which are rol-
unitous, 0na M0t within az hon1 he
must return them to tie Fiscal
On the 12th | was taken before a
Conrt Martial, composed Of a Brig
adler General and six Officers Of
the Army. The testimony pro,
cecdings were read betes.es es.e,s.. 7 ..,s:;,s;
brought into court, which is contrary
to law, and to custom, and when
brought, in, was asked whot Ihua
TO sn.y 10 tie churycs cyniust me re.
piled that / lad not dccu tuyuixhc.i
mtth copy q tie charges, that /
hat been dcnicd access 10 the j,r,.
cee,tnys d,'i tcStimony, that my
n9mtnM d.ituticr lad ucithcr con.
s"ttcd with ne nor wiM my conuSei,
and now asked tiIa, ny protest onH
petite" for stay Of proceedings
sho I'D be 0,|~tttc,l. | Was told by
the President Of the Court that i,
should be considered.
was rcnandcd to my dungeon,
heard nothing more Of the proceed
mYs until day, when | have been.
formally notified tl.at, | have been
sentenced to Eiyht gears Lubor,
IN Chut'ts, al Ccu;a, Ill Africa, With
payment ot costs.
1t is unnecessary for INC to enlarge
upon the Hnprorrlcty ot bringing
me LcloIc Court Martial in =
time of profound peace, or the
injustice OF sentencing me without
a hearing; OH the utter contcupt oi
international law, civil rights, aud
treaty s,ipu!A;i,Ls, III my trial; or
upon the wiIi'uI disle gard in this
manner Of proceeding Of The con
stltutIon and rules Of the very
Court which has assumed a iu.
nSdlction over me without right, has
tried me without u crime, and has
sentenced me without defence.
The Government that has the
power and the will to commit these
acts is beyond the reach Of reason:
and my only resource is to ap-
peal to the physical power Of
our own Government for that pro.
lection which its n oral power has
not been able to extend over nc, and
to ask from my fellow countrylncn
such countcnance as will encourage
the Executive i'll the manifestations Of
lirinuess, and carry some apprc.
ciation Of national rights and national
duties to the hearts Of the un,
scrupulous rulers Of Cuba.
| solcmnly affirm that | have never
had any connection with the parties
which have invaded this Island; and
that the only grounds Tor hatred to
me Oh the part Of the Government
and Spanish portion Of the population
here, arc that am au American;
that | refused to ALLURE my national.
ity one year since, when required by
this Government to do SO. or to
abandon the business | was then en-
gagged in; that | succourcd 50 far as
| was able those Of my unfortunate
countrymen who were captlycs here;
and that in the Court | had the iii.
dependent spirit (thcy call it auda.
city) to rely upon my innocence and
my rights as an American citizen.
Having been dcnicd justice, | now
ask at the hands Of tho American
Government and the American
people that liberty Of which | am so
ini4nitously deprived. All the
horrors Of the Spanish galleys arc