Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-12-11
The Case Of Mr.. Thrasher.

| ced to the mines Tor eight years, but II
was reported his sentence was to be re-
| viewed.
The following letter addressed by him
from his dungeon to his government and
his countrymen, We find in the New York
Tribune:
LETTER OF J. S. THRASHER.
INA DUNGEON OF THE rCNrA cAsrLE.
HAVANA. Nov. 81, 1851.
To TIE Government Of the United States
Of America. and to my .teilsr- -coarfrS
men:
An American citizen. deprived Of liber-
ty and denied justice. respectfully begs
leave to lay before you the following facts
and appeal:
Upon landing from the steamer Geor.
gia, on the 10th ofOctober last, was sud
denly. and without previous accusation,
arrested and taken to the office or the Po
lice. On searching my person, and that
Of gentleman who accompanied me. no
papers or letters Of any kind were found
upon either Of US. We were then taken
to the hotel where I boarded. accompani-
ed by the chief Of police. who demanded
to be shown my room. On ascertaining
that had no room there, We were taken
to my residence, and all my papers seized.
The gentleman who was with me was then
put at liberty-myself and all my books
and papers were taken to the residence Of
one of the Police Commissaries. where
four days were occupied by the Govern.
ment interpreters in reading my letters.
On the 2lst Of October. | was thrown
into dungeon Of the City prison. and all
communication with my friends strictly
prohibited. On the 25th was removed
to my present dungeon, and the Fiscal Of
the military tribunal made his appearance
and began judicial examination. On the
26th this was continued, and then saw
no one until the 4th inst, when the ques-
,ioning was proceeded with-and on the
9th | was again questioned, and finally
informed that 1 ras accused Of TREA-
SON AT the same time, was required
to select one from list Of officers that was
presented to me. who should conduct my
defence. Not knowing any of them.
chose at random. surprising he would con-
suit with me and my legal advisers. as i.
usual in such cases, in regard 10 my de-
fence. On the 7th inst, was, for the first
time, allowed to see my friends. and to con-
suit with them as to the best course 10
pursue.
conferred with our Consul and he pass
ed several communications in my behalf to
the government here. all of which have
been utterly disregardcd and not replied
to. On the Iltb, was informed that
was to be brought up the next day for sen
tence. Immediately wrote to my nomi-
with me, and to bring with him the pro-
cecdings which are in writing. He re-
piled rerbaHy that he would come in the
afternoon. lie did not come. and ex-
tended at once protest against the pro-
cecdings, alleging that had not been
heard, and that neither myself nor my
legal advisers. had been consulted for u
proper defence. sent this TO the Presi-
dent Of The Military Commission that night,
who refused to receive it. saying that it
could only be admitted by the Captain
General. The American Consul Mr..
Owen, as soon as informed of this. pro-
cceded to the place. and protested against
sentence, as had not been heard in de-
fence.
In the morning my nominal friend came
to my prison to inform me that he had been
allowed by the court, only twenty four
hours to prepare my defence, that he had
been occupied till that moment examining
the proceedings, which are voluminous,
and that within an hour he must return
them tothe fiscal. On the 18th was ta-
ken before Court Martial composed ola
Brigadier General and Six Officers of the
Army. The testimony and proceedings
were read before was brought into court.
which is contrary to law. and to custom,
and when brought in was asked what
had to say TO charges against me. re-
piled had not been furnished with a copy
of the charges, that | had been denied ac-
cess to the proceedings and testimony, that
my nominal defender had neither consult
ed with me nor with my counsel. and that
| now asked that my protest and petition
for stay proceedings should be admitted.
| was told by the President Of the Court,
that it should be considered.
Iwas rcmanded to my dungeon, and
heard nothing more of the proceedings un-
I'll to day. when have been formally no.
tilted thatI HAVE BEEN SENTENCED TO
EIGHT YEARS'LABOR IN CHAINS
AT CEUTA, IN AFRICA WITH A PAYMENT
or COSTS.
Iti unnecessary for me to enlarge upon
the impropriety Of bringing me before
Court Martial in time ofprofound peace,
or the injustice of sentencing me without
hearing; or the utter contempt of interna-
tional law, civil rights, and treaty stipula-
tions. in my trial; or upon the wilful disre-
gard in this manner Of proceeding Of the
constitution and rules Of the very Court
which has assumed a jurisdiction over me
without right, has tried me without crime,
and has sentenced me without defence.
The government that has the power and
the vii! to commit these acts is beyond the
reach Of reason; and my only resource is
TO appeal 10 the physical power Of our
own Government for that protection which
its moral power has not been able to extend
over me, and to ask from my fellow-coun-
trymen such countenance as will cnoour-
age the Executive in the manifestations
Of frmness, and carry some appreciation
of national duties to the hearts Of the pn-
scrupulous rulers Of Cuba.
solcmnly affirm that havo never had
any connection with the parties which have
invaded this Island. and that the only
grounds for hatred to me on the part Of
the Government and Spanish portion ofthe
population here. are that am an Ameri-
can; that refused to abjure my nationali-
ty one year since. when required by this
Government to do SO, or to abandon the
business l was then engaged in; that sue
coured SO far as was able those of my
unfortunate countrymen who were cap
tives here; and that in the Court had the
independent spirit they call it audacity) to