The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-10-02

rent indifference to the fate of the American
prisoners in Cuba, has written the following
letter in defence. ia
1t is lame affair, and shows that he has not
energy and courage enough for his position
CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES.
Hardna, September Is, 1851
To the Editor of the Republtc
SIR In your weekly issue Of the 2Sth ultmo
you do me the justice to object 10 my condem-
nation without hearing and to say that am
probably able to explain to the satisfaction of
my countrymen my omission 10 act relative to
the execution of the prisoners who were shot
here on the 10th ultimo.
do not doubt that shall satisfy every i'm
partial mind that | am undeseryng censure
and that had no opportunitysof doing any
thing in behalf of the unfortunate men who
met so sad fate.
| reside about four miles from this place, and
not being well on the morning of the 9th, did
did not reach my Office till some time after ten
O'clock Where, Tor the first time heard of the
capture of about fifty of the men who had come
with Lopez to this island in the steamer Pam
pero. | at the same time heard that the pris-
oners had been tried, found guilty, condemned
ordered to be executed, the order for their exo/
cution sent forward, and that they were ahs6t
being removed from the harbor where<fhey
were to be placed for execution
Shortly afterwards, the American residing
here, who, it is said, called ON me, came and
mentioned the subject to me- when | said to
him that it was too late, and that | could do
nothing-that should not have time to get
permission to see the prisoners OF this felt
perfectly satisfied Mt the time, and have since
been confirmed in this opinion by the highest
authority in the island, who informed me that
the execution, which had already been ordered
before | reached the city, would not have been
postponed for me to have an interview with the
prisoners inasmuch as all | could have asked
to be permitted to do had already been done
by a gentleman known to some of the prison.
ers and for whom they had sent
Soon after the American referred 10 left my
Office, received the information that gentle
man known to some of the prisoners had been
sent for by them, and to him they had deliv-
cred the articles and messages they desired TO
be conveyed to their friends. twas but short
time afterwards that | went to the palace of
the Governor and Captain General, and heard
that the prisoners had then been executed
You will thus see that had ms time to act,
and that it was not in my power to do any
thing for the unfortunate men who had been
iuaucod 10 invade Suba, with DC expectation
that they would find the whole isnnd In a state
of revolution, and that they would be received
with open arms by the whole native population
mt least.
The charge Of Indifference TO the dreadful
condition of such number of men, the bitter
est enemy have on earth will not believe
and all must believe it to be blse falsehood
and an unfounded calumny.
If it were allowable on such an occasion, |
would most solemnly declare before God that
in my Judgment at the time and under the cir
cumstances, it was not in my power either 10
have an interview with the prisoners or 10 have
done anything on their behalf
| am, very respectfully, your obedient SER
want A. F. OWEN.