American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-12-03
MIR. Thrasher's Last Address to his
Countrymen.

IReceived from Havana by the Prometheus,l
In DUNGEON OF THEPUNTA CASTLE,
HAVANA, November 2l, 1851.
To the Government ofthe United States of America,
and TO my Felioio countrymea:
An American citizen, deprived of liberty and
denied justice, respectfully begs leave to lay
before you the following facts and appeal. Upon
leaving the steamer Georgia, on the 10th Of
October last, was suddenly, and without pre-
vious accusation, arrested, and taken to the
Office of the police. 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 | boarded, accompanied by the
Chief of Police, who demanded to be shown my
room. On ascertaining that l had no room
there, we were taken to my residence, and all
my papers seized. The gentleman who accom-
panied me was then put at liberty. Myself and
all my books and papers were taken to the resi-
dence of one of the police commissarieS where
four days were occupied by two government
interpreters in reading my letters.
On the 2lst October, l was thrown into
dungeon Of the city prison, and all communica-
ton Of my friends strictly prohibited. On the
25th, | was removed to my present dungeon,
and the Fiscal of the Military Tribune made
his appearance, and began judicial examina-
l saw no one until the 4th instant, when the
questioning was proceeded with; and on the
9th was again questioned, and finally informed
that / was accused of treason. 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 one at random, supposing he would
consult with me and with my legal advisers, as
is usual in such cases, in regard to my defence
On the 7th instant | was for the first time al
lowed to see my friends, and to consult with
them as to the best course to pursue. con-
ferred with our consul, and he passed several
communications in my behalf to the government
here, all of which have been utterly disregarded,
and not replied to.
On the 11th l was informed that was to be
brought up the next day for sentence. / imme-
diately wrote to my nominal defender to come
at once to consult with me, and to bring with
him the proceedings which were in writing He
replied, verbally, that he would come in the
afternoon. He did not come, and / entered at
once protest against the proceedings, alleging
that had not been heard, and that neither my
self nor my legal advisers had been consulted
for 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 Amer
lChH SOHSu, MI OWSh, no SoOu 90 luloIuCu VI
this, proceeded to the palace and protested
against sentence being pronounced, as it 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 only
twenty-four hours to prepare my defence; that
he had been occupied till that moment examin-
ing the proceedings, which were voluminous,
and that within an hour he must return them
to the Fiscal.
On the 18th, was taken before court-mar-
tial composed Of a brigadier general and six
officers of the army. The testimony and pro-
ceedings 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 the charges against me l replied
that / had not been furnished with copy of
the charges--that had been denied access to
the proceedings and testimony-that my nomi-
nal defender had neither consulted with me nor
with my counsel-and that | now asked that
my protest and petition for stay Of proceedings