The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-06
To Commodore FoxHALL A. Parker, sc.
Commodore Parker to Mr. Webster.
UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP "SARANAC," 4
HAVANA, September 6, ISL

UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP "SARANAc,"
HAVANA, September 6, l S5l.
SIR have the honor TO report that, in ooedi-
to the instructions Of the President, contained
in your letter of the Odd ultilno, got under weigh
from Norfolk, and arrived at this port on the morn
ing of the 4h instant.
Immediately addressed note to the Captain
General, requesting interview with him at his
earliest convenience; TO which he promptly re-
piled, and fixed the hour for the interview at half
past seven o'clock that evening. called on
him at that hour, and the following is a synopsis
Of the information which / obtained from him in
relation to the various subjects alluded to in your
instructions:
He regretted the necessity of executing the pris
oners captured in the boats on the cages OF the
island, but deemed it act of necessary severity
in the circumstances, and he felt 1t to be his duty
to make an example of them, in order to deter
others from making similar attempt. He stated
that he considered them pirates, and that they
had been SO denounced in the proclamation of the
President of the United States; that they were
tried in a summary manner, and full proof made
of their guilt, and OF their participation in the in
vasion of the island by Lopez He did not consider
himself at liberty II furnish me with the proceed
ings on the trial, but would send them to his
government, and to the Spanish Minister at Wash
ington who would do whatever was right in the
matter on the call of the Government of the Uni
ted States. The execution was delayed from half
past seven o'clock, a. m, to eleven, in order to
give the prisoners opportunity OF writing to
their friends, during which period they made the
declaration that they constituted q part Of the
forces of Lopez.
! These particulars, he stated, were given for my
personal satisfaction, inasmuch he not in
vested with diplomatic powers, but referred our
| Government to the Spanish Minister at Washing
ton, in whom diplomatic powers were vested by her
majestys government
AS to citizenship, he said that majority OF them
claimed to be citizens OF the United States but they
from various countries; and that 1t was OF no
consequence to what nation they had belonged, as
they were captured in the waters of Cuba, with
| in hnp IN iDb hos ia
| from an exredition in which they had enga ged
against the Island OF Cuba.
In relation to such persons as may be hereafter
captured, and who not embraced in his recent
proclamation giving security OF life to such as de-
ivered themselves up to the authorities, the Cap
tain General declares that he will be compelled,
however reluctantly, TO deal with them in accord
ance with his instructions, which are in accord
ance with the laws of his own and all other coun-
tries in relation to pirates.
/ AS to the matter of the steamer "Falcon, he
would repeat what he had said to the American
consul, (who was then PRESENT. that, in the pres
ent condition of the island, Spanish cruiser has a
right to ascertain the character OF merchant vessels
in the waters of Spain; that expedition had
already landed from steamer, and that reinforce
ments were daily expected. The Spanish cruiser
had fired three unsolicited guns TO leeward to show
the friendly character of the vessel of war of which
notice taken by the Falcon, and that the
firing Of the shotted gun was rendered necessary
by the course pursued by the Falcon. The general
OF marine was on board, and it was TO be presumed
that the shot fired by bis order. lie declared
that he bad requested MIR. Rogers, the commander
of the Falcon TO call on him, and give him cor
rect statement of this affair." but that he had not
done SO. He expressed some surprise that Lieu
tenant Rogers did not come to at once, the man
OF war only doing what, by the laws of ma TONS
she clearly had right to do.
On the day succeeding this interview addressed
a note TO the Captain General requesting permis-
sion to visit the prisoners confined by the
Spanish authorities; in answer to which received
a communication, which, with my letter, here
with enclose.
From the best information ] can obtain, the
boats containing the fifty men who were executed
were on tho cayes, very near the shore OF the main
land.
1t appears to have been the purpose of this de-
tachment, in the desperate condition to which they
were reduced. TO pot to sen, in the hopo Of being
picked up by some friendly vessel.
On the morning Of the 4th instant commune
Gated, of the Moro Castle, with the Albany
Commander platt and asccrtained from him that
tho Captain General had released William Scott
Haynes, of Tennessee, one of the leaders OF tho OK
petition and Jamcs A. Kelly, of New Orleans
formerly of Bayou Sara, captain in the same
They were also provided with suit Of clothes and
sixty dollars each in money. They now on
board the American ship Norma" in the harbor
TO sail to- morrow for New York. AZ the socita-
,tion Of Commander Platt, young man (whose