Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-12-05
- HAVANA, NOV. IT, I60I.
10 the Government of the United States of Ameyi
and TN 3u,Jf fol
IN A DUNGEON OF THE PUNTA CASTLE,

HAVANA, Nov. 81, 1851.
10 the Government of the United States of Ameri.
ca, and to my fel oas -countrymen
An American citizen, deprived OF liberty and denied
justice, respectfully begs leave to lay before you the
following facts and appeal:
Upon landing from the steamer Georgia. on the 10th
of October last, was suddenly and without nrevions
accusation arrested and taken the office of the Po
lice. On searching my person, and that of a GENTLE
man 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 bv
the Chief of police who demanded to be shown INV
room. On ascertaining that had no room there we
We're taken to my residence and all my papers seized
The gentleman who was with me thee put at lib.
erty myself and all my books and papers were taken
to the residence of one OF the Police Conn i saries
where four days occupied by the Government, in
erpreters in reading my lie tiers.
On the 2lst OF October | thrown into a dun
geon of the City PRISON, and all communication with
my friends str city prohibited On the 25th | was re-
moved to my present dungeon, and the Fiscal Of the
military tribunal made his appearance and began
in ical examination. On the 10Th this was continued
and then saw no one until the 4 h inst, when the
questioning was proceeded with-and on the 9Th was
again questioned, and finally informed that Iwas &c
cuSed of TREASON. At the same time | was re-
CURED to select one from list of officers that was pre-
senteC to me who should conduct my defence Not
knowing any OF them, | chose at rando n, supposng
he would consult with mo and my legal advisers as is
usual In such cases. 10 regard to my defence On the
It'll inst. was, for the first time allowed TO see NV
friends, and to consult with them the best course
to PURSUE
l conferred 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 llth, Was Informed that was to
be brought 10 the next Gay II sentence immediate
ly wrote 10 my nominal defender TO come at once to
consult with land TO bring with him the proceedings
which in wrng. He replied uerbaLly tina he would
come in the afternoon He did not come, and ex-
tended at once protest against the proceedings, ale
gng that bad not been heard, and that neither my
" IL aGyIShrs rad bAn aI Is
proper defence. L sent this to the President of the
Military Commission that night, who refused to re-
ceive it saying that il cou Id only be admitted by the
Captain General. The American Consul, Mr. Owen,
as informed OF this proceeded to the place and
protested against sentence being pronounced, as had
NOT been heard in defence.
In the morning my nominal defender came 10 nv
prison to inform ME that he had been allowed by the
court, only twenty four fours prepare my defence,
that he had been occupied till that moment examining
the procee dlngs, which volumnous, and that with
i'll an hour he must return them the fiscal. On the
18th was taken before Court Martial composed of a
Brigader General and Six Officers oil the Army
The testimony and proceedings 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 | replied had OF
been furnished with copy oil the charges, that had
been denied access 10 the proceedings and lestirlony
that my nominal defender had neither consulted with
me nor with my counsel and that now asked that nv
protest. nd petition Tor stay of proceedings should lie
admitted. L told by the President OF the Court
that it should be considered.
was remanded to my dungeon, and heard nothing
more OF the proceedings until to-day when | have
TO ElGH YEARS LABOR, IN CHAINS, AT
CEUTA, IN AFRICA, WITH PAYMENT OF COSTS.
1t is unnecessary for me 10 en1rge upon the impro-
priety Of bringing me before Court Martial in time
OF profound peace, or the injustice of sentencing me
without hearii g or the utter contempt ofinernation-
al law, civil rights and trea spuiatlous in my trial
or upon the wiu disregard this manner of proceed
ing of the constitution and rules of the very Court which
a m oh has
tried me without crime, ard mas sentenced me with
ou defence.
The Government that has the power and the will to
commit these acts beyond the reach OF reason and
my only resource is to appeal to the physical power OF
our own Government for that protection which its
moral power has not been able to extend over m e,
and 10 ask from my fellow, counlrymen such counte
nance as will encourage the Executive in the mani
festatlons OF trmness and clry appreciation OF
national rights and national duties the hearts OF the
INSCRIPTIONS rulers of Cuba.
solemny affirm that | have never had any con-
nection with the parties which have invaded this Is
land; and that the only grounds for hatred to me on
the part OF the Government and Spanish portion OF
the population here, are that am American; that
refused to abJure my nationality Que year sihce,
when required by This Government do So to aban-
don the business was then engaged in; that | sue
couled so far as able those of my unfortunate
'untrymen who were captIves here's and that in the
Court had the independent spirit Obey call it auda-
city) to lely upon my Innocence and my rights an
American cltZ.n.
Having been denied Justice, now ask at the hands
OF the American Government and The American peo
pie that liberty of which am so iniqutousy deprived
All the horrors of the Spanish galeys before me-
and my only hopes IN the sympathies of my coun
trymen, and the prompt action OF our National Gov.
ernment. j. S. TtiRASHER.
M. Boyd, of Kentucky, upon taking the Speakers
chair said
Gentlemen of The House Of Representatives: For the
kindness and confidence shown me by your selecting
me presiding officer of this body, beg you to ac-
cept my grateful thanks. PrOperly appreclalinu
trust the responsibility imposed, well as the hi Oh
honor conferred by IT, ACCEPT this station with Almost
earnest desire and fixed determination admins
Ter its fnncons far as may be able, to the pro-
moiion of the end that delbera ions may be pleas
ant to ourselves, agreeable and prof able oui
common country Applause
Mr. GIDDGNGs being the senior member of the
House, then administered the oath of office to the
Speaker,
The Republic thinks this ceremony was an apt
f'aac 10 Mr.. B)yd's nomination by party caucus, IN
which the Free-SoIlers kicked ont tn, Compromise.