The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-09-24
The Fate OF the Cuban PRISONERS.

| A circular, on behalf of the prisoners of the
late Cuban expedition, has been sent to us for
| publication. We cannot annex it without en-
tering our disclaimer of any intention to vouch
for its contents. Not, having the pleasure of
any further acquaintance with the writer than
we derive from the letter itself, we cannot be-
| SO unjust to Mr. OWEN as to give circulation to
It's injurious Implications, without stating that
the authority, as far as we are concerned, is
to all intents as if it were entirely anonymous.
We apprehend, at all events, that there must
have been serious misunderstanding by the
prisoners Of the language of Mr.. OWEN, or that
the writer in transcribing their report of it has
fallen into an inaccurate version. We cannot
well believe that gentleman SO intelligent az
Mr.. OWEN could have drawn the differences
attributed to him from the Proclamation of the
PRESIDENT, or nave sought to excuse any SEEM
ing inaction inability on his part, by the
terms or tenor Of that document, with reference
to the time of its appearance, and the purposes
for which it was written.
The Proclamation was issued with the view
of lettering the inconsiderate, unrefecting, and
misguided from embarking in an unlawful en-
terprse. To this end it denounced such enter
prises as expeditions of robbery and plumber,
and warned all who should engage in them that
they would thereby ''forfeit their claim to the
protection Of this Government, or any in
reference on their behalf, no matter to what
extremities they may be reduced in conse-
quence Of their illegal conduct" This was
the necessary and proper language of such
document. 1t would have been idle to issue it
without in terms excluding the conclusion that,
il any one should embark in such an enterprise,
he would still remain under the protection Of
his government, and that his country would
interfere on his behalf.
After the illegal enterprise, however, had
been contaminated, and when American citi-
zens were in prison in foreign country,
charged with having been engaged in it,
very different state Of things had arisen. Were
they all guilty because they were accused2
And if taken all in .tfagranti delicio, were they
cut off from the sympathies and the pardoning
power of their Government Is not govern
ment, like an individual, frequently called upon
to interfere in behalf of offenders who have
forfeited all claim upon society? Did not the
PRESIDENT himself make immediate applica-
ton to the Spanish government for the exercise
of their leniency and clemency to the prisoners
arrested in this lawless invasion2 Could he
have made any other appeal, under the law of
nations2
1t is obvious, therefore, that Mr.. OWEN could
not have assigned the apology ascribed to him
for emitting or delaying the rendition of any
of the services or obligations of humanity TO
the unfortunate prisoners within his consulate
If they were without the pale of the law, they
were not beyond the pale of pity, of sympathy,
of earnest, vigiant, and anxious solicitation in
their behalf. We do not believe that Mr..
OWEN has construed the Proclamation in the
manner indicated by the remark alleged to have
been made by the prisoners to Mr.. THRAsHER,
or employed any such excuse for emitting to in
terest himself in mnistering to their wants and
interceding for their pardon. We annex tho
letter of Mr.. THRAsHER:
HAVANA, September | 1851
To the Editor of The Republic
Having been requested by very large por-
ton of the prisoners of the late Cuban expedi
ton to write to their friends informing them of
their situation and good health | have thought
it best to throw my observations, which must
necessarily be general in their principal fea-
lures, into the form of circular, and have
now the honor to address you this at the re-
quest of all the prisoners
The prisoners were brought to this city in DIFF
ferent lots, and fast they arrived shaved
of their hair chained two together and placed all
in one long saloon in the prison. During the first
few days it was exceedingly difficult to obtain per-
mission to visit them. The British consul, Joseph
t. Crawford, esq., did so on the fret day, and
companied by his secretary, Mr.. w. Sydney
Smith, who has ceased in his exertions in
their behalf, gave them the first cheering words.
On the next day Mr.. Allen Y. Owen, the Ameri-
can cnnsnl. naked for and nhiained narnniasinn-