Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1851-12-13
Statement and Appeal Of Mr.. Thra-
Sher,
F rom the Picayune.]
IVA DUNGEON OF THE PUsrA CASTLE,
Auraran Nn1, 1891

10 the Government OF the United StateS Ol
America, and to my felIow-countrymen, al
American, citizen, deprived of liberty and de.
MED Justice, respectfully begs leave to lay be.
fore you the following facts and appeal
Upon landing from the steamer Georgia on
the 18th October last, was suddenly and with
out previous accusation, arrested and taken to
the office of the police. On searching my per-
son and that of gentleman who accompanied
me, no papers or letters of any kind We're found
upon either of u.s. 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 was
with me was then put at liberty. Myself and
all my books and papers were taken to the resi-
dence of one of the police commissares, where
four days were occupied by two Government
interpreters in reading my letters. On the 2lst
October was thrown into dungeon OF the
city prison and all communication with my
friends strictly prohibited. On the 25th was
removed to my present dungeon, and the fiscal
of the military tribunal made his appearance and
began judicial examination. On the Goth this
was continued, and then saw no one till the
4th inst, when the testimony was proceeded
with and on the 9Th was again questioned,
and finally informed that was accused of trea-
son. 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 I chose at random, sup
posing he would consult with me and with my
legal advisers, as is usual in such cases, in re-
gard to my defence On the 7th inst, | was
for the first time allowed to see my friends, and
to consult with them as to the best course to
pursue. / conferred with our Consul, and he
passed several communications in my behalfto
the Government here, all Of which have been
utterly disregarded and not replied to- On the
18th was informed that was to be brought up
the next day for sentence. Immediately wrote
to my nominal defender to come at once to
consult with me, and to brng with him the pro-
ceedings which are in writing He replied yer-
bally that he would come in the afternoon. He
did not come and extended at once protest
against the proceedings, alleging that had not
been heard, and that neither myself nor my le-
gal advisers had been consulted for proper de-
fence. sent this to the president of the mill
tary commission that night, who refused to re-
ceiye it, saying that it could only be admitted
BY the Captain General. The American Consul,
Mr.. Owen, as soon as informed Of this, proceed
ed to the palace and protested against sentence
being pronounced, as 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 momeut examining the pro-
ceedings, which are yoluminous, and that
within an hour he must return them to the fis-
cal. On the 18th was taken before court
martial, composed of Brigadier General
and six officers of the army. The testimony
and proceedings were read before was brought
into court, which is contrary to law and to Gus
tom and when brought in was asked what
had to say to the charges against me. Ireplied
that had not been furnished with copy Of the
charges-that had been denied access to the
proceedings and testimony-that my nominal
defender had neither consulted with me nor with
my counsel, and that now asked that my pro-
ceedings should be admitted. Twas told by the
president of the court that it should be consd-
cred. I was remanded to my dungeon, and
heard nothing more Of the proceedings until to-
day when had been formally notified that
had been sentenced to eight years labor in
chains at Ceuta, in Africa, with payment of
costs. u.-e r. szr 7-
1t is unnecessary for me to enlarge upon the
impropriety Of bringing me before court-mar-
tial in time of profound peace; on the injus-
tce of sentencing me without hearing; on the
utter contempt Of international Law, civil rights
and treaty stipulations in my trial, or upon the
willful disregard in the manner of proceeding
Of the constitution and rules of the very court
which has assumed jurisdiction over me with
out right, has tried me without crime, and has
sentenced me without defence.
The government that has the power and the
will to commit these acts is beyond the reach
of reason, and my only resource is to appeal to
the physical power Of own Government for that
protection which its moral power has not been
able to extend over me, and to ask from my
fellows -countrymen snch countenance as will
encourage the Executive in the manifestation
of firmness, and carry some appreciation ofna.
tional rights and national duties to the hearts
Of the INSCRIPTIONS rulers of Cuba.
solemnly affirm that have never had any
connection with the parties which have invaded
this island and that the only grounds for hatred
to me on the part Of the Government and Span
ish portion Of the population here, are that
am an American; that refused to abjure my
nationality one year since when required by this
Government to do so, or to abandon the busi.
ness was engaged in; that Isuccored, SO far
as was able, those of my unfortunate country
men who were captiyes here and that in the
court l had the Independent spirit (they call il
audacity) to rely upon my innocence and my
rights as an American citizen.
Having been denied justice, ! now ask al tht
hands of the American Government and thu
American people that liberty of which am ini
quifously deprived. All the horrors Of the Span
ish galleys are before me, and my only hopes arr
in the sympathies of my countrymen and th'
prompt action Of our National Government
~ .s.,s..s,s.; -ss J. s.. THRAsHER. Z
uFor cholic and cramp, beat the white 9
an egg to 4 froth, and tablespoonful Of bran
dy and a wineglass Of hot water, and CRATE
| little nutmeg. e-szfs