The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1851-10-08
American Consul at Havana.

A. F. Ovens, f q. Amercan Consul al
Havana has published letter 10 the Wash.
inston Republic by way Of explanation Of his
conduct 10 the American prisoners al Havana.
He says:
| reside about four miles from this p ace,
and, not being well on the morning of the 18th,
did not resch my Office till some lime after
ten o'clock, where, for the FIRST time, | heard
Of he capture of abou, fifty Of the men whs
had come with Lopez to this island in the
steamer Pampers. at the same time heard
that the prisoners had beea .rled, found gull
", condemns to be executed, the order for
their execution sent forward, and that they
we're about being removed from the barbors,
where they were, 10 the place OF execution.
Shortly afterwards, the A me rican residing
here, who, It is SAID, called on me, came
and mentioned the subj sct 10 me, whea said
20 him that II Was too late, and that could
do nothlng-that | should net have time to
gel per mission and see the prisoners. Or this
| felt perfectly satisfied ST the time, and |
have since been con6r med 10 this opinion by
the highest authority ia the island, who IN
formed me that the execution, which had al
ready been ordered before reached the city,
would not have been postponed for me 10 have
an interview vi h the prisoners, lassmuch as
al | couid have asked to be permitted to do
had already been doae By gentleman known
10 some OF the prisoners, asd for whom hey
had seat.
Soon after the American referred 10 left
my Office, | received the information that q
gentleman known 10 some OF the prisoners
had been sent for by them, and 10 him they
rad delivered the articles and messages they
desired 10 be conveyed 10 their friends. Il
vas bu, short time afterwards that | sent
TO the palace of lhr gJveruor ..,d captain gea.
ersl, and heard ths, lie prisoners had then
been executed.
This would have been entirely satisfactory
10 all reasonable men, If no other charge Of
remissness Of duty had been made against hin
but we fad the following address from the las,
prisoners taken:
TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC
We, The undersigned, prisoners iucarcera
ed 10 the city prison, st Havana, on account
OF our ate Cuban Esps dllen, under be com
mard OF Gen. LoteZ cannot Withhold an ex
PRECISION Of our feelings towards the Amefi.
can Consul Mr Allen B Oven, Of Georgia,
now at this place. SAGE our arrival at this
place he has hcnored us once with his pres
enee, but since hat time, although repeatedly
solicited, has always steadily refused 10 revisit
Us, either IN his private or official capacity.
Placed as we are, We feel an act OF this kind far
more deeply than # otherwise circumstanced.
How 10 account for il we Know not, bu; can
only ascrbe il 10 that worst Of all feelings
inhumanly, or tina; more degrading still,
eowarsice.
We write this that our fellow country men
al hons NAV know " hat kind Of man 10 pia
ced a, the head Of their sfaus at this place
Signed by Robert VI Gnder, Captain CON.
msndIng company B; Lieut.. Edmond H. Nc
Donald John B Brown, Cha les A. Downer
VIM. l.. Wilkinson, Peter La Costa aRd enc
hundred and fifty three Others.
/ If this statement be true, and we see nc rea.
son now to doub, II, although we believe the
Washington Republic does no, credit it, Mr..
Osens has shown himself to be unfit for his
station ;.snd # the Pseslden: does not re move
him he " il not serve him al he richly deserves