Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-12-05
Letter of J. $. Thra.her.
IN DUNGEON OF THE prNTA CASTLE.

IN DUNGEON THE PrNTA CASTLE.
HAVANA. November 81. 1851
To the Government of the United States of Aneriea
and TO my feilolr- countrgmeR:
An American citizen, deprived of liberty and de-
MED 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
previous accusation arrested and taken to the Office
of the Police. On searching my person, and that of
gentleman who accompanied me, no papers or let
tiers of any kind were found upon either of us. We
were then taken to the hotel where | boarded, ac-
companied by the chief of police who demanded to
be shown my room. On ascertaining that had no
room there, we taken to my residence, and all
my papers seized The gentleman who with
me. then put at hherty-myself and all my
books and papers taken to the residence of
of the Police Commissares where four days
cupied by the government Interpreters in reading
my letters.
On the 21st of October was thrown into q dun
geon 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
a judicial examination On the 26th this was con-
tinued. and then saw no one until the 4th instant,
when the questioning was proceeded with-and on
the 9th was again questioned and finally informed
that ras accused Of TREASON. At the same time,
required to select one from list of officers
that presented to me, who should conduct my
defence. Not knowing any of them. chose ut ran
dom, supposng he would consult with me and my
legal advisers is usual in such in regard to
my defence. On the It'll inst was, for the first
time, allowed to my friends and to consult with
them as the hest course to pursue.
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 18th, was informed tina: was
to be brought up the next day for sentence. i'm
mediately wrote my nominal defender TO come at
once to consult me- and to bring with him the pro-
ceedings which in writing. He replied verbally
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 my legal advisers had been
consulted for proper defence. ] sent this to the
President of the Military Commission that night,
who refused to receive it, saying that it conld only
be admitted by the Captain General. The Ameri-
can Consul, Mr.. Owen, informed of this,
proceeded to the palace and protested against SEN
tence being pronounced, had not been heard in
defence.
In the morning my nominal defender to my
prison to inform me that. he had been allowed by
the court only tWentyfOW hours to prepare my de-
fence, that he had been occupied till that moment cram
lining the proceedings rhlch romino,ts, and that
clt'n hour he must return them TO the Fiscal. On
the 18th was taken before Court Martial COM
posed of Brigader General and six Officers of the
Army. The testimony and proceeding were read
before was brought into court. which is contrary
to law, and to custom, and when brought in, was
asked rchat had to say to the charges against
replied that had not been furnished rih copy Of
the charges that had been denied access to The pro-
ceedngS and testimOnV that ma nominal defender had
neither consulted aith me nor 1rith my COUNSEL and
| that now asked that my protest and petition for
stag of proceedings should be admitted was told by
the President of the Court that should be consider
! ed.
was remanded to my dungeon, and heard moth
ing more of the proceedings until to-day, when |
have been formally notified that | HAVE BEEN SEN
FENCED TO EIGHT YEARS LABOR, IN CHAINS.
AT CEUTA, IN AFRICA, WITH PAYMENT OF COSTS.
| 1t is unnecessary for me to enlarge upon the i'm
propriety of bringing me before court martial in a
time of profound peace, the injustice of sentenc-
/ ing without hearing: on the utter contempt of
international law civil rights and treaty stipuatons,
| in my trial; upon the wilful disregard in this
manner of proceeding of the constitution and rules
of the very court which has assumed jurisdiction
over me without 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
and my only resource is to appeal to the physica
power of our own Government for that protection
which its moral power has not been able to extend
me, and to ask from my fellow countrymen such
countenance will encourage the executive in the
manifestations of frmness, and carry some appreci
alton of national rights and national duties to The
hearts of the unscrupulous rulers of Cuba.
solemnly affirm that have never had any con
nection with the parties which have invaded this
Island 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 an American
that refused to abjure my nationality year since
when required by this government to do so, to a
bandon the business was then engaged in that
succored SO far as ] was able those of my country
men who were captiyes here; and that in court
had the independent spirit (they call it audacity) t.
rely upon my innocence and my rights Ameri
can citizen
Having been denied justice, now ask at the hand
of the American Government and the American PEG
pie that liberty of which I am so iniqutouslY de
prived All the horrors of the Spanish galleys ar
before me, and my only hopes are in the sympathie
of my countrymen, and the prompt action of GU
National Government. j. S. THRASHER.
The New York Democracy.