Arkansas democratic banner., 1851-10-07

Of execution.
 The remainder ofus were confined that night in the City Prison, in the of the fort called ahe Ponta. The prisoners passed through a regular process, their hair being first cut close to their heads. They then passed into the landa aE another barber, who deprived them of their whiskers; then another provided them with prison uniform, and the exercises were terminated by big negro, who securely fas- tened them in pairs by chain, similar in size and weight to a log chain, firmly secured to the ancIe.
 At the time of my release from prison, which vas at 10 o'clock on the night of the 4th inst. i, there were l60 of our force prisoners. They were all chained and confined in one large room hardly large enough, however, for all to lie down at once. They were treatedvery kindly, and all the privileges that could be expected. As a matter of course, where so many men are confined in limited space, and not allowed to leave 1t under sny circumstances, it naturally follows that it must be very unplensant Their sentence is ten years hard labor in Spain, probably in the construction of canal. They nll appeared to be in good spirits at the time left, being under the impression that they would soon be released after their arrival in Spain.
 Lopez was brought from the Pisarr0, and publicly garroted iR the square adjoining the prison at ' o'clock in the morning of Monday, the ist September With him ended not only this expedition, but I sincerely trust all expe- ditlans to Cuba.
 Up to the time l left, the Spaniards could account for two hundred and seventy-one Amaricans-including Crittendens command whom they had killed, that is, in action; wounded ulrn who were leit on the field, and sick and fatigued men who gave out on the march, and were ieft behind, and men whom they hunted down in the mountains with dogs Those, with the one hundred and sixty taken prisoners, make total ol four hundyed and thirty-one men accounted for--IeavIag bal ance of twenty-two men whose fste is vet un- known--the total force landed being four hun dred and fifty three men. Of these tweDty-two. probably the greater portion are yet alive and in the mountains; and xs the troops have all been recalled to Havana. 1t Is probable some of them may yet Succeed in getting home- Out of the whole number made prisoners, but two others beside myself, have been pardoned. Those are<f'ol Hayhes and Capt. Kelly. whom the Cagtain General pardoned, aRai sent home, unsoHclted. They were4to leave Havana for this port in the packet ship NorBaH on Friday. My own release was granted as special favor to Capt. Chas. T. Platt, of the United States ship Albany, on board of which was conveyed by an aid of the Captain General, Tt l l o'clock, on "Wednesday night; the ship proceeded to sea immediately. His excellency sent a gov- ernme'ns towboat and ps.nrto take nsr out. E
 Lopez was caught with bloodhounds in the mountains, on the morning of Friday the 29th inst. The dogs being some distance in ad- vance Of the men, bit him badly in the Jeff leg. There were seventeen counuymen in the party who captured him, each of whom was publicly presented with 5000 and a cross of honor, im- mediately after his execution.
 Let us now review the cause and results of this expedition. At the time received my appointment from Mfr Sgur. one of the ed- tors of the New Orleans Dsita, was told by him that revolt was regularly organized among the Creoies throughout the Island of Cuba; that they had elected Gen. Lopez as their leader, and their object was to free Cuba from the tyranny of Spain, and either form a republic of their own, or annex the island to the '. States. He told me that Lopez was about to leave New Orleans for Cuba, with about five hundred Americans; and that his landing was the signal for general rising, and that within ten days after landing he would be at the head of an army of ten thousand men: that there were also two whole regiments of Spanish troops to come over to him with their equipments. The same story was told 10 all. Was it soi
 As have already stated, our first salutation was voliey of musketre, instead of, as the Dlta asserts, large body of friends. with horses. stores, etc, for our use. Instead of finding the creales our friends, we found them our most bitter enemies, far more So than the troops-keeping the troops constantly informed of our movements. and hanging on our skirts, puttingso death, without mercy, ali those who struggled on the march. Of the troops can not but speak in praise, without single ex- ception They treated the prisoners with the utmost kindness, EiTing them wine, cigars, bread, tobacco, and aguadente, freely, and from their own small means imagine no one will say that he had right to expect such treat mont Our conduct forced and demanded their respect, but certainly we had no claim either on their sympathy or generosity,
 Much has been said relative to the execution of Crittendeu and his men. Among all the prisoners now in Havana. much as they ad- mired Crittendcn, there Is but one opinion, and that Is, that that execution was iustifiable- was merted That they were deceived all know; bat that was no business of the Spanish authorities. Surely the provocation received was sufficient to justify not only the execution of those men. but of every man connected with the expedition. Why, lock al this aiEair in it's proper light. Where even in history, in the annals of the world, do you find similar oc- eurreneel Here four hundred and fifty rnen, withou, having received the least provocation, leave their home. and invade the shores of a perfectly peaceful Island, expressing deter- mination to take that Island from it's lawful owners, hy force. Self-pFsssFvation is one of the first laws of nature; and if the law will up- hold and protect that American citizen, who, without hesitation. shoots down the midnigh, robber in defence of his property, certainly that law will upholtl lhe officers of the crown of Spain in exterrninating q band of men who attempted to wrest its brightest jewel from that crown [ consider that every snaH con- nected with that expedition deserved death.-- At the time was made prisoner, l fully ex- pected 1t, and although the reflection was any thing but pleasant, hy own conscience told me that il was just. Crittenden with his force not only committed crime in landing on the Isl