The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-09-10
str,I. .. IN. prlnc,p.l-not tho Agent.

There il most lust and general burst of Indignation
throughout the counuy-re- echoed by the democratic
and neutral press everywhere and by the collective wing
press of the South-agans the conduct of the Amerl-
can consul at Havana towards the American citizens so
barbarously massacred by the Spanish authorities He
everywhere denounced as having utterly failed Of his
duty both as an officer and Even the Republic
seems to give him up Certainly ii is neither our duty,
our design inclination, to say word in his
defence
Blu, in our judgment there is man in this land
though there be but one-whose mouth shut and shut
forever. from pronouncng any upon the con-
su's official course That man is the President Of the
United States In his proclamation of April rs. the Presi-
dent told the consul and all the world that the American
citizens associated in the expedition with Lopez could
only be regarded pundsers and robbers and That as
such they had only incurred the heavy penalties OF
our statute but that they had forfeited all claim to the
protection OF their government, or to any interference oil
any character, from any quarter, official or unofficial
in their behalf matter what extremitles OF babauiy
or cruelty nigh, be wreaked upon them They might,
every man Of Them be mpaled alive, given over alive
to be the food Of Cuban bloodhounds be roasted alive
bsSoss slow fire, each Of them before the eyes OF
his companionsand all this without protection. Interior
euce or appeal in their behalf from their government or
any other quarter
To this awful and unheard of length we deliberately
affirm that Presiden, Fllmores proclamation goes; and,
20 Affirming. we quote its piles words:
"A.d such srpditio~s only be regarded as ad
ventures for plarder AND robbery and must meet the con
dsprotio~ of the epfissd co,d Uhtt they droRdiory
the character of country in violation Of the foT OF
Nations awd sxtty prohibited by o,crour statutes
declaring that il any shall, within the territory or
Jurisdiction of the United States, begin set on foot or
tfi,r
enterprise, to be carried from thence against the ter
hcry domains of toregn prince State of any
colony, DISTRICT people with whom the United States are
peace, every person so offending shall be deemed guilty
of biah msde sneanor, and shall be fined exceeding
three thousand dollars and imprisoned not more than three
yenrsf
Now, therefore, have issued this my proclamation
warnan oil persons ,eho shall henerss ruth any
such ,~ttrpriss srpedir in violation Of laws and
national that they will thereby subject them
selves to the heavy psna denounced against such offences
a~d VH forfeit Asir claim 10 the projection Of this gopen
rrs~t. or any INTERFERENCE their bshaY NO MA L
TER TO WHAT EXTREMIrlES hsy may be redueod
~ eossqusne, Of th,,r illegal conduct"
Doubtless the consul was instructed officially in the
very spirit, if not IN the very terms of Tins proclamation
which indeed, of itself the very highest form Of of.
fetal instruction to him And we aver that the proca-
nation not only forbade his interference government
officer but also mos, directly dscountenanced and depre
Gated his as man, whatever devlllsh nge
nues or "srt,snittss of cruelty and torture despohC
government mad with rage or fear, might wreak upoI
The heads OF his captive and defcnceess countrymen
One course OF interference was indeed open 10 the con
sui With the flag of his country in his hand, he mgh
have gone into the public square OF Havana, and there
uampling the proclamation under his iee he might nave
told the Cuban authorities 10 their teeth, that az an Amer
citizen he took solemn appeal from its decision 70
The Judgment Of the american people, and in the name o.
that people demanded for his countymen, II not the
whole mercy Of the laws Of war stern enough at best
then at eas, both the form and substance OF fair trial
with some decent respite to prepare Tor DEATH death
should be adudged, and some decent ntes oil burial
when the work OF the execuloner was done Had
tn. consul taken this course, his conduct would
have been hailed with one reclamation OIL appfoVa
throughout the land and wo to the administration mere
that should then have dared to defy the public sympathy