Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-10-02
LETTER OF OUR CONSUL
AT HAVANA.
CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES,
HAVANA, Sept l6, 1851.

CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES, }
HAVANA, Sept l6, 1851. !
To the Editor of the Republic:
SIn.-In your weekly issue of the
2Sth ult., you do me the justice to object
to my condemnation without hearing,
and to say that am probably able to
explain to the satisfaction ofmy country
men, my omission to act relative to the
execution Of the prisoners who were slot
here on the 10th uIt.
do not doubt that I shall satisfy
every impartial mind that am undc-
serving censure, and that had no op.
portunity Of doing anything in behalf o
the unfortunate men who met SO sad
fate.
reside about ionr miles from this
place, and, not being well on the morn.
ng OF the 10th, did not reach my office
until some time after ten o'clock, where,
for the first time, heard Of the capture
Of about fifty of the men who had come
with Lopez to this island in the Steamer
Pampero. at the same time heard
that the prisoners had been tried, found
guilty, condemned. ordered to be execu-
ted, the order for their execution sent for
ward, and that they were about being
removed from the harbor, where they
were, to the place Of execution.
Shortly afterwards, the American
residing here, who It is said, called on
me, came and mentioned the subject TO
me, when | said to him that it was too
late, and that could do nothing that
shonld not have time 10 get permission
and see the prisoners. OF this | felt
perfectly satisfied at the time, and have
since been confirmed in this opinion by
the highest authority in the island, wh6
Informed me that the execution, which
had already been ordered before |
reached the city, would not have been
postponed for me to have an interview
with the prisoners, inasmuch as all
could have asked to be permitted to do
had already been done by gentleman
known to some OF the prisoners, and for
whom they had sent.
Soon after the American referred TO
left my office, l received the information
that a gentleman known to some OF the
prisoners had been sent for by them, and
to him they had delivered the articles
and messages they desired to be con-
veyed to their friends. II was but a
short time afterwards that ! sent TO the
palace OF the Governor and Captain
General, and heard that the prisoners
had then been executed.
You will thus see that had no time
to act, and that il was not in my power
to do anything for the unfortunate men
who had been induced 10 invade Cuba
with the expectation that they would
find the whole island in state of revo.
luton, and that they would be received
with open arms by the whole native
population al leus.
The charge Of indifference to the
dreadful condition Of such a number Of
men, the bittercst enemy I have on
earth will not believe and all must
believe it base ialsehood and an un-
founded calumny.
If it were allowable on such an occa-
sion, | would most soIemnly declare be-
tore God that, in my judgment, at the
time and under the circumstances, il
was not in my power either to have an
interview with the prisoners, or to have
done anything on their behalf.
am, very respectfully, your obedient
servant. A.F. OWN.