Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-12-20
INTERESTING OFFICIAL PAPERS.

INTERESTING OFFICIAL PAPERS.
In the Senate on Wednesday several interesting
documents were presented from the President Of the
United States, as follows:
THE CASE OF JOHN s. THRAsHER.
message was received from the President Of the Uni
ted States in answer to resolution OF the stn instant
calling for information in regard to the imprisonment of
John s. Thrasher at Havana, and transmitting the foi-
lowing letter from the Secretary Of State:
DreART,fENr OF STATE,
WASHINGTON DECEMBER IL, 1851
sa The object of this despatch is to call your atten
ton particularly to the Of John g. Thrasher ma
tive horn citizen of the United States but for some years
mast resident in Havaua and there lately tried for high
or conspiracy convicted sentenced to eight
to hard labor and sent to Spain in execution
Of that sentence He has respectable friends and con-
uexons in the United States who feel much interest for
him and who pressed his upon the considers
ton Of this Department earnestly invoking the interpo
s;tion of The Government in his behalf.
1t is u,rch to be regretted that Mr. Thrasher has made
no comunication whatever to this Department respect
ing the circumstances Of his case to enable us to
see what are the precise grounds Of his complaint
We have used all the in power to learn the
particulars you win perceive, by copies Of two letters
addressed by this Department to the American Consul at
Havana To these letters have received yet
swer despatch on this subject prepared for you
some days ago. but before it delivered to the messen
ger a communication received from Mr. Caderon,
her Maestys Plenipotentary here communicating copy
of letter of the General Of Cuba to him. and
also On opinion Of the Court Real Audienca Preorias
Royal Court Of udicature upon the construction Of the
9TH article Of the Treaty between the United States and
Spain The translation Of these documents has neccssa-
ry caused delay You will perceive that the Span
sh authorities Of the Island represent that Mr. Thrasher
had been long resident in Havana had become dorai
cled there and had taken the oath Of allegiance 20 the
Spanish Crown and therefore, they suppose, was an
swerable to the ordinary tribunals Of the country for any
criminal act committed by him.
This causes it to be the regretted that he has
made no communication to the Government Of his own
case as he understands it, He has indeed through the
press addressed general letter Of remonsance to the
Government and People Of the United States and this is
all we hear from him personally Nevertheless, his
has been thought deserving Of attention, and there is
disposition in the Government to do all which may be
proper in his behalf If the official account of the Span
ish authorities be correct Mr. Thrasher appears to have
erpatrated himself and to have become at least for the
time subject of the Grown of Spain. He had chosen
new Government and home and SO long as he
chose to remain under the authority and protection Of
that Government he would to have little right to set
native character as citizen of the United States There
is no doubt that any who chooses reside in
try is bound to conform its laws and is amenabe
tribunals for their violation The especially if he
has promised subsection and obedience to those laws and
taken oath of allegiance to the sovereign Power.
Mr. Thrashers friends insist nevertheless that his
trial he deprived of certain privileges secured to c
Gems of the United States by the 7h article Of treaty
with Spain of 1895. But it may be doubtful whether,
after having allegiance the Spanish Government
he longer claim the privileges and mmunities Of
American citizen. In the United States, you know
the oath Of allegiance is the contamination Of the pro-
cecdngs by which foreigner born becomes citizen Of
this country, and oil allegiance to any foreign
Government 1t may be doubtful, alse whether if he
to be regarded in all respects American citi
1en the provisions OF It'll article Of the treaty of
1896 have been violated in his case.
Probably, under existing circumstances the most
full course for the Government Of the United States to
pursue in his behalf and in order to obtain his release
is to make the application for him which has been
made in favor of the persons connected with the exped
ton of Lopez who have in like manner been sent to
Spain His case however is certainly less fragrant than
theirs They were violent invaders proceeding Cuba
with in their hands to make upon the Spanish
Government and people He at most could be only gull
ty of connvance secret countenance Of these
lawful proceedings and his friends represent the mat
ter his conduct principally nstgated not much
by sympathy with the invaders in their general Objects
as by desire minister their necessities You will
perceive therefore, that his is fit for
enent consideration than that Of those with whom the
project Of invasion originated and who made pr-
soners in attempting its forcible execution. You win
present this point fully may be the consideration
Of the Queens Government and urge it with earnestness
In the instruction Of this Department, No. 48, cons-
deratons were presented which it hoped would pre-
vail that Government release those persons who had
been taken prisoners in the expedition of Lopez The
pectaton that such release would be ordered is
good deal strengthened by information which the Depart
has received that those of the prisoners who
British subjects have already been liberated
Mr.. Thrasher is represented amiable and intei-
gent man. and his friends think that he could have in
tded to do than to administer relief to the
csstes Of the prisoners We cannot Judge Of this, be-
cnse have neither any proof nor any statement of
u particular acts in which the alleged treason or con-
Siracy consisted But however this may be, you will
resent TO her Catholic Majesty's Government in as
stong may be consistent with propriety the
epedieney Of psrdoning him with the rest so that mo-
ting may remain in the form Of lingering punishment
an individual to keep alive the recollection Of occurren
q equally lamented by both Governments. The UNI
tnking and imprudent have been severely admon-
sd by events those who violated the Law have seen
TIT punshment always awaits such violation and we may
blowed hope that the exercise on the part Of her
toff