Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-10-06
GENERAL INTELLIGENCE,
Tie Fuse Of the Cuban Prisoners.

A circular, on behalf Of the prisoners Of
the late Cuban expedition, has been sent to
us for publication We cannot annex il
without entering our disclaimer of any in
tention to vouch for its contents. Not hav-
ing the pleasure ofany further acquaintance
with the writer than We derive from the
letter itself, we canno, be so unjust TO Mr..
Owen as to give circulation to its injurious
implications, without stating that the au-
thority, as far as we are concerned, is to
all intents as ifit were entirely anonymous.
We apprehend, at all events, that there
must have been serious misunderstanding
by the prisoners of the language of Mr.
Owen. or that the writer in iranscribing
their report Of it has fallen into an inaccu-
rate version. We cannot well believe that
a gentleman so intelligent as Mr.. Owen
could have drawn the differences attributed
to him from the Proclamation of the Presi-
dent. or have sought to excuse any seeming
inaction or inability on his part, by the
terms or tenor of that document, with re-
ference to the time of its appearance, and
the purposes for which it was written.
The Proclamation was issued with the
view of dcterring the inconsiderate, unre-
fecting, and misguided from embarking in
an unlawful enterprise. To this end ii
denounced such enterprises as expeditions
of robbery and plunder, and warned all
who should engage inthemthat they would
thereby "forfcit their claim to the protec-
ton ofthis Government. or any interference
on their behalf, no matter to what extremi-
ties they may be reduced in consequence
of their illegal conduct" This was the
necessary and proper language of such a
document. 1t would have been idle to is
sue it without in terms excluding the con
clusion that, if any one should embark in
such an enterprise, he would still remain
under the protection of his government,and
that ais country would interfere on hi,be-
half
After the Illegal enterprise, however, had
been consummated and when American
citizens were in nriann in foreign coun-
ts4, charged with having been engaged
in it, very different state Of things had
arisen Were they all guilty because they
were accusedl And if taken all in Ra-
graati dclicto, were they cut off from the
sympaibies and the pardoning power of
their Government Is not government,
ike an individual frequently called upon
to interfcre IN behalf of offenders who have
forfeited all claim upon society," Did not
the President himself make immediate APP
plication to the Spanish go' er meut for the
exercise of their lenicncy and clemency to
the prisoners arrested in this lawless inva-
sion! Could he have madean otherappeal
under the law of nations!
1t is obvious, therefore, that Mr.. Owen
could not have assigned rhe apology as
cribcd to him for omit6ng or delaying the
rendition of any Of the services or obliga-
tons Of humanity TO the unfortunate priso-
ncrs within his consulate, III they We're
without the pale of the law, they were not
beyond the pale of pity, OF sympathy, OF
earnest, vigilant, and anxious solicitation
in their behalf We do not believe that
Mr. Owen has construed the Proclamation
in the manner indicated by the remark al
legged to have been made by the prisoners
to Mr.. Thrasher, or employed any such
excuse for omtting to interest himself in
ministcrirg to their wants and interceding
for their pardon We annex the letter Of
Mr.. Threashcr:
HAVANA, Sept. IL, 1851.
To he Editor IF tie Republic;
Having been requested by very large
portion of the prisoners of the late Cuban
expedition to write to their friends inform
lug them of their situation and good health,
| have thought,it best to throw my obser-
vatious, which must necessarily he general
in their principal features, INTO the form of
a circular, and | have now the honor to
address you this at the request Of all the
prisoners.
The prisoners We're brought to this city
in different lots. and as fast as they arrived
were shaved of their hair, chained two to-
gethcr, ard placed all in one long saloon in
the prison During the first few days it
was exceedingly difficult to obtain pcrnis-
sion TO visit them The British Consul,
Joseph T. Crawford, esq, did so on the
first day, accompanied by his secretary,
Mr. w. Sydney Smith, who has never cca :
cd in his cxerticns in theirbehaE gave them
the first cheering words On the next day
Mr. Allen f. Owen, the American consul,
asked for aud obtained permission, and, as
| was subsequently informed by the prs
oners, told them that "thc President had
proclaimed them without the pale Of the
law, and he could do nothing for them"
During several days only means ofcon
tributing to the amellcration of their con-
di,on was through Mr.. Smith, who con-
tinued to visit them twice daily, taking them
small &C mforts and speaking in their be-
half by which means he improved in a
very greatdegrce their situation. Hetookup
a subscription among the English residents
for the purpose of providing extra clothing
for those who were British subjects; and
the secretary of the German society. in
consequence of receiving letter from Cap
tain Schlicht, went to see them, and subse-
quently provided for the Germans in the
same manner that the English consul had
provided for his countrymen.
was not able to obtain permission to
see them until Friday, 9Th instant, at noon,
when | found that twenty-five had that
morning been sent to the hospital. and that
some few Of the others had had their chains
taken oh-for what reason | could not
learn. The Americans and some others
found very much dispirited in consequence
of the language Mr.. Owen had held to
them, and from seeing Others SO much bet
ter cared for, and did what | could to
cheer them. assuring them would do my
utmost to have them as well provided for
as their more fortunate companions had
been.
On leaving the prison spoke to several
of my friends about raising funds for the
prisoners; and so great was the interest
shown in their behalf that our efforts were
crowned with the utmost success. l take