Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-09-01
Cuba,

Ihe gaze OF the country remains eager
ly and anxiously turned towards the island
of Cuba. The knowledge that the blood
of Americans has been shed, and that the
rash and daring men, who, impellel by
reckless spirit Of adventure or lured by
the hope Of gain, have rushed into peri
lous and lawless enterprise, are thrown in
to condition Of almost hopeless danger, if
they have not already shared the fate of their
massacred comrades, has awakened an
excitement throughout the land not sur
passed by that produced by the battles on
the Rio Grande. In New Orleans this
feeling has broken out in violations OF law
and ouirages not only upon the rights of
private persons, but upon the immunites
and protection guaranteed by the law Of
nations to the recognized representative of
foreign country. The attack upon the
Spanish Consul compromises, in the eyes
of the world, the Government which was
bound to shield him, and those who were
engaged in it have shown disregard alike
of the dignity and laws of the country.
The accounts from Havana are too con-
Trajectory, to authorize any conclusion that
the Spanish authorities, in the execution of
the captured invaders, have done any thing
which demands the interference of our
Government. In the fearful and pittiless
haste with which they were hurried from
existence, our feelings Of humanity are
shocked; but it cannot be denied that their
lives were fully forfeited by the hostile in
vasion against law and in spite ofrepeated
waruings) of a country with whose affairs
they had no right to interneddle. If, how
ever, the Spanish have acted without JUS
tifcation, our Government, as intent to pro-
tect the lives or redress the wrongs of its
citizens, as it has shown itself faithful in
the execution ofits treaties-has directed
a strict investigation into the facts, and will,
we are confident, pursue whatever course
their rights and its honor may demand. 1t
would have been well for them, if they had
needed its earnest warnings and escaped
| the dreadful doom which has befallen them.
Much censure it will be observed, is
attached to the conduct of the American
Consul at Havana, whether deservedly or
not, we cannot know, until the facts are
more fully disclosed. 1t must, however,
strike every one, as remarkable circum-
stance, that on such an occasion as the exc
cution by foreign government, Of SO many
American citizens, the accredited agent OF
that government performed SO tacit and
inactive part, in the bloody drama. 1t
does not appear, that he made any effort to
avert, or even postpone the catastrophe
Referring to statement in the public
press, that he designedIy. forbore any in
terposition on the ground. that the Presi.
dents proclamation had forewarned them,
that they would forfeit the protection Of
this government, by engaging in such an
enterprise, the Washington Republic says ::
| accurate, it would indeed appear that Mr.. Owen
had interpreted his duty altogether too narrowly
| We should suppose that any American citizen of
consideration who happened be in a foreign port
under such circumstances, in the absence of diplo-
matte agent would have sought the interview which
it is alleged that Mr.. Owen declined. Common
huniunity-mere pity for the unfortunate whose
offences had brought them into the miserable situa-
| ton of these prisoners-woud have induced him at
least to make the experiment upon the humanity of
| the Captain General But a consul of the United
States. with official though not diplomatic powers,
it became his duty to intercede promptly and vigo-
rousy for permission to visit these prisoners, to
learn their story from their own lips to insist
upon fair tra for their alleged crimes. and to act
their counsel protector, and friend in the sad ex
tremities hich they were reduced. There would
have been nothing certainly, in such conduct ncon-
sstent with Mr.. Owens duties as American consul
True ii is that the President in his proclamation of
April, denounced the crime with which these men
were charged as an adventure of robbery and plum
der; but it not the part of any American func-
tionary TO assume that they guilty because they
were accused, at all events to omit to see and nd
wise with themand bear their last dying messages
TO thir counirymen and friends"
These events, we think, will hasten the
overthrow of Spanish power in the Island
of Cuba. A feeling has been aroused,
which all the restraints of law and public
morality will be inadequate to repress.
Barbarity towards Americans is not the
way of quoting their fellow-countrymen,
and they are not apt to enquire whether
the Spanish authorities acted as they had
a right to act, but will look to the speedicst
and deadliest revenge. In SO speaking we
do not mean to utter word of approval
we express only what we think aoW be the
result.
Since the foregoing was written, the mail
has brought us the following. If the in
teligence is confirmed, it is thought it will
will be the end of Cuban liberation We
are by no means sure that such will be its
effect
The Patriots Routed and taken
Prisoners.
New ORLEANS, Aug. 22.-Letters have
been received in this city from authentic
sources, dated Havana, August Is, which
state that Gen. Lopez had fought only one
battle with the Spaniards, and that the lat
ter met with a repulsc.
Shortly afterwards, the Spaniards. hav-
ing received large rcinforcements. with
cannon, &c, returned to the charge, and
succeeded in utterly routing Tie patriots
and capturing ecery ono, including Gen
Lopez.
The battle occurred almost immediately
after the landing Of the patriot forces.
The loss on the Spanish side, on the first