The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1851-10-29
1Nrrklq Grprrss
WEDNESDAY MORNING, OCTOBER g
Charac teristic Il.fatunsiQn.

Sh0r0Ctef1st1c kEIltuNSiQ1s
We find in the Herald of Tuesday a long ~
ticle under the caption of !" Consul Owen ~
moved, in which The editor Of tha ahcc+
ties both the President and Consul O.
treatment Of American Citizens, vi
ceivcd into participation in tls 'aaan AgTo,1.-
ton. The editor denies A. nrc w,s any
ground for the rcmoya. uasa, and complains
bitterly that such step should hay been taken,
while at the same time he approves of the
course and proclamation of the President If
cur reading of his article be correct and we
have pcrused it with more than ordinary care,
it places the editor in the unenvablc position, of
an approver of the punishment visited upon the
unfortunate Crittendcn and his comrades. by
Cancha, his advisers, worshipcrs and hirelings.
Now we Join issue with the editor of the Her.
aid and deny that the policy of the Executive
has been one marked by wisdom, prudence, pre-
ccdent, justice, consistency, or even common hu-
manity; and while he had the right and it was
his duty to restrain, by reasonable and legitimate
means all military organizations in this country,
the strict enforcement of the laws of neutrality,
he exercised an uniustifiable Executive latitude
in nproclaiming such as might engage in the Gu
ban revolution pirates and beyond the pale Of
American law and protection and he transcend
ed the powers vested in him as the Chief Exec
utive officer of the government, in travelling out
of the jurisdiction of the United States, to en-
force his authority. We make this bold decla-
ration under the settled conviction, that we are
sustained by common sense, past experience, and
the history and law of nations. 1t is not the
doctrine of modern times and enlightened ma
tcns, that because men do wrong, they are to
be shot down like beasts, without even the form
OF a trial. 1t may be Spanish justice and
seems to be whig humanity, but it displays any
thing but an enlightened, rational, dignifed and
humane policy. And this wholesale slaughter
OF American citizens will remain blot upon
this administration and the character of Presi-
dent Fillmore, so long as wisdom and justice
characterize The deliberations Of mankind, and
the world can boast of an impartial historian.
But the editor cf the Herald thinks it WIS
unjust to remove and disgrace Mr. Owen
Wonderful magnanimity and sympathy for the
mar, who, when urged to interccde with the
tyrant Concha, for the American prisoners, re-
fused; and when desired to 60 and visit them
and convey their dying requests, whatever they
might be, to their friends, refused even this
small boon. Perching himself exclusively upon
the dignity Of his official station, with the Presi-
dents proclamation, as the supreme INV for the
government of his conduct, he might have been
legally and technically justified in his course
But what man, let us enquire, with half soul,
or heart as big as mouse, could have mani
tested the Indifference and hardihood, which he
did on that occasion. Laying asice the official
robe, which, to retain under such circumstances,
was disgrace ana an outrage, he should have
stepped forward, and if he could not have afford
ed relief to those unfortunate men, he should
have afforded consolation in their last dying
moments. Such Course, no matter whether il
came in conflict with the instructions of his
superior or not, would have been Just and right,
and would have crowned hIm with imperishable
glory. But no, he either too proud or too
cowardy, to put forth single effort, 10 ns;-
gate their punishment, or console them ln laetc
deepest hour Of affection. Almos va rtrl a-
er and visiter at Havana, united n a5ar.t.t...
the severest cehsure and rytc7atisss.. fst.5
conduct; and not only hava Vi, r1en's oi tins
country, both Wing and llsaa.fatic, repudiu-
ated his conduct bur tl.- 8os al! and intfuen
tal foreign journals. have characterized it
as brutal But while Mr.. Owen has va
lorou' champion in Dubuque, he is not alone in
his glory 1t is said that misery likes company
Never was the addage more appropriate in its
application to retiring and disgraced official
He has received, what he has richly merited,
and the only reason why his superior has not
met with the same fate at the hands Of the pco
pie, is because the time provided by law for an
expression of the public sentiment has not ar
rived.