Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1851-10-08

The following letter is from consul Owen Of
Havana, in explanation of his course towards the
Americans recently butchered in that city. Con-
sidering the small materials he had to deal with,
he makes pretty good story. He lived four
miles from the city"-25 minutes were neces-
sary to reach it. He arrived there at 10 o'clock
the prisoners were murdered after eleven
His Office is three streets from the palace; five
minutes were enough to have reached there, and
allowing 20 minutes for the interview, ample
time was afforded him to reach the place of
slaughter
The truth is, the consul is now trying to COW
er up his neglect, and well he may, since even
the London Times pronounces the execution
Z" frantic butchery" What will Mr.. Fillmore
say to Mr.. Owens course? 1t will be justified,
and Mr. Owen will be retained till the democrats
get into power, that is till l853-about the 4th
of March. Free Press.
Letter from The American Consul at Hapana
From the Washington Republic, Sept "a
We have received the following letter from
Allen f. Owen, Esq, our consu! at Havana, and
submit it without comment for the consideration
Of his countrymen-
CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES,
Harana, Sept. l6, 1851.
To the Editor of the Republic:
SIR-In your weekly issue of the 2sth ult.,
you do me the justice to object to my condem-
nation without hearing, and to say that am
probably able to explain, to the satisfaction of
my countrymen, my omission to act relative to
the execution of the prisoners who were shot
here on the 10Th utimo.
do not doubt that shall satisfy every i'm
partial mind that am undeserving censure, and
that had no opportunity of doing anything in
behalf of the unfortunate men who met so sad
fate.
reside about four miles from this place, and
not being we'll OH the morning of the 10th, did
not reach my office till some time after 10 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 Pampe-
70. at the same time heard that the prisoners
had been tried, found guilty. condemned, order
ed to be executed, the order for their execution
sent forward, and that they were about being
removed from the harbor, where they were, to
the place Of execution.
Shortly afterwards, an American residing
here, who, it is said, called on me, came and men
toned the subject to me, when | said to him
that it was too late, and that could do nothing
that should not have time to get permission
and see the prisoners. Of this felt perfectly
satisfied at the time; and have since been con-
firmed in this opinion BY the highest authority
in the island, who informed me that the execu.
ton, which had already been ordered before
reached the city, would not have been postpon-
ed for me to have an interview with the prison.
ers, inasmuch as all | could have asked to be
permitted to do, had are adv been done by gen.
tleman known to some of the prisoners, and for
whom they had sent. Soon after the American
referred to left my office, received the inform
alton 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 conveyed to their friends. 1t
was but short time afterwards that sent to
the palace of the Governor, and heard that the
prisoners had then been executed.
You will thus see that / had no time to act,
and it was not my power to do anything for the
unfortunate men who had been induced to in
wade Cuba with the expectation that they would
find the whole island in state of revolutions and
that they would be received with open arms, by
the whole native population, at least.
The charge ofindifference to the dreadful con-
dition of such a number of men, the bitterest
enemy have on earth will not believe and all
must believe it a base falsehood and an unfoun-
ded caumny.
If it were allowable on such an occasion, !
would most solemnly declare, before God that,
in my judgment, at the time and under the cir
cumstances, it 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. OWEN.