The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-11-15

tact that are necessary. When first appointed, his
fitted to discharge them with as much accept
ance as any OF his mediocre predecessors But cir
cumstaDces have since greatly changed, and now
no post within the whole range OF our consular
complshments than that at Havana. He is every
day liable to deal with events the most unforeseen
and extraordinary, and must be o man equal to
every emergency. A single misjudgment upon his
part may involve his country 10 the most serious
difficulties. With these new demands upon the
/ station, cur administration, in fact, could have
done nothing else than supersede Mr. Oven for an
other man of higher grade Of official talent
\ Such course OF action, being as 1t was without
an alternative, affords reason whatever for the
miserable imputations contained in the following
article
Translated from La Cronica of Nov 5th
The government Of the Union, in its acts respect
ing the Island OF Cuba, yields more than in our ap-
opinion, perverted by the ignoble excitement Of
avarce If, instead Of allo wing itself to be carried
away by the evil instincts Of illdirected multi
tude it would oppose and control it, by taking
firm stand on the solid ground Of reason and justice
1t would perform an unreasonable service, not
only to this country but to all mankind. But If it
continue, as hitherto, weak and uncertain in its
march, now condemning wicked aggressions, and
now temporizing with the mob which commits
them, 1T will com promise the peace of the world
The torrents Of blood which viii be shed in the
war to which its weakness is leading US, will fall
upon its be adj and posterity will its memory
| We might quote iunumerable acts which prove
the correctness of the judgment have just given
| Of the present conduct of the government OF the
United States in the questions relating to US; but
while We postpone them for another time-if We
think expeGent-we shall confne ourselves to
pointing cut enc, which, it is the most recent,
| should first receive our attention. We speak Of
the removal of MIR owen, the North American
| Consul ct Havana. We pass by his personal quail
| ties, because, we are wholly unacquainted with
him, and il is Of no Importance to Us, whether
man or another occupies that Consulate and We
Will consider the question under the aspect OF its
political sienifcsDcy in the relations of the two
| lions, which is that which interests and belongs
| TO
The government Of the United States, ia decree
ing that removal, consulted rather the perverted
opinion OF an imp ncipled and prejudced mass than
the true interests OF the country and the principles
fjas,iee. And what the principles on which
this mistaken opinion is founded! False statements
made By prisoners, who their lives and liberty,
which they to such evil purpose, to the Captain
| General, and perhaps to the Consul himself This
is a fact which stamps an iudelble stain upon the
character Of Anglo Americans. When the expedi
ton had been routed, and were dispersed and starr
ing they felt sure of paying, with their blood, for
the crime which they had committed; they we're
not ignorant that such was the penalty which had
been threatened long before, and which the greater
part OF their companions had already suffered.
| They were, however, reprieyed and, among those
VINO received this favor, the Consul designated three,
who were permitted to return to the bosom Of their
| fsmlies. The authorities Of Cuba had them
clothed, for they had been reduced to SO miserable
CONDITION. by their disastrous campaign, that it was
necessary almost to cover their nakeduess; and the
Spanish authorities only asked OF them, in return
for the favor granted, that they should make
known to their country the truth Of what I'D taken
place. Those men, however, acting with degree
of ipgratitude and perdy, CT which there are for
tunately, few examples among men, published ac-
| counts which evidently false to discredit the
Consul and the authorities and people of the island
of Cuba Those accounts were believed by
ignorant and immoral popuace, (for if it were not
SO, they ought to regard with profound contempt,
| w o do a no hen
| ed upon them.) aud the government, yielding to an
| opinion formed on such foundations, gave the de-
cree, depiiving that functionary of his ofise.
| And what is the charge made against the Consul,
| even in those accounts whi,h are evidently false!
That he did not nterpose his good Offices with the
authority Of Cuba, in favor of the fifty prisoners
who were shot, This charge and his removal
proof Of the weakness Of the government; for if,
| in documents public aud solemn as the procla-
nations Of the present President and his prede-
cessor, assurance was given Of the firm resolution
that the government would not mediate 10 favor Of
| the expeoitionsrie,, Whatever fate might befall
| them, Why should q Consul do so--a functionary,
dependent on that same government, who has no
other rule for his acts, either as a Consul or a
| private man, in public afairs, but the laws and
arrangements OF his superiorsl Either the govern
meIt of the Union proceeded in bad faith. IN com
handing one thing in public, and secretly requiring
the contrary Of It's subordinates, or 1t cowardy
yields TO the demands Of q perverted opinion, which
it ought TO enlis hten and direct. The former is
|
which bele ngs to us. We wish could say
much Of the second But to do so, it would be
necessary to repounce common sense, which tells
us, that as il would not have been bad faith as
sincerely believe it must have been weakness, for
| one Of the horns Of the dilemma must be certain.
And do those who make this charge against the
| Consul know what would have happened, II he had
| been imprudent enough to intercede for the pri-
sonersl They should know it, Blu. as they do not,
We will disclose IL to them In the first place, all
| the proceedings would have been entirely useless;
/ for, IN the circumstances in which Havana then
was, there was no power on earth which could have
saved the lives Of the unhappy, though criminal,
prisoners. Justice and policy demanded their pun
/ ishmert-the 6rst, because the laws Of all nations
selves guilty Of tuch acts of piracy and the Sc
cond, because the pardon diminution of the pen
atty would have been taken for weakness; and
every weak government (se wish that Of the United
! states might bear this In mind) sooner or later
! persbes
But the intercession Of the Consul would not
only have been useless, but prcjudicial. Fixed NJ
all Havana then was, on everything connected with
SO important event, Mr.. Owen could not have
taken sir gle step which would not have been 10
stsDtly dyulged the ma ursl indignation produced
by the injustice and atrocity Of the attack would
have been increased; ard the authority would not
have ben able to grant, as IL soon after did, the
pardon which saved the lives Of one hundred and
sixiy teur prisoners At the time Of the execution
Of the ffty-sthough the pirates had been con-
querod ct Las Pozss, their resistance existed and
they were shedding the blood of our soldiers In
battle, the excitement was great-a pardon would
not only have been impossible, but whoever had
asked tor L., in any manner whatever, would have
irritated the feelings Of the public to make 1t
impossible In future. Being afterwards broken and
dspers,d, when they suffered no resistance at any
pent, the pity OF the authority could better have
effect; be rtprieved the remainder, and saved, as
We have said, the lives Of l6I prisoners. But II,
by imprudent measures, the Consul htd in the drst
period increased the irritation, jsstce would have
been executed On all and neither the authorities
Ior the people Of Cuba would have been calumni
aztec BY the three, TO whom not only life was gran ted
but liberty aho. The Consul would no. only have
gnned Do,hirg by interceding in favor Of the City,
hut BE- would have been the cause. II he had done
il, Of making those perish who have been re.
proved
The government Of the United states ought TO
krow this also as well as ourselves. But it feebly
yields 10 a blinded people, and to please them, re-
moves funci ionary, VINO conducted with ad Mira