The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-06
INSTRUCTIONS TO COMMODORE PARKER.
AND HIS LETTERS TO THE DEPARTMENT
OF STATE.
Mr.. Derrick to Commodore Parker.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

DEPARTMEET OF STATE,
WAsHlNoToS, August %, 1851.
Sin: This Department has been officially in
formed by the consul of the United States at Ha-
vana that fifty persons, taken from boats off the
coast of Cuba were brought to that city, on the
night of the 18th instant, and were the next morn
ing tried and shot. Information derived from
other sources renders il probable that many Of
them were citizens of the United S. ates. This is
sufficient to warrant and require immediate in
qury into the facts and circumstances attending
SO summary and sanguinary punishment, The
President consequently directs that you will pro
coed at once to Havana in the vessel under your
command. On arriving there, you. will OBJ
tain an audience of the Governor and Cap
tain General Of Cuba, and will then express
to him the regret of the President that the per-
sons referred to should have been deemed guilty
of offence requiring, in the judgment of the
Spanish authorities severe a punishment You
will also inform him that it Is expected that, if
citizens of the United States were among the per
shot, the offence with which they were charged
was satisfactorily proved. You will accordingly
request of him a copy of the proceedings of the
court which sentenced the prisoners 1t is pre-
sumed that those proceedings will show the names
of the accused; the countries where they were BORN
or to which they owed allegiancej the position OF
the boats at the time when they were captured; the
course they were taking, and whether the persons
on board of them armed If, however, these
IaCtb 5nOulu not De OF IL you LOt OO
tain copy of the proceedings, you will endeavor
to ascertain the same facts from other sources.
MIR. Owen also apprizes the Depar tment that the
| United States mail steamer Falcon, Lieutenant
Rogers commanding, was several times fired over
| by a Spanish steamer and boarded, on her last
voyage from Chagres to Havana. Although the
| Captain General expressed regret for this occur
renee and promised that it should not be repeated,
it seems somewh hat doubtful whether the captain of
| the steamer was or was not obeying the orders of
some superior officer in the course which he pur-
sued You will endeavor to ascertain the truth in
relation to this, and also whether not the flag Of
the Falcon hoisted at the time the firing took
place.
! You will assure the Captain General that every
thing within the power of this Government has been
and will continue to be done towards discharging
the obligations of the United States to Spain.
! You will aso assure him that if hereafter, unhap-
ply citizens of the United States should be 30 for
gelu of their obligations of obedience OF the laws
of their own country, and ofregard TO the rights Of
Spain, TO be engaged in hostile expeditions
against the Island of Cuba, the President earnestly
desires that they will not be punished except upon
the clearest proofs of guilt, and without obvious
necessity. contrary course on the part OF the
Spanish authorities will be TO increase the diff
! iculties in the performance of the duties of the
! United States friendly neutral power, and
might render the discharge OF those duties mprac-
! tcable.
! The Department will expect to receive from you
a full report upon the subjects of this instruction
am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient SER
want, w. S. DERRICK,
Acting Secretary.
| To Commodore FoxHALL A. Parker, &c.