The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-06
Commodore Parker to Mr.. Wabster.

o.
thing otimportance has occurred here. All lie
quiet, and the excitement which existed against
the citizens of the United States by portion of the
Inhabitants OF this city has subsidized
enclose list of all the American prisoners
which have been brought here since the 10th al.
hmo, furnished at my request by the Captain Gen.
GRAZ, wnlch' presume, is correct. also enclose
copy OF my letter to the Captain General solicit.
ing the release of the prisoners now here, with his
answer
His exoellcncy Mr.. Letcher arrived sS.re on the
aotn instant, in the revenue cutter Forward
anu Salieu yesterday morning for Vera Cruz.
On the 22d Mr. Letcher had an interview with
.ne captain General. In the course of converse
aon the release Of the prisoners Citizens
% tne united States,) the Captain General alluded
to the ill-treatment the subjects of Spain had re-
ceiyed, and the insults offered to the Spanish flag
at new Orleans. Mr.. Letcher remarked that i
was the act OF mob, and not the citizens Of New
Orleans generally; and that the Government of the
Ohi'ed states, nor any other government, should
be held responsible for the acs of an asseInbaee g
mat character MIR. Lscher also remarked that
our Soyerpment regretted the circumstances, &c
Inc captain General asked enphaticaHy whether
MT Ietcher was officially authorized to make such
declaration, who replied he was not; but he was
sure that such were the feelings of the Government
rally.
1t is Mr.. Letcher's opinion that had he, or any
one else, been authorized to make such dcclara-
tion' as coming officially from the Government at
washington, the situation of the prisoners would
have been ameliorated, and perhaps they might
have been released
am authorized by Mr.. Letcher to make this
statement to the Department of State.
mere are now here only seventeen prisoners be-
longing to the United States
Commander Pendergrast and several officers be-
longing to this ship have visited them, and report
iavorably of the treatment they receive both at the
prison and hospital
These will be sent to Spain in few days, with
the exception (perbaps) of Captain Robert Ellis of
Washington city, who, il is reported, will be re-
leased and sent to the United States.
have the honor to be your obedient, humble
servant, FOXHALL A, PARKER
-, Commanding Home Squadron.
The Hon. DANIEL WEBSTER,
Secretary of State Washington, D. C.
M. ENCLOSURES IN THE ABOVE DESPATCH.
Commodore Parker 10 the Captain General of Cuba.
U. s. FLAG SHIP SARANAc,
HAVANA, September l6, 1851.
EXCELLENT Sin: From the newspapers received
this day from New Orleans, and other parts of the
United Staes, observe with pleasure that all the
men collected for the unlawful invasion of this
island have been dispersed and that the President
OF the United States has reiterated strict orders TO
both civil and military officers to use every exer-
ton to prevent in future any unlawful asseinbage
of men, or the embarkation of such men, on any
pretext whatever, from any port of the United
States.
Now that all appears tranquil, would it be asking
too much of your excellency to take into considcra
ton the propriety and humanity of releasing the
prisoners now at your excellency's disposition,
particularly such of them as arc wounded and
sick,
tranquillizing the excited people of the United
States, and be most gratifying TO my government.
ihope you will appreciate the motives have for
soliciting this favor at your cxcelency's hands
and believe me to be, with high considerations of
respect, your obedient servant,
FOXHALL A. PARKER
Commander in Chief of the U. S. Naval Forces
in the West Indies.
To his Excellency Don JOSE DE LA CoNcHA, Gov
ernor and Captain General OF the Island of
Cuba, sc.
The Captain General Of Cuba to Commodore Parker.
[TRANsLArIoN,l
HAVANA, September 49, 1851
MY DEAR Sir: have received your communica-
ton OF the 10th instant, forming that you per
ceved by the New Orleans papers and those iour
nails published at other points in the United States.
that the men who had assembled for the purpose of
unlawiully invading this island had been oisband-
ed and that the President of the United States had
again issued the most stringent orders to both civil
and military officers to prevent in future all illegal
assembages of this class of men, and the poesibili
| ty OF their embarking at any of the ports of the
United States; concluding with the remark That
now, when every thing appears tranquil, ought
to take into consideration the propriety of setting
at liberty those prisoners who still here especi
ally those who are sick and wounded and you are
sure that such act would contribute to calm the
excitement of the people of the United States and
prove very gratifying to your Government
have TO say TO you, in reply. that it is not in
my power to comply with your request, as | have
already informed her majesty's government of the
events which have lately transpired this island
and that was going to send Spain all the pirates
whose lives have been spared, in virtue of the par
don which granted in my proclamation of tho
oath of last August in Difference TO considerations
OF humanity, to be disposed eithere agreeably it's
superior will
am with every considerations your attentive.
faithful servant, w X. y. H.,
JOSE DE LA CoNCHA.
To Mr.. FoxHALL A. PAaKER, Commander in
Chief of the Naval Forces ofthe United States in
the West Indies.
Commodore Parker t. Mr.. Ws5sfer.
u S. FLAa-smr SARANAc,
HAVANA, October 8, 1851.
SIR: On my return from Matapzas to this place.
learned that two men, Robert H. Breckenr rid ere
and Ransom Beach, both from the State of Ken
lucky, had been picked up in a small boat at sea-
by Spanish merchant schooner, and were then
confined in prison at this place
| waited on the Captain General and inquired
why and wherefore these men had been captured
who informed me that they were captured on the
high seas but had confessed they part Of the
Lopez expedition, had been the island some
twenty days, and made their escape thirty. six
hours before they were captured in the boat which
belonged to small vessel anchored Near the shore;
that the boat was recognised as having been sto-
| len, &c
| In the course Of conversation the Captain Cen
| eral said he would be compelled to try these
men under the general law Of nations for piracy,
but they would be dealt with as lenently as posi-.
bic, and under no circumstances would their lives
be endangered.
have reason to hope these men will be released.
There arc now here fifteen prisoners, thirteen Of
whom are in the hospital, but not dangerously sick
have the honor to be, very respectfully, your
obedient servant,
FoXHALL a. PARKER,
Commanding Home Squadron
The Hon, DANIEL w EBsrER,
Secretary of State, Washington, D.. G.
EorToRIAL BANoUET TO KossUrH.-Thc prepare
tions of the New York press for their grand ban
quet to Kossuh, says the Times, are making excel
lent progress. Mr.. William Cullen Bryant has