The daily crescent., 1851-12-08

Letter OF j. 9. Thrasnsr.
In "A DUNGEON OF THE PusTA CASTLE,
Havana Noyamhev n 1881

70 the Government of the United States of 4msrica and
TO my teti0o-couHtrymeR
An American citizen, deprived of liberty and
denied justice, respectfully begs leave to Law before
you the following facts and appeal:
Upon landing from The steamer Georgia. on the
10Th of October last, was suddenly, and without
previous accusation, arrested and taken the office
OF the police. On searching my person and that OF
the gentleman who accompanied me- no papers or
letters OF any kind were found upon either of us.
We were then taken TO the hotel where boarded
accompanied by the chief of police, who demanded
TO be shown my room. Ga ascsriaining that had
no room there, we were taken to my residence, and
all my papers seized. The gentleman who was
with nh was then let at berty-myself and all
my hooks and papers were taken to the residence
of one of the Police Commssaries, where four days
were occupied by the government interpreters ia
reading my letters
On the 2lsi of October was thrown into dun.
geon Of the city prison, and all oommunica ton
with ray friends strictly prohibited. On the 25th
was removed TO my present dungeon, and the
iscal of the military tribunal made his appearance
and began a JUDICIAL examination. On the 26th
this was continued, aud then ] no one until
the 4th inst, when the questioning was proceeded
with-and on the 9th was again questioned, and
and finally informed that / was accused of TREA-
SON. AT the same time, was required to select
one from list OF officers that presented to me-
;Tho should conduct my defence. Not knowing
any of them, chose at random, supposing he would
consul. with me and my legal advisers, as is usual
ft.
7th inst was, for he first time, allowed to see
my friends, and Il, consult with them to the best
course TO pursue.
| conferred with our Consul, and he passed
several communications iii my behalf TO the gov
ernment here, all of which have been utterly dis
regarded and not replied to. On the 1lth | was
informed that was to be brought up the next day
for sentence. Immediately wrote 10 my nominal
defender To come at once TO consult with me, and
to bring with MIN the proceedings, which are in
H.. haJI,, thoth Il ,np
in the afternoon. He did not come, and extended
at once protest against The proceedings, alleging
that had not been heard, and that neither myself
nor my legal advisers had been consulted for a
proper defence. sent this TO the President of the
iilitary Commission that night, who refused to re-
ceve it, saying that it could only be admitted by
the Captain General. The American Consul Mr..
Owen, az soon informed of this, proceeded 10 the
palace, and protested against sentence being pro-
nOunced, as had not been heard in defence. /
In the morning nv nominal defender came to
INV prison to inform me that he had been allowed
by lhs conrt only tDenty four hours TO prepare my
defence that he had been occupied till that moment
Examining the proceedings, which are uolumu,ous,
and that NIT sin an hour he must return them to the
Fiscal. On ne 18th was taken before court
marital comnos.I of a Brigadier General and six
officers of III. army The testimony and proceed
logs wele read before | was brought into court
which is contrary to la W and to custom, and when
brought in | was aske,1 Dhdt had to say TO The
charges against me. | .replied thar had not been
furnished NTH copy of the charges that mad been
,, denied access to The proceedings and testimony thai
my nominal fender had nei,Her consulted uith M
nor NTH my counsel, and that nov asked that n,5
protest and petition for stay Of proceedings shouh
be admitted | TOLD by the President Of the
Court thai IT should be considered
! was remanded to my dungeon, and heard
nothing more of the proceedings until to, day,
when have been formally notified that, / HAVE
BEEN SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS LABOR, IN
At f'FUTA ANN
OF COSTS.
IL is unnecessary for me to enlarge upon the i'm
propriety of bringing me before Court Martial ia
time of profound peace, or the injustice of SEN
tsncing me without a hearing; on the utter con-
tempt of International law, civil rights, and treaty
stipulations, in my trial upon the wilful disre
gard in this manner of proceeding of the constitu.
ton and rnles of the very Court which has assumed
ajurisdic''oo over me without right, has tried me
without crime, and has sentenced me without
defence.
The Government that has the power and the
will to commit these acts is beyond the reach o
reason aud my only resource is to appeal to the
physical power of our own Government for that pro
lection which It's moral power has not been able tt
extend over me, and to ask from my fellow. coun
,rYmen such connenance will encourage tn.
Executive in the manifestations of frmness, ane
carry some appreciation of national rights and ma
tona duties to the hearts OF the Inscriptions ruler
OF Cuba,
solemnlv affirm that have never had any con
uecfion with the parties which have invaded thi
Island; and that the only grounds for hatred to m,
the part of the Government and Spanish portion
Of the population here, are that am an American
that refused to ablure my nationality one yea
e~since, wien required by this Government to do so
or to abandon the business was then engaged in
that succored so far as was able these Of nv un
fortunate cOuntrymen who were captives here
aud that in the Court had the independent spiri
tthey call it audaciry) to rely upon my innocenc
and nv rights rs an American citizen,
Having been denied justice, now ask at thu
hands of the American Government and the Ameri
can people that liberty of which am so iniqui
tously deprived. All the horrors of the Spanlsl
gaieys are before me, and my only hopes are il
the sympa thes of my countrymen, and the promp
action Of oar National Government.
n j. S. THRAsHER.