Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-12-04
~---s . -
The Case df J. =. Thrashev.

an account Of the arrast. trial and sentence
at Havana Of John S. Thrasher-furnish-
cd Thy Cuban correspondents. II the
account be correct, the proceeding Of tho
Spanish officials was an outrage upon
law, justice and humanity, that cannot pass
unnoticed by our Government Not
doubling that il the facts be ,ruthlully as
serted, the case is now undergoing tho
scrutiny Of the proper authorities. and
that ample anu immediate redress will DO
demanded, We condensc the statement as
we find it and present it to the reader:
ale came to the island many wears aincc and un.
der the law which cpunpcls nil foreigners 10 take
out ''enrta de domiciio" Qciter of domicil,) liz.
they shy, became Spanish subject. The cnrtncd
domico has lwuys been considered "a mere for
maity, only persisted in under old laws dating from
ocober 81, 1917. for hepgrposc of rnsing the rev,
cane derived from them These letters expressly
say that Mt the end OF five years. the person must
proceed 4, rnturazc himself On leave Inc island
Nj. Thrasher, besides several shurter absences
spent NJ one time about ono wear aad IA hllf in tho
United SmtcI. The tern OF his oon.iril hud long
previously expired and aincn his ycia,n he has MI;
ther renewed his domie nor has he been naturali-
xrd.
On the 9Th or Scm'r, 1850 tho q ,vcrnmenl L.
sued nn order directing him 10 discontinue the edi,
rorslip of the flro. unless he would become pntu.
rallied, upon tho ground TINT he was a foreigner,
and none but pcr,ons oW ina gleginn her McleS-
ty could be allowed 10 ed'i n newspaper"
The writer then describes the various
efforts that were made, under close sys-
TEN of surveillance, to cntrap and detect
Mr. Thrashcr in the uttcraucc of language
or the commission of acts upon which
prosecution could be Misunderstanding
in which the following most yillanous plot
was conceived:
Orders were sent to one OF the numerous spies Ia
your city to deliver the clerk Of the steamer d
letter directed to Thusler, be- delivered into hs
own hands and others When the sicnrnrr wa.
expected two officers In plain clothes were ru, up
bis track, With orders tnllow him On board tho
steamer, mud to lose sight q. him ON his return
and to arrest him tic u,pmont he set foot an shore
Fortunately Thrashcr did NOT get on board tho
steamer until some time after She visited Tho
clerk seeing lulten's runner, gave him the letter d-
rcctcd 10 John \. Trasci," bat without nnv
charge respecting its delivery, except saying THAI
he told ii WINS for Thrnshcr, notwithstanding
the niisspelliag Of the name.
Thrashrr wa. arrested on landing, but nothing
was iouad upon lin. Ills office Sc rrhed, all
his papers seized. also a letter lying an III. desk
with the seal uHhroken. which proved to be tho
letter from New Orleans, The chief If police han
dcd him Iha l,.ltcr and told lin open ii, und even
insisted upon lis obedience.
Thrushcrs su~picions wcrc probably excited by
the anxiety shown and by the error in lbs nau,r,
and rctused Ia open it uuess upon the responsible,
iiy Of the chief Of police,
This letter, On being opened proved 10 he a
bination OF igur,s aud word. Initiating cticr in
cyphcr.
"Othcr attempts were made after. is ar
rest and Imprisonment, still farther to in.
volvc him in the Vaccinations Of his enc
ruics.
Upon lis arraignment before a Can't
Marital, tie following charges were rcnd
against him.
/. Hostility To the Gpgcroucnt api pcrycr-ioR
Of f,oIs IN letters sent 10 American papers
>. Illicit correspondence ida the riretico
eans Della, Picayunc nnd Sun.
=. Frauds the post office, by getting letters
direct from staamers.
4. Sending the 50 called daclaratitn Of indepen
dcn,e IL New Orleans.
g. living two letters IN oyrher, such used by
the pirates,
A number Of questions were put TO Mr.
Thrashcr by the President Of the Court
many Of which were dictated by spirit
Of hcartless lcvily aud insolcncc. Finally
being asked W hat more he had to say. he
replied:
"Nothing except 10 read the memorial
| sent 10 YOU, and WHICH ypp rejected,
BY the President
Nou can read il now.
Thrashcr then read the dqc4ment. which
WAS well drawn up. protesting against the
Jurisdiction Of the Court on The ground that
hr was an American citizen, and could
moi he unlailhlul where hc,oancJ no ale
glance, and alleged treaty slipuations.
The President interrupted him. and
forbade his making use ofthe words "a
merican citizen" and treaty sipulatlons.
Thrashcr alleged that he had been for
seventeen days in solitary confinement
that after the incomniunicaiion was nomi-
nally removed, it vas not really done, as
he was only allowed two hours each day
TO see his relatives, consult with bIsfrleDde,
consul aud legal advisers that his igno-
rance Of the charges prevented him from
producing testimony to prove hisinnocencc;
that the dcteDsor appointed by he Gov
ernment to defend him was Incompetent,
and had notia the least Informed himself
Of the merits Of the cage.
The President asked:
Have you any thing further 10 addl
A--Nothing. except 10 reiicrate my
protest against the whole proceeding.
The President showed much yexation,
ard ordercihim to be removed. which was
done, escorted by soldiers. The defcnsor
was then asked il lac had any thing fur
fhcr TO sayl He answered "Nonling,"
and the court adjourned to meet again yes
to-day, the 18th. The prisoner was infor-
med, not officially, that his sentence was
recorded and sGnt NJ for the approval of
The Assessor and the Captain General, and
y Eight years 81 Hard Labor in -s.lain;"
'Yon viii probably be sent to thc'177fksll-
scrrninesP
ifibjs case be allowed TO pass over in 81
cnce every American in the island, but es-
oeeially such as have been unfortunate O.
rough to make Spanish enemies, must
cave the island with all speed, and ut
sacrifice Of property he may be
10 submit 10. Even This com
IL traced to me. or even ifany
me should assert had written and sent il
or puplicaiion, might send me to meet
fhraSher in Aladere.
This case, from first TO last. has been
.arricd on il direct and fragrant violation
fail Spanish law. The God;go de CO.
nefrio, article ~, says alktorcigpers. even
Iot donicllafed may employ themselves in
rade, in accordance with rules laid down
n treaties. and - hon snch r,ias aro M