Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1851-12-10
LETTER FROM MR.. THRASHER.
In PRISON, HAVANA, Nov. IA, 1851.

10 We EduOT " INC W. a D""J A'"'co'
SIR: In consequence of the thousand false
reports that are circulated in regard to myself,
would request you to deny explicitly that
there have been found among my papers any
letters or documents that compromise any one
in any manner whatever, not even myself, if
am allowed the advantage Of defence
refrain from further remark pending my
trial.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
at J. s. THRASHER.
Subjoined we give letter from lady of high
responsibility, who resides at Albany, which we
extract from the Albany Argus:
All the newspaper accounts, with their ex-
aggerations, do not convey On idea of the utter
injustice done him. Kown as the editor of the
only Creole organ here, he seems to have been
for the American Consul here. They will have
it that he has so strong party in the States as
to be a dangerous man. Hence the determine
ton to convict him. He had no one to protest
and demand his rights under our treaty with
Spain. From what has transpired, there has
been concerted plot to entrap him--the gov
ernment being at the bottom of it. To their
excessive modification, they have been found
bly, not by an American--for they are addressed
to him by the wrong name, spelled according
to the Spanish mode, Trasser"-which it was
designed, should be found in his possession
But by some mistake, they arrested him some
days too soon. Then it was pretended that the
letters were found in his room, since his arrest,
but the seals were unbroken. And yet these
letters constitute the principal ground of aecu-
sation. Another charge is that he contrived to
receive a piece of paper, brought in with his
food, after he was placed in his dungeon, and
forbidden any communication with others. The
boy who brought his food to him, was impris-
oned ten days. Mr.. Us. brother was also i'm
prisoned three days. and his father, an aged
and sick man, who was expected to die at any
moment, was obliged to leave his sick bed and
appear for examination.
Mr. Thrasher was yesterday to be sentenced
but he protested, and it has been deferred for
three days longer. For want of prompt and
efficient course on the part of our government,
here is an innocent man, broken in health and
business, in his best years, his whole prospects
ruined-and all save few fearing to do aught
in his behalf, but seemingly inclined to side with
the Spanish authorities, and believe his accusers,
rather than his own clear, noble, indignant pro-
test and demand for his rights as an American
citizen.
"Overtures have been made, and money Of
fered him to effect his escape-but so confident
is he that the government dare not proceed to
extremes on the very weak grounds they have
brought forward, that he prefers and demands
trial. 1t is said privately, that large sum of
money has been raised for him among the Gre
oles, to be rendered to him in the event of his
release-but they dare not express their SYM
pathy openly.
"Our government is acting as usual-delay-
ing relief until the patient dies. If Judge Shar-
key had come out in the Isabel, he could have
saved Mr.. Thrasher We have not even vcs-
sci of war here. Our Consul is so situated that
the Governor and authorities will not and do not
care for him. They all have the idea that our
government is weak, and cannot or will not pro-
tect its citizens. So they are hurrying on Mr..
Us. case, and are much enraged with his pro-
test of Yesterday"
The Detroit Free Press says:
awe have been requested heretofore by both
wings and democrats, to state our impressions
of the cause of Mr.. Thrasher's imprisonment
Our friends will rccollect we have frequently
stated our conviction 10 be that because DIR.
Thrasher was an enterprsing publisher of
paper called the Faro Industrial, and had shown
more energy than his associates of the Press, it
was found necessary to ruin him. TO get him
out q the acay Of competition all this shameful
0ork has been done. This government is the
sentiment of the American people,
and each citizen in it, or who may have passed
beyond its jurisdiction, is entitled to its full pro-
lection. The disgraceful doctrine of Empires,
that the citizen who goes abroad leaves behind
him no government to look to his treatment
from others that the American citizen loses his
when he leaves the boundaries of
the Republic, cannot and will not be endorsed
by the people of the United States. Our gov
eminent in other countries has been by-word
and a reproach for its disregard of the rights of
It's citizens. Americans have been jeered and
ibed through the streets, and tainted with open
declarations that they have no government
And we have now case in point. Mr.. Thrash
,r is imprisoned, and the United States govern
nent is doing nothing for him.
Its organ, the Republic, like whipped
spaniel, is crouching beneath the frowns of the
mbecle court of Madrid. Spain, that presents
10 living statesman, warrior or philosopher
Spain, once great, now the falling outcast of
debased, prostituted enervated, is
.ictating to the Cabinet at Washington terms of
indemnity, while John s. Thrashcr is chained |
md being sacrificed at Hayana!
Mr.. Thrasher is being sacrificed by shame
ess perjury, and by the direct connivance of the
scl,