The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-04

of foreign State. To use his own simple but
touching words" All the horrors Of the Spanish
gaileys are before ne, and my only hopes are IN
prompt action of our national government
Long since we pressed this matter on the at
tention of our government, and called for in
formation as to what action had been taken in a
matter involving the national honor, and the Sc
curty of our citizens abroad. We also urged
that such interpositon should be promptly made
for the prisoner pining in his dismal dungeon I;
and that such interposition should be author-
tative!y and sternly u ade. We see it stated Con
the authority of telegraphic reporter) that a
formal demand has been made by Mr.. WEBSTER,
at last but whether such be the case or moi,
we will not venture to say-since discreet
silence has been preserved by the usual organs
of communication with the public.
The course of policy pursued by the Admin
istraton not alone in this case, but in its entire
conduct of our foreign relations, as well as the
tone and temper of the Presidents message, all
tend to establish the fact that its forbearance is
pushed to the very verge of timidity, if not be-
yond it and the doctrine of non. Intervention
urged to too extreme point to be palatable to
so proud and so brave people as ours In the
management of our foreign relations, the Presi-
dert and his ministers have pitched their tone
too low, and if they continue the same line of
conduct, will speedily bring down upon us the
contempt of those, who are now compelled by
our power and place in the worlds history, both
to respect and fear us. We trust this govern
ment will not allow itself to remain Justly
chargeable with an over scrupuous anxiety with
regard to the rights even of foreign despots
while needless or neglectfu of the safety of its
own citizens:
From the .Ne,o York Herald Of Tuesday
Mr. Thrasher's Last address to his COun.
trymen.
Received from Havana by the Prometheus.
In DUNGEON OF THE PUNTA CASTLE,
HAVANA, Nov. 81, 1851
To the Government Of The United States of Anne
RIGA, and 10 his FeLlolo. Countrymen
An American citizen, deprived of liberty and
denied justice, respectfully begs leave to lay
leaving the steamer Georgia, on the 18th of De-
tober last, Il was suddenly, and without previous
accusation, arrested, and taken to the Office of
the police. On searching my person and that
of 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. On as
certaining that had no room there, we were
taken to my residence, and all my papers seized
The gentleman who accompanied me was then
put at liberty. Myself and all my books and
papers were taken to the residence Of one of
the police commssaries, where four days were
occupied by two government interpreters in
reading my letters. On the 2lst October, was
thrown in a dun icon Of the city prison, and
all communication of my friends strictly pro-
hibited On the 18th, | was removed to my
present dungeon, and the fiscal of the military
tribune made his appearance, and began Judi
cial examination. On the 26th this was con-
tinued, aad then saw no one until the 4tb inst,
when the questioning was proceeded with and
on the 9th was again questioned, and finally
informed that was accused of treason At the
same time, was required to select one from Il
list of officers that was presented to me, who
should conduct my defence. Not knowing any
Of THAN, ! chose one at random, supposing he
would consult with me and with my legal adj
visers, as is usual in such cases. in regard to my
defence.
On the 7th inst, ] was for the first time al
| lowed to see my friends, and to consult with
them as to the best course to pursue. ] con-
ferred with our CONSUL and he passed several
communications in my behalf TO the government
here, all of which have been utterly disregarded
and not replied to- On the 18th, | was informed
that was TO be brought up the next day for
sentence. Immediately wrote to my nominal
defender to come ut once to consult with me,
and TO bring with him the proceedings which
wire IN writing. He replied, verbally, that he
would come in the afternoon. He did not
come, and | entered at once protest against
the proceedings, alleging that ! had not been
heard, and that neither myself nor my legal ad-
visers had been consulted for proper defence.
| sent this to the President Of the Military Com.
mission that night, who refused to receive il,
saying that it could only be admitted by the
| captain general The American consul Mr.
| Owen, as soon as informed of this, proceeded to
/ the palace, and protested against sentence being
| pronounced, as had not been heard in defence
In the morning my nominal defender came TO
| my prison TO inform me that he had been al
lowed by the court only twenty-four hours TO
prepare my defence that he had been occupied
till that moment examining the proceedings,
which were voluminous, and that within an
hour he must return to the fiscal. On the 18th,
was taken before court martial, composed of
brigadier general and six officers Of the army.
The testimony and proceedings were read before
was brought into court, whch is contrary TO
law and to custom; and when brought in, / was
asked what had to say TO the charges against
me | replied that | had not been furnished
with copy of the charges-that | had been
, denied access to the proceedings and testimony,
that my nominal defender had neither consulted
with me nor with my counsel-and that | now
d asked that my protest and petition for stay Oh
d proceedings should be admitted. | was told by
the president of the court that il should be con
sidered. ! was remanded TO my dungeon, ant
/ heard nothing more of the proceedings unit
4 to-day. when ] have been formally notified
q that / have been sentenced TO eight wears
labor, in chains, at Ceuta, in Africa, with pay
: ment Of costs.
II II is unnecessary for me TO enlarge upon tn
s, improperly of bringing me before court martir
| =. -.