Mississippi palladium. [volume] (Holly Springs, Miss.) 1851-1852, 1852-02-05
NUMBER II.

Z 81 W hcu NAdPs- idtt, ot tlt SleoD oi-ND
Albany, visited US. sent to Mr. Owen by
him. and he again refused to come Then
/ Lieut.. Taylor o. the Albany, said he would
make him come. and the next morning
Mr.. Owen paid US visit with Capt Plat
The facts are simply these: Before we
proceeded to the Punta, on the 3otll Aug,
we called at your Office, and You then de-
sired US TO say TO the prisoners confined
I there for taking part in the invasion Of Gu
5a, that ifthey wished to see you You would
pay them visit, although YOU could do
/ nothing for them in your official capacity.
This message was delivered to them, and
they said that they would be glad 10 have
yoa come. Your visit to them, in company
with Capt. Plat, was made in compliance
with their acceptance of your offer.
.sThe inference to be drawn from the
above quotation from Capt. Kelly's letter
is that lieut.. Taylor saw the prisoners some
time subsequent to Capt. Platt's first visit
to them Lieut. Taylor never saw them,
except in company with Capt Plat on the
occasion mentioned Neither of US heard
any complaint from them, at that time, of
any neglect or indifference on your part to-
wards them.
VERY respectfully your obedient SER
wants,
"CHARLES T. PLATT,
/ .WM ROGERS TAYLOR.
"a. F. owEs, ESP, U. s. Consul. Ha-
vaDa."
Now, the facts are, that these men-or
most of them, at least--were brought TO
/ the city of Havana and committed TO pris-
on on the e8th and 29th of August On
the 30th addressed the following commu-
nication TO the governor and captain gene.
rail-
COMMERCIAL AGEScY OF THE UNITED
1 STATES,
Havana, August 80, 1851.
"SIR: Idcsire TO invite your exeellen-
cy's attention to the subject of the Ameri-
can prisoners belonging to the expedition
of Lopez. Some of them have been cap
/ tured, others have surrendered, and others
still Will be captured, or surrender under
the proclamation which your excellency
was good enough to issue on the 24th in
slant.
1 1.-The invasion being ended by the cap
ture and dispersion of the men, and the
leader of it being in the power of the gov
ernment, it is not, | am sure, desired eth
er by your excellency or the supreme gov
eminent that the unfortunate and misgui-
ded men who were engaged in it shall need
lessly suffer longer.
cit is doubtless known to your excelien-
( cy that these men have already suffered
much. Without a shelter from the storm,
without food, save the wild fruit which
chance threw in their way, almost destitute
Iof clothing, they have for many days wan
dered in the mountains. pursued and hun
ted down by the very men who, they were
s. told, were up in arms and revolutionizing
. this government.
'rIn view of all these things, the mis-
representations of the designing by whom
these unfortunate men have been induced
to invade this island, and the sufierings
they have already endured, L respectfully
request that the chains may be removed
from the limbs of the prisoners, and that
they may be treated with all the kindness
consistent with their safe keeping.
Il trust that your excellency will permit
the prisoners to be visited by such of their
countrymen as are here or may come here
during their confinement, and who may
i desire to see them; and that they may be
allowed such things, in the way OF diet,
clothing, and the like, as may conduce to
/. their comfort, which it is desired to afford
them
:. Il desire to see your excellency as soon
as an interview can be granted, to present
some views for your excellency's conside
/ ration relative to the liberation of all these
unfortunate men. Many of them are hus-
bands, and have dependent wives and help
j less children more of them have fathers,
mothers, and sisters, who will be In the
deepest distress at their capture and i'm
prisonment when it shall become known to
I them.
4 Hoping for the most favorable results,
and believing thatyou excellency will en-
brace the opportunity of showing kindness
and humanity to the prisoners. have the
honor to be your excellency's obedient SER
want,
A. F. OWEN.
1 Ellis excellency Sr. D. Jose de la Con-
l.cha,
Governor and Captain 6 General Of the
: Island of Cuba
The same day that this letter was ad-
q dressed to the captain general. Capt Plat
and Lieut.. TAYLOR called to see me on their
! way to the prison. They had previously
obtained written permit from the captain
4 general to visit the prisoners. / sent word
& by these officers to the prisoners that
wonld visit them and do what / could for
them, ifthey desired it. AT the same time,
that they might not be mistaken as to the
extent Of my powers, l sent them word