The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-01-01
WASHINGTON, d. c.
THE LOPEZ EXPEDITION CORES
P0NDENCE, ETC

readers the trouble ofwading through it b!
giving very brief sketch of its contents, pre-
senting such portions as we msy have occasion
10 refer 10 The -docuniefts are tfe1 follow
ing:
/. instructions dated August %, to Com
modore Parker from Mr.. Derrick, Acting
Secretary of State, to proceed to Havana, T.
inquire into the facts of the invasion of Cuba
the execution of the fifty prisoners the firing
into the steamer Falcon, and to represent t
the Captain General, that while the Govern
ment is doing and will do all it can to proven
lawless expeditions from its territory it ear
nestly desires that if any American citizens
forgetful of their duty should be caught ii
arms, they may not e-punished, except upor
..n 81 ~, 1.
oSIlorS hv>5es.,,sy. ~ -'. q b.
,.srat e5esstAs AZ
Webster dated September 6, 1881. He had
arrived at Havana, September 4th, and OBJ
tanned an interview with the Captain Gen.
eral who stated that the prisoners had been
captured on the Cages of the island; that
he considered them pirates and they had
been so deemed in the proclamation of the
President of the United States that they
had been tried in summary manner, and
full proof made of their guilt and of their
participation in the invasion of Lopez He
did not consider himself at liberty to furnish
a copy of the proceedings of the trial AS t.
the matter of the Falcon, in the present con
diton of the island a Spanish cruiser had q
right TO ascertain the character of merchant
vessels in the waters of Spain. The cruiser
had fred at first three unsolicited guns to lee
ward, and then the Falcon taking no notice
the firing of the shotted gun became neces
sary The Commodore was unable to obtair
permission to visit the prisoners
g. letter from the same to the same, o
September 18th. 1t seems from this, that tn,
Secretary of the Navy, in his instructions O
the 23d of August, had informed the Commo
dore that he would receive from the Depart
ment of State his appointment as Special Com
missioner No such appointment was sent
but presuming the omission was owing to al
inadvertence, he announced himself to tn.
Captain General as Special Commissioner
That officer, stating that he had no diplomat,
powers refused to receive him as such, bu
simply communicated with him as q Commo
dore in the United States navy. In this letter
he says he could find no American citizen whC
was an eyewitness of the execution of tn,
prisoners; and that "a great many conflict
ing reports are in circulation as regards the
mutlation of the bodies after death.n
Here follows hiatus, filled up with aster-
isks showing that a portion of his letter is
suppressed, from which we infer that there il
too much truth in the stories circulated of the
brutal treatment of the remains of the upfor-
tunate prisoners
d. letter from the same to the same dated
September 25th. The chief point in this com
munlcation is suggestion that, had any one
been authorized by the Federal Government
to state to the Government of Cuba that the
violence at New Orleans was mere UMPIRE
medltated outbreak of mob, that it was not
in accordance with the sentiments Of the citi-
zcns, and was deeply regretted by the Govern
ment &c, the condition of the prisoners would
have been much meliorated, and perhaps they
might have been released.
The mob occurred on the 2ist of August
the communication Of Commodore Parker is
dated September 25th. 1t was the duty of our
Government the moment it heard of the out
break at New Orleans to send despatch to
the Government Of Cuba disayowing and de-
nouncing the violence, 30 az to counterfeit the
effect 1t was calculated to produce in Cuba
All this time the Secretary of State was alb
sent from Washington, and no communication
appears to have been made by the State De-
partment to Commodore Parker.
5. A communication from M. Calderon. Span.
ish Minister, dated August &c, calling the at
tention Of the Government TO the mob at New
Orleans and the outrage on the Spanish
Consul
6. communication from the acting Secre-
tary of State to the United States District At
torney at New Orleans directing him 10 sscer.
tain the facts concerning the mob, and to prose.
cute offenders
Z. August % NJ Calderon to the acting
Secretary Of State, earnestly calling the atten-
ton of the Government TO the subject.
3. August 30. The Acting Secretary of
State to Nj. Calderon, informing him of the
measures taken by the Government
9. September 8. M Calderon to Acting Sec
rotary of State, submitting detailed account
OF the outrages at New Orlcans demanding
satisfaction, indemnfcation, and security.
10 A letter dated September 18th, from the
District Attorney at New Orleans, containing
statement of the acts of the mob, and en-
closing also full statement by the Mayor.
lrhe public is already acquainted with the
particulars of this disgraceful affair. It may
no' De 80 generally known that the Spanish
UonSul was at no time in personal danger. and
ms sudden Hight from New Orleans was rather
'"'e"'o'' we presume, for dramatic effect
u October Ia. M. Calderon to the Depart
a. VI state, acting under instruction from
spanish Government, and demanding. in
ra.'. 0r'ns' full satisfaction for the aggra-
.as ,u insult committed upon the Spanish flag
Ioa 'po" her Majesty's Consul at New Or
,ba. and also that the Spaniards residing in
'oa' city shall be unidentified
Inc reply Of Mr.. Webster, November
30 IN which he compliments the zeal and fidel-
~ ~ % MS country, of M. cslderon, denounces
- s'fohg terms the outragss at. New Orleans,
p''mses indemnifcation 10 the Spanish Con-
sul and assures the Minister that the Span
'u' reading in New Orleans while they can !