Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-01-06

dispersion of the men, and the leader of it being
in the power of the government, it is not, am
sure, desired, either by your Excellency or the
Supreme Government, that the unfortunate and
misguided men who were engaged in it shall
needlessly suffer longer.
1t is doubtless known to your Excellency that
these men have already suffered much. Without
shelter from the storm, without food save the
wild fruit which chance threw in their way,
almost destitute of clothing, they have for many
aays wandered in the mountains, pursued and
hunleu uoWh by the very men who, they were
told, were up in arms and revolutionizing this
government.
In view of all these things, the misrepresenta-
uohS OF the designing by whom these unfortu-
nate men have been induced to invade this island.
and the sufferngs they have already endured i
respectfully request that the chains may be re-
moved from the limbs of the prisoners, and that
they may be treated with all the kindness con-
sstent with their safe-keeping.
| trust that your Exceency will permit the
prisoners to be visited by such of their country
men as are here or may come here during their
confinement, and who may desire to see them;
and that they may be allowed such things, in the
way Of diet, clothing, and the like, as may con-
duce to their comfort, which it is desired to af-
ford them &
| desire to see your Excellency as soon as an
interview can be granted to present some views
for your Excellency's consideration relative to the
| liberation Of all these unfortunate men many of
them are husbands, and have dependent wives
and helpless children; more of them have fathers,
mothers and sisters, who will be in the deepest
distress at their capture and Imprisonment when
it shall become known to them.
! Hoping for the most favorable results and be-
lievng that your Excellency will embrace the OPP
portunity Of showing kindness and humanity to
the prisoners, have the honor to be your Excel
lency's obedient servant, A. +. OWEN.
| His Ex ~ Sr. D. JOSE DE LA CoNcHA,
Governor and Captain General of the
Island of Cuba.
The same day that this letter was addressed to
the Captain General, Capt. Plat and Lieut.. Tay-
lor called to see me on their way to the prison.
They had previously obtained q written permit
from the Captain General to visit the prisoners.
sent word by these officers to the prisoners that
| would visit them and do what could for them,
if they desired it. At the same time that they
might not be mistaken as to the extent of my
powers, | sent them word that / could do nothing
for them in my official character How far my
sympathies were enlisted in their behalf may be
judged of by the character of my letter. The
interview with the Captain General, requested in
that letter, was granted And on the evening of
the same day, the 30th of August, the Captain
General, in that interview made known to me his
intention to pardon the whole of the prisoners.
The next day, August 3lst, the news was re-
ceived Of the unfortunate outrages at New Or
leans, and the Captain General Immediately sent
for me and informed me of the change of his pur-
pose
! But soon MS l obtained permit to visit the
prisoners, l did so; and to the utmost of my
ability | did all | could to administer to their
wants and alleviate their condition. At my inter
cession their chains were removed; and directed
the storekeepers Of the prisons, after getting per-
mission for that purpose, to furnish them with
everything they stood in need of, in the way of
food and clothing, and to charge the same to my
personal account These bills were paid out of
my own private purse. Other American citizens
also generously contributed in the same way.
| And when the Captain-General informed me that
| although he could not pardon all the prisoners,
as | had urgently requested him, yet he would
pardon few Of them, | intercedcd Secially in
behalf of Capt. Kelly, and made his case promi
nent, because he made such strong appeal
account of his wife and children, who, he said,
would be left in great destitution if he should be
sent away. He owes his deliverance to me. How
far he has repaid my attentions and kindness,
others may judge.
knew nothing of Capt. Kelly until saw him
in prison; and know nothing of him since, ex-
cept that he owes that liberty which enables him
to abuse me 10 my own generous nature, which
prompted me to select him, out Of great many
others, as one of few for whom / specially in
voked executive clemency. But, again:
3D.. 1t has been said that was negligent in the
discharge of my duty to Mr.. John s. Thrasher,
who has lately been sent to Spain. On this point
may barely say that | did all in my power to
have Mr.. Thrashers case presented in the way
he desired it, as the several communications |
addressed to the Captain General in his behalf
will abundantly show, and to which | need only
refer at this time.
WI l. IL =,
our treaty with Spain or not, is not for me to
say nor whether he was rightfully or wrong
fully condemned But whether my conduct tow
ards him as an unfortunate countryman, claim
ing the rights of an American citizen in foreign
land, was kind or unkiud, can perhaps best be
judged of by the estimation he placed on it in the
following letter.
Moro CASTLE HAVANA,
NorcmbC 26, 1851
DEAR SIR: About to be embarked for Spain to
| fill n most nqutous sentence, have to thank
you, which do most sincerely, not only for your
excrtions in my behalf, which we can only regret
have been unavailing, but also for many acts of
kindness which you have extended to me.
You arc we'll aware that | do not go sadly to
my imprisonment, because not only that / am
perfectly innocent of the charges against me, but
also because ! do not believe my countrymen will
suffer my unjust sentence to be carried out.
Reiterating my thanks to you, l remain your
obliged servant, j. s. THRASHER.
A. +. OWEN, esq, Consul of U. S. of America.
Now, Messrs. Editors, | have done. have
only alluded to the more prominent charges that
haye been made against me, as have been ena-
bed to comprehend them, before and since my
return,
| have neither time nor inclination to take up
the thousands of other silly and unfounded Sian
dcrs that have been industriously circulated
against me-