Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-05-28
Asr. ,frl,r,lsher.s Letter.

Mr. sThrAsher's Letter.
We and in the New York Herald the following
letter Of Mr.. Thrasher to Mr.. Webster:
MADRID, March %, 1852.
Hon Daniel Webster Secrefaryof State of the U'ai-
ted States.-Sir,-In your despatch Of December IL
last, to the Hon. DIR. Nj. Barringer, United States
Minister to Spain, as published in the New York
Herald, you areIed into one or two errors, which
beg leave to correct.
You say. It is much to be regretted that MIR.
Thrasher has made no communication whatever to
this Department respecting the circumstances of his
case so as to enable US to what the precise
grounds of his complaint"
was arrested at Havana on the 10th day of Oc-
tober For the first Ave days my arrest was merely
an honorable detention, but sooner had the semi
monthly steamers left the United States than was
thrown into q dungeon Of the prison, and thence
transferred to in the Punta Castle. For sixteen
DAYS. or until after the next semi-monthy departure
of the steamers was kept in strict solitary confne
ment with utter deprivation of all communication
with the world During this time it was impossi-
BILE for me to transmit any information to the de-
partment.
When was allowed to see my friends. Mr.. ow-
ems, the American Consul, but lately appointed by
the existing administration came to me, and as
sured me that he had laid my case fully before the
Department of State at Washington. During the
embarkaton for Ceuta, Mr.. Owen occasionally call
ed at the fortress to me- and continually express
ed his great surprise that communication had
come from the Department of State in regard to my
case always assuring me that not only the commu-
nications made to him, but several that had been
made in my behalf by my friends. had all been trans
mitted to the government of the United States. I'm
der these circumstances judged it superfuous to
make direct communication to the department, as
could add nothing to the information already be-
fore it.
You say" If the official account of the Spanish
authorities ha Mr.. Tirasner appears to have
expatrated himself and to have become, at least for
time. subject of the crown of Spain"
The authorities neglected to inform you that on
the 9th of September 1850, in a communication to
the Captain-Generai of Cuba, expressly and une-
quvocally refused to take out letters of naturaza
ton, and thus become subject of the crown of
| Spain.
embrace the present opportunity TO transmit to
you copy OF a letter addressed by me to General
Concha, upon the subject of domiciliation in Cuba
and the trial of American citizens by the permanent
military commission of that country.
| submit to you with much difhdence, the argu-
ments it contains, and not as my own views only,
but those of some of the first legal attachments in
Spain. Whether you will find them of sufficient
weight to induce you to modify any of the opinions
expressed in your letter of the 23d of December last
to the President, know not, but it is to be hoped
they may have some weg ht with the present rulers
Of Cuba,
! The world now knows what extorted and un-
warranted Interpretation was given by the Spanish
government, both here and in Cuba, to the unfortu-
nate wording of the Presidential proclamations, in
regard to expeditions and you well of the
extraordinary pretensions that have since been made
by the Spanish Ministers in relation to the right oil
capture the high seas, wide Contoy and in sub
sequent questions that have since been resusctiated
between the two governments.
/ These facts, and the known disposition of the gov.
eminent of Cuba towards American citizens in gen.
eral lead me to anticipate the most disastrous
sequences from the unwarrantable Interpretation ii
may give to your letter
i If the government of Cuba was one administered
in accordance with statute and justce-if the law
were respected by its minsters-or even if the ex-
ecutive power there, absolute it is, were guided
in its action by any fixed principles am well
aware there is nothing in that letter which would
endanger the person or the property of a single
American citizen. But while such is not the case
while not only existing laws disregarded. but
new ones continually 'decreed" by the arbitra.
him to require-while the ministers of justice and
the administrators of executive power animated
solely by one idea, that war of races exists-wha
interpretations and what action therein may moi
dread =!
To prove to you that do not speak from personal
feeling alone, will cite we'll known fact in the
history of that same permanent executive military
commission, which claims jurisdiction over all Amer
leans in Cuba. will only premise that in 1778, tor
ture was declared by Charles ILL., to be barbarou:
and Infamous" and expressly prohibited ir
Spanish tribunals; and that when the Inquisitior
fell before the decree of the famous Cores of Cadiz
in 1872 that last relic of the barbarous ages dsap
peared, even from the ecclesiastical tribunals Of
Spain.
} In 18445, in the trials during the execrated in
vention of q " black conspiracy" hundreds of ne
groes died under the LASH tied to ladders by order
OF the permanent executive military commission anG
in consequence of confessions thus extorted, hun
dreds of others sent to the Presidos and mines
of Spain, (to the Preside of Seville alone were SEN
over 45O) Large numbers were executed, and how
many died in prison or Immediately after their libe
ration, can never be known. There were not want
ing both American and English victims in this mi
auitous affair. Many eng ineers, and even proprie
tors were arrested not few of whom died during
Imprisonment, or in consequence Of the suffering
they there experienced.
The sequel is instructive. Pedro Salazar the tool
fiscal OF the military commission, followed his vic
Tins, condemned to the Preside of Seville Leo
poldo ODonnell, the master spirit, Captain Genera
of Cuba, retired to Spain with something more thar
one million of dollars the fruit of three years Iowa
administration of the government.
II Shall we abandon our countrymen to the tende
mercies of such a tribunal and such government
i have the honor to be your very humble servant
i ]. S. THRASHER.
| Latest Dodge.
The passage of the Maine Liquor Law has afford
ed excellent food for the wits to sharnen their m