The Nevada journal., 1852-01-08
From the ". o. PIcdguHe.
THE CASE or MIR. TURASHER,

THE CASE OF MR.. TIIRASHER.
The telegraph announces the trial
and conviction of MIR. Thrasher, on a
charge of high treason against the
Spanish Government, 1t also informs
us that Mr.. Owen, the L. 5. Consul at
Havana, appeared in his behalf. 1t
states that the sentence pronounced
against Mr.. Thrasher was eight years
condemnation to the chain gang in
Spain.
Judging from the lights before us,
Mr.. Thrasher's trial and condemna-
ton appear to be mockery-a farce
got up and enacted to satisfy the re-
quirements Of the treaty of 80. If
there is not enough known to form a
correct judgment OF the dealings of the
Spanish authorities in this case, the
fault is with Government which con-
ceals its proceedings from the knowl-
edge of the world, and suffered its pri-
soner to languish in a dungeon in ig-
norance of the cause Of his arrest or
the crime imputed to him.
The case, as presented, is this: Mr..
Thrasher was arrested and confined
for some hidden cause. He was lock-
ed up for more than month in
close, damp and noxious dungeon; du-
ring all of which time neither he nor
his friends were informed of the crime
charged against him,
The next we hear of him, he has
been convicted of high treason and
condemned to an ignominious punish
ment; and that the u. S. Consul ap.
peared in his behalf. 1t is not under
stood that time was allowed him, or
opportunities granted him to bring for
ward evidence in justification Of his
conduct, or in refutation of the wit
nesses against him. The government
took ample time, and employed abun-
dant means to have him accused but
whilst these preparations were going
on against him, he was close prlso-
ner, and himself and friends studiously
excluded from all knowledge of his i'm
puted offence, and the nature of the
proof by which they were TO be sus-
stantiated. This, we contend, was a
gross violation of the treaty Of 1875, a
mere mockery of law.
No man, however innocent, can es-
cape condemnation, where any one is
interested in his removal, if he is to
be arrested upon secret information,
and hept in close confinement until
brought forth to be arraigned and con-
demned. No time was allowed him
to prepare his defence no opportunity
to rebut evidence; none to explain bis
conduct, and none to weigh the cir
cumstances and proofs upon which ine
Government relied TO produce convic-
ton. Everything that has yet trans
pired combines to stigmatize the pro
ceedings in this case as inquisitqrial
arbitrary and in defiance of treaty OBJ
legations.
The next arrival from Havana may
throw some light upon this mysteriou:
transaction. But it should be IT mem'
bered that the Government will per
NIT nothing to appear in the public
press in Mr.. Thrasher's behalf. W.
can get nothing from that source
4 which is not to the taste and IN JUST
fication of the authorities which con
dcmncd him. 1t is only through pr
vate channels his justification will CIV
er be made known. All tile avenue.
ofpublie light are closed to him. AnC
such is tho espionage of the Cubar
rulers that even his personal friends
may be indisposed to risk simi
lar fate by volunteering anything il
his behalf Up to the last dates from
Washington, no complaint had beer
laid before his own Government in hi:
behalf. The American Cabinet had
no official knowledge Of his arrest, OF
the causes which led to it. Whatever
was done was undertaken upon the
rumors of the day. There has beer
gross dereliction or deception some
where: and the modification at thu
suspicion that there should have beer
any want of interest manifested fol
him by the representative Of his Gov
ernment in Havana, is aggravated BY
the fear that he may have fallen ;
victim to this indifference. Ii thu