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

From the National 1nteligcncer. Jan. /
Letter from the Hon 4. F. Owen.
WAsHINGTox. Dec. 90. 1851

MeSSrS UALES q ShAiS~ III you 10
me the favor to allow me- through the me-
dunn of your extensive-circulated journal,
to make an exposition purely of person
al character | am aware that such mat
ters are usually uninteresting, and not un-
frequently quite distasteful, to an intelli-
gent public. But in This instance l feel
that have right to ask hearing even
without an apology.
In my conduct as late consul for Havana
have been harshly assailed and bitterly
denounced, not to say grossly misrepresen-
ted and shamefully traduced before the A.
merican people. Ofthe character of those
who were the most efficient actors in this
conspiracy against my good name and rep
utation, or their objects or motives, / have
no intention at this time or in this way 10
speak If my cause cannot stand upon
its own merits before tiassstribunal of an
impartial ard ight -thiissiffs people, ! am
willing that and it may be consigned to
that reprobation which both would SO rich
ly deserve, If Iwere such man as | have
been represented to be. Ny object there
fore, in asking of you the favor is not to
use the medium of your paper for the pur-
pose of assailing any one, not even my ca
lumniators, but only to defend myself. /
feel that have been most unjustly dealt
by. Whether others who have not the
same interest in the matter shall be of the
same opinion will depend upon their judg-
ment upon what have to say.
What, then, are the charges which have
been brought against me? Not having
seen any presented in any regular form
shall have to allude to them as / have
seen them stated in the newspapers at diff
ferent times. And, to begin with the most
prominent
lst. 1t has been said in substance, that
| refused to take any steps on the morn
ing of the 10th of August last to arrest
the proceedings which resulted in the con-
demnation and sentence of death pronoun-
ced against my unfortunate countrymen
who were taken in the ill-fated Lopez ex-
petition, who were that day executed by
the authorities in the island of Cuba and
not only this, butthat refused to see them
or to bear any messages from them to their
friends, or to do anything manifesting any
commiseration for them in their miserable
condition.
To this have simply to say that it is
not true that refused to take any steps to
arrest the proceedings which resulted in
the orGer for their execution. Its not true
that l knew of their capture until after
their condemnation. As / have stated on
a former occasion, they we're condemned
before heard of their capture; SO that
had no time TO act, or to do anything to
prevent their sentence, if l had had the
power to do so. Again tits nottrue that
/ refused to see them after their condem-
nation. Nor is it true that any desire was
expressed by any one of them to see me
that was made known to me. On the con-
trary, did express desire to see them,
for the purpose of bearing any message
they might deliver to me to be borne to
their friends And l was informed that
Mr. Costa, of New Orleans, known per-
sonally to some of them, had been sent for
and had attended to such matters. And ask
that all fair men will bear in mind that Ihad
no more poper or authority from my official
position to act in the matter than any other
American citizen who happened to be there
as will hereafter be fully shown. But is
not true that even failed to do my utmost
as an indiuidual to avert the sad fate OF
these men under the most moving and mel
ancholy circumstances of their situation.
As soon as 1 had arrived at my Office, a
little after ten o'clock in the morning, and
heard of their sentence and approaching
doom, I addressed note to the govern
or and captain general of the Island
This | did not do in my official character,
because, apart from my knowledge of the
! full extent of my official powers, l had, in
an interview with the captain general the
day before, touching the course intended to
be pursued by him in case any of the men
invading the island should be captured,
been informed by him that he would not
allow any interference, either official or
personal, by any consul in their behalf, let
lthem.,belong to whatever nation they might.
| therefore, on reaching my Office, fearing
a personal interview might be denied me,
wrote, and delivered in person to the pri-
yate secretary of the captain general, the
note which follows, purely as an act of hu-
manity. The note and the reply the pub
/ lie can Judge for themselves:
"CoaMERcIAL AGENCY OF THE UNITED
STATES, Havana, August is, 1851.
SIR: Ibave just arrived in this city.
and heard of the capture of about fifty
men who came with Lopez, and that they
have been condemned to be shot very soon.
Under these embarrassing circumstances,
| regardit as my solemn duty to make an
appeal to your excellency in behalf of those
unfortunate men; and trust that this will
not be considered as an interference, eth
er official or personal, on my part. ! ear
tnestly beseech that the lives of the prisoners
may be spared, and, if all cannot be spar
I ed, that no more shall be taken than are
deemed to be absolutely zecessory--and, i.
neither Of these petitions can be granted,
that your excellency will not permit the
prisoners to be executed Immediately, but
allow them all the time possible in their
dreadful condition. VIII your excellency
allow me an interview at once
{ ssI have the honor to be your excellen-
cy's obedient servant, A. F. OWEN.
His excellency Sr. D. JOSE DE La Cox
CHA,
.Goyernor and Captain General Of the
Island Of Cuba
[Seal of the government Of the Island
OF. cuba.
t.0FFIcE OF THE PoLIIIcAL SECRETARY
Il have Just received the communica-
ton that.you have been pleased to address
me. interesting yourself that shall spare
the lives Of all some Of the fifty prison.
|ers, or that the penalty ofdes1h upon them
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