The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-17

was 10 be secompi. he'd while never hesitated an
instant, notwithstanding the numerous and warm
had obta ned for Mr.. Thrasher, Dor his friends OF
foreign citizenship, nor, in fine, the urgent remon-
stranfes directed To me- IN consequence OF snch pro-
tests, by the American Consul
The crime having been proved and the accused
tried in conformity to our laws, and by virtue OF
an established code OF right, it necessary and
urgent to show that the Spanish government was
not posed TO show the least federation in the case
of the persons abusing its generous hospitality,
while it aressy and epergetically made one of ita
ibdis putabe rights in which, like Mr.. Thrash
ers were 70 show the world its resolution to be firm,
as il had in former instances, solemnly showed It's
desire not to 60 beyond the limits OF necessary seve
rity.
eminent at WASHINGTON which having become OPP
portunely and adequately informed OF the real
facts of the case abandoned all the proceed
ings which it had hegun with regard to the
sentence of Mr.. Thrasher. Unfortunately, how
ever he was pardoned shortly after; still what had
already been done could not he efaced, and think
have shown beyond any question to foreign resi-.
worthy Of protection long as they respected our
rights, nothing would prevent my furnishing them as
soon as they should appear unmdul Of their duties.
But these were not the only incidents that could
The fact that steamers continually reaching the
port of Havana, carrying letters and great number
Of passengers mostly to the country, rendered
it possible, nay probable, that any insult any slight
mstake committed towards one OF them there, might
lead to serious difficulty On four different occa-
slons steamships entered The port between the time
OF the landing OF the expedition and the execution
OF Lopez ard that too at the most critical period,
such fornstance the execution of the fifty Ameri.
cans and the death Of the worthy General Emma,
| they brought intelligence of the New Orleans dis
turban1es, and one OF them in at the very mo
ment of the execution OF the leader of the expedition.
Surely, for many persons, there would have been in
all this no pretext for any difficulty; nothing was
more expedient than 70 avoid the danger Of the
moment by preventing the landing of the passengers
and causing the vessels to receive coal at the Iris.
coma wharf, or by OBTAINING them under the guns
Of the Cabana. The right of Cuba to do all this was
urquesti' nable; but in questions Of such nature
and in such circumstances, could not fail to regard
it as much right as political convenience. Though
1 there were no grounds of complaint against the
government and people of the United States, the
event of disturbance had not arisen, nor even Of
the slightest interruption OF relations; in proportion
as, on the other hand, there no grave danger TO-
be DREADED, there, indeed any reason TO be-
lieve sufficiently justified measure certainly antho.
| rized by law, but which would naturally have in.
jured many travellers who might be, and we're, en-
trely strangers to the events which passing IN
Cuba, and prejudiced the public correspondence
which those steamers brought Besides, q considera.
ton of honor, and even OF convenience, required
| the show Of confidence from the government as well
in its own power as in the support of the
country. I preferred therefore, to avoid the
Inconvenience OF prohibiting travellers TO disembark
freely coniding in the good sense OF the PEG.
pie accustomed to respect the measures taken
! by the government, and in the respect with which
the Americans had also been accustomed TO regard
! the Spanish authorities respect which ought to
be increased by the very fact OF permitting their cir
culatiOD in such circumstances. simple DISPOSE.
ton Of policy, uDperceised by all assured me OF the
immediate repression of whatever disorder and it
happened thas there did Bot occur the least disa-
| greeabe occurrence.
The rights and dignity Of Spain being thus
guarded, disposed TO sustain them with equal energy
in the future, contemplate the expedition might
be- ought not to be indifferent to any thing which
I ,s.1< ~ tha:n Sinno 10 tn
divine what loss they must produce in country OF
such commerce, and where there were 80 many &C.
cunulated elements of distinctions so did not lose
| sight, for single moment, Of the desirableness OF
c0nquering, at the same time. the invading pirates,
and the opinion which favored them in the United
States; and have no fear 70 assert that the energy
and the moderation opportunity employed, no less
than the confidence in their own force, with which the
| government Of Cuba Stunned every kind Of OBJ
stIucton, contributed in great manner to rectify
| that opinion. And have here precisely the motive
OF another disposition which made, though it wa
lot sufficiently comprehebded by some; lmean II
liberty, given to several OF the North American
CurDals.
will say but little to prove my right to adopt
that measure. The tribunals had not interfered to
| punish them. They had been condemned through
The effect Of proclamation issued by me, as General
Guiding those whom might design. Iought, there
fore, to judge of the proprety of that disposition
simply under the point of view of political conve-
nieIce; and when | have demonstrated all the in-
the Unite States, it will not appear strange that
with this object, | might desire 70 have published
there, and in such manner as would leave no room
for doubt, the conduct observed by the inhabitants
of the island, and by the troops, against the in
vasory expedition; particularly SO, when all the
prisoners confessed openly the valor OF soldiers.
and the unanimous hostility with which they had
been received by the peasaDtry. At that time Mr..
Owens exer ised the charge Of American Consul in
Havana, gentleman as jealous for the intere Is
copfded to him, as dgDifed and polite in his &C I
duct with the authorities OF the Spanish governneL
and had est him to esgnate to me two Of the
journals whose anterior G. nduct might have been
honorable, SO as that might give them liberty TO-
circulate. Mr. Owens mentioned 10 ne the names OF
| Colonel Haynes and Captain j. A. Kelly, and both
! having been called into my presence | instructed
them, gave them money, and told them merely that
tie only thing required from them was that they
| should publish III their country the truth Of what
occurred. Unworthly CORE spending to the conduct
held towards them, these two wretches (n,iser0es>
did nothing more than distrt events as II the very
fact Of theriberty were not sufficient TO belle them
since it does not agree with good reason that If
had had anything to fear ! should have placed
them in q situation to publish it. But the
idea Of being converted Into heroes, and Of
| being acclaimed by the Pedagogical multitude
choked in them even the least sentiment OF honor.
All, however, did not behave themselves in this
manner, and so | acceded to the liberty OF three
youths Of respectable families, in whose favor re-
spopsible persons OF their country inteposed, that
they might influence as they afterwards did, the rec
tfcation of public opinion, making known with,
truth things as they had occurred.
The result cOiresponded to my idea, and thus It s
that do not doubt that it facilitated The power OF the
government of the United States to give the satsac-
| ton to which we bad q right, and which her
Iiaestys government was at tull liberty to exact,
without in anything having had to compromise the
particular grace conceded by me to some Of the
pIesses-able as ! was TO observe with them what.
ever course might judge tittest-a course which l
considered should always have TO end by the conces-
sion Of liberty or later, and according TO the
direction which affairs might take with the govern
ment Of the Union But a2art from these and other
considerations, the fact il that in the midst of the
Incidents which might arise during the eXpcdi-
ton, and Of the difficulties which other incidents
might produce, The American government could not
promote nor did u promote the slightest complaint
against the Captain General OF Cuba lf the sup
posed with the bodies of the fifty men shot
hadL Leo, hulL ihouf