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

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which have lust alluded The first nte ligence
that had Of the pture Of these fifty individuals,
mostly Americans, received from the General VINO
csItufed them; II reached me a. about tnite
the pepalty Of death, as pirates, recent and
nnequ1yocai, and It was impossible not com
ply with the public and explicit declaration that
no quarter would be given them, especially too, az
petition to Las Pozas.
Still, as far as was personally concerned, Knight
have avoided one difficulty Of the position in which
was placed by causing the pirates TO be tried by
the naval tribunals, they having been captured at
sea- IS was done the previous in the of the
ContGy prisoners. But would these tribunals have
Ieccenized tie edict promulgated by me as General
inChief? Fer such is in reality the singular posi-
ton Of The CaptsinGeperal Of the Island Of Cuba,
though he is made responsible for its defence and
preservation. When the prisoners of Contoy were
ought TO trial they appeared only before a court
hearing the cause (audtor), in which it Is proved
thai they were pirates, they set at liberty and
it was only subsequently, and after long interval
had elaIsed, that the Tribunal Of Revision con-
demred two captains and one pilot to the preside.
1t may be that such sentence was just; it may
be- too that Under the circumstances 1t was in ac-
cordance with the dictates OF wise policy; still
could not expose myself to see the decree which |
had published remain void and without effect.
1t was evident that it could have no effect
in any fortified place on the coast, where the
excitement would have been avoided which could
not fail to be produced in the capital OF the island
unaccustomea to scenes of blood; but at Havana it
was matter of urgent necessity TO enforce law so
justly established and to treat pirates individuals
who well Of the penalty attached to their I'M
deitaking, had sought to attack peaceful country
and destroy its nationality.
/ did not hesitate then 20 make up my mind as to
the cour which was to pursue in this serious
crisis. Immediately sent for the Lieutenant Gene
raj, the Mayor de la Piasa and the principal chief
OF police, and in the presence of the Commander
General of the navy ordered that the troops OF the
garrison should be drawn up on the morning follow
ing at o'clock, in the immediate neighborhood of
the castle of the Atares as the execution of the fifty
prisoners was to take place before half-past seven
It was TO be the duty Of the Chief Of Police to col
lect together and hold in readiness all the funeral
cars Necessary Immediately to carry away the dead
bodies.
1t was my object, in disposing of matters rs did,
to advance the hour of the execution as much as
pOss ble and causing it TO be effected before the
news became ger orally circulated throughout the
city and the neighborhood to create as little excite
ment as possible I reflected, however, that the
military decree which had issued was to be exc
cuted without any formality whatsoever upon the
mere apprehension Of the pirates, These had
not been captured on the adjacent cGyos,
and it was necessary to justify the appli-
cation Of the decree in this instance though it
matter of public notorety that they had taken part
in the action OF the MOrllO With this end in view,
ordered two officers OF the Military Commission, in
company with interpreters to proceed on board the
frigate Eperanza where the prisoners were kept to
take from them general deposition. As their num-
Der was considerable however, and it was necessary
to employ interpreters only ten dispositions had been
taken when the hour fixed for the execution had
rived. Thus delayed, it of course became unavoda-
BILE that an immense concourse should be present at
the execution; for in spite of the utmost diligence
the part OF the officers Of the commission, it was half
past ten before the dispositions concluded. The
sentence having been Immediately signed by me,
was executed at eleven.
On the same day, the American steamers left Ha-
vana, bearing the intelligence Of this event to New
Orleans. Prompted by feeling Of humanity, had
allowed the prisoners to write TO their families In
all their letters they complained of Lopez and GER
tain newspapers, which they charged with having
brought such fate upon them, by deceiviag them
as to the real state Of public opinion in Cuba,
hostile to them, and bearing evidence, At
the same time, to the valOr Of our troops.
BY fortuitous circumstance, however, it happened
that these letters could not become generally known
light were letters of adieu, which could not fail to
interest the inhabitants in the fate Of their fellow
countrymen. Besides, the editors of those newspa-
peIs especially Mr. Sigur, Of the Delta, an intimate
friend Of Lopez and the soul of the expedition, fear
ing the effect likely to be produced against them by
the declarations of those unhappy men, zealously cir
culated the fola calumny that the dead bodies had
been dragged through the streets and quartered an
infamous talehoOd, the consequences OF which had
been perfectly calculated for this gave birth to the
scandalous riot, in the midst of which New Orleans
that great city of Of the countries which pretends
not without reason, to be at the head of civilization
presented the degrading spectacle of savage peo-
pie, forgetting all the respect and consideration due
the law OF nations, to attack the Spanish flag, the
house of her Majesty's consul and the homes ofmany
honorable and Spanards. These moments
of excitement General Huston also sought
to take advantage Of, and proclaimed an ex-
petition of five thousand men against Cuba, and
that not without result for in few days two thou
sand five hundred men were armed and gathered to.
NJ Nnruy nrlo oft fhaul ii fol
subsequently to disIerse thanks to the speedy intel
ligence Of the result that had attended the Lopez
expedition. For while these events were occurring
at New Orleans, the expedition was completely
had been killed in the different battles, others shot,
and the rest dispersed !amished and unarmed could
offer no serious resistance to our troops.
The measures which had taken assured me that
should be master of them all, which would, in
fact, have been the case, had Commander Ramos
executed the prescribed movement. This it was that
induced me to issue decree granting an eXculpa-
ton from capital punishment which had It been de-
layed for day, would have been nugatory. | de-
sired to appear energetic and severe, but not san.
culinary; and it would have been uDjustfable to
shoot who found themselves in so distressed a
situation after having resisted for several days. the
persecution OF the troops Even Ourmi tary command
and soldiers urged the necessity ofsucha measure,
and it should be recorded, as doing honor to their
sentiments that in consequence OF their orbearauce
ever sixty men escaped being shot, who had been in
LneT power since Inc Gay previous 10 the piTuonnS
decree; ana that Immediately upon their being in
formed OF their pardon, the troops enthusiastically
burst forth with loud reclamation in honor OF her
Majesty. To our august and magnaDhnous sove-
reign, they certainly indebted for their lives
for, as then stated to the government. my desire
bad been solely to give proof of the lofty feelings
and boundless clemency OF her Majesty. 1t may be
that, at FIRST there were some persons who did not
appreciate The Importance of this act it may be-
too, that even now, the sight OF the ingraitude with
which it was yepaId by Wany would cause many TO
dtapprove Of it but have had the satisfaction TO
see that those persons who at first deemed it impo-
tic, afterwards came to congratulate me it may De
because the excitement under which they labored
had disappeared, or perhaps in consequence Of the
nsni.est reaction which this act produced in the
United States, and the unanimous Judgment with
which it was received throughout Europe.
The government ut Washington, however, yielding
to The necessity Satisfying the impression prsduced
by tic first intelligence, commissioned Commodore
Psrker to proceed 10 havana TO ascertain the trutu
OF III charges brought forward against the authori
ties ard inhabitants. lie arrived at the port on the
- c. r. so,o