Washington sentinel., 1855-04-03

We copy the following interesting letter
from the National Latelligencer of yesterday
which was received by that paper from its reg
ular correspondent:
HAVANA, March 25, 1855.
The public expectation, which had relieved
for the moment our anxiety in relation TO the
three prisoners, Pinto, Cadalzo, and Pinelo,
has been sadly disturbed by the final verdict
rendered in their cases. Although from other
sources you may have received the correct his.
tory of these trials, give as concise view of
the facts as possible, at the hazard of repeti-
ton, for fear that the wires may not have given
the whole truth.
The court which was ordered to revise the
proceedings and the sentences produced by the
court martial, created for reason of the legal
objections raised to the whole procedure, and
the conclusion by the "Audtor Of War;" and
for which he refused his signature of approval,
was occupied with the discussion and investi-
cation for some days. This court is known for
the first time, and, fear, may prove the means.
if it establishes precedent, Of determining. as
policy or malignity may dictate, against Justice
in the hands of evilminded rulers. Such is the
fact and it is simple; the law appoints an off,
Ger, who is supposed to possess the necessary
legal requirements and qualifications to pro.
tect the lives of subjects from any undue inAu-
ences that might possibly cause the sacrifice
that can never be restored; that officer dis.
charges his high trust boldly, inscrbing up
on the documents the reasons which have
governed him, which are beyond the reach
of refutation. Upon this, which has always
been the stopping place heretofore, the
power to infiict the next less penalty than life
being with the Captain General, he, instead of
complying with and faithfully discharging his
plainly written duties, institutes another mode
| of advisory power to reach the desired end, and
court of revision Of four persons becomes the
auditing power for approval and confirmation
OF sentence. The court did not in this case
agree, being equally divided, and Gen. Concha
was at last compelled to vote the determination
OF the revision in consequence of the original
sentence, as uttered by the military commits
sion. The Captain General commuted after
wards the sentences of Juan Cadalzo and
Nicolas Pinelo to ten years imprisonment at
| Ceata, and the execution Of Pinto was hurried
forward, allowing the twenty-hours time only
that the law grants for religious offices and to
family and social ties. The sentence was con
veyed to Pinto in his cell at an early hour the
morning OF the 2lst instant, having been en-
crossed late IN the previous night after the
decision of General Concha; and he was exc.
cuted at seven o'clock a. m. the 22d. in the
presence of an immense crowd of persons, to
many of whom he was personally known. His
conduct on the occasion was unmoved and
tranquil; and his last words were that he was
innocent, or rather "that he died innocent;n by
which he intended to convey the sense that the
law had found no guilt in him, think.
Ramon Pinto was 6fty-one years of age, and
he has left wife and seven children here
de was Catalan, born in Barcelona of re-
spectacle parents; protege Of the celebrated
Duke of Alegon, who was the most distin
guished favorite with the King Ferdinand VII
and TO whom was made the large grant oil
royal domain in Florida. Pinto, at the in
stance of the Duke, went to Madrid, and ac.
| CURED his education in an institution under
royal patronage. lie was devoted to the priest
hood by his elevated friends; but this did not
| bill his aspirations, and after his academic
courses were concluded, he declined taking
orders, and he lost advantage and position that
was intended for him by his projectors. He
was one OF the volunteers in the battle in the
streets of Madrid the 7th Of July, 1920, when
they repulsed with much destruction the royal
guards, and took their places in the palace Of
the King. From Madrid he passed with the
guard of the King to Cadiz, among others OF
the volunteers and he was in small fortiGca-
ton connected with the exterior defences of