Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-04-11
EXECUTION OF PINTO,

The Charleston Mercury in noticing the re-
cent execution of Pinto in Cuba, remarks:
The bloody execution of the Duke D'Eng-
hem, by Napoleon's order, and the hairless fate
of Marshal Ney, fall below it in black alrocliy.
The facts are now pretty well ascertained. The
auditor of war, whose assent TO The sentence Of
capital punishment is demanded by the laws of
the Island positively refused to sign the war
rant, on The ground that no sufficient case had
been made out against Pinto. The chief, if not
the sole witness, was a vile wretch, who had
been previously condemned for feones and par
doned, and became now the tool of the Captain
General, iii his bloody purpose, against his for
Eer friend and Secretary. The refusal of the
Auditor of War seemed only TO have incited
Concha the more, aud contrary TO ail law, pre-
cedent or humanity, he instituted an arbitrary
court of four, which should revne and oYerrule
this decision. But, so hagrant was the wrong,
that even this court were equally divided, when
Concha, bent on the life of his victim, and in-
censed at the protection which law and mercy
threw around him, decided himself the question,
aud ordered Pinto's execution in twenty hours.
He met his fate calmly and bravely, protesting
his innocence with his dying breath. Such are
briefly the facts of this foul murder
1t is asserted, and not without plauSibleJustl-
fcation, that Pinto, in his relations rs secretary
Of Concha, was possessed of evidence going to
show that Concha himself had meditated trea-
son against the Spanish Government, and the
establishment of dictatorship over Cuba. TO
Concha's guilty soul he was therefore Il rontin-
ual dread. Hence the resort to such proceed
ings against him, and the fiend;sh malignilv
with which he persucd him to his death. He
was determined to rid himself of the witness TO
his crime at all hazards, and without regard to
law or right.
It is not for us to intermeddle with the deal
inrs of other Governments with their subjects.
Still less do we advertise ourselves as the CHAM
pions Of the oppressed in all quarters OF the
globe Ii is enough if we protect our own soil
from tyranny and cruelty. But there are acts
which strike chord Of common sympathy-acts
so luminous in their enormity, and their outrage
upon humanity, that we would indeed be un-
worthy of the name Of men, if We passed them
by unno,iced Such was the murder of Man
uel Pinto. And a people among whom such
things can be done, openly and with impnnity,
are entitled 10 the sympathy Of every brave and
generous heart IT is unfortunate for SPAN,
that her ofria. dares so to act, ut this time,
when all over the country the fate of Cuba is
regarded with still deepening interest-when'
the Government is compelled to practice the
sternest vigilance 20 prevent the attempts OF
bold adventurers-when our relations with Spain
in regard TO this very Island have become angry
and threatening-at such time, 4 fact like this
is well calculated 10 sever the thread which sus-
pcnds the sword The best and soberest may
be unable to repress their indignation; and thus
by the prompings OF common nature, give
encouragement TO the enterprise.