Squatter sovereign., 1855-05-08
From the Charleston Mercury
Manuel Pinto.


more horrible case of Judicial murder than
that of Manuel Pinto, recently garroted at
Havana The bloody execution OF the
Duke d'Enghein, by Napoleon's order, and
the heartless fate of Marshal Ney, fall be-
low it In black atrocity. 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 warrant, on the ground that no SUI
ficient case had been made out against
Pinto. The chief, if not the sole witness,
was vile wretch who had been previously
condemned for felony and pardoned,
and became now the tool of the Captain
General in his bloody purpose against his
former friend and Secretary. The refusal
of the auditor of war seemed only to have
melted Cencha the more, and, contrary 10
all law, precedent or humanity, he institu-
ted an arbitrary court of four. which should
revise and override this decision. But, so
fragrant was the wrong, that even this
court were equally divided, when Concha.
bent on the life of his victim, and incensed
at the protection which law and mercy
threw around him, decided himself the
question, and 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 plausible
justification, that Pinto, in his relations as
Secretary of Concha, was possessed of evil
dence going to show that Concha himself
had meditated treason against the Spanish
government, and the establishment of a
dictatorship over Cuba. To Concha's
guilty soul he was therefore In continual
dread. Hence the resort to such proceed
ings against him, and the fiendish malig-
nifty which he pursued him to his DEATH
He was determined to rid himself of the
witnesses to his crime at all hazards, and
without regard 10 law or right.
It is not for us to intermeddle with the
dealings of their governments with their
subjects. Still less do we advertise our
selves as the champions of the oppressed
IN all quarters of the globe. 1t is enough
if we protect our own soil from tyranny and
cruelty But there are acts which strike a
chord of common sympathy-acts so lu-
minous their enormity and their outrage
upon humanity, that we would indeed be
unworthy of the name Of men, if we pass
ed by them unnoticed. Such was the muir
der of Manuel Pinto. And a people
among whom such things can be done,
openly and with IMMUNITY, are entitled to
the sympathy of every brave and generous
heart. 1t is unfortunate for Spain, that
her official dares to so act, at this time,
when all over the country the fate of Cuba
is regarded with still deepening interest,"
when the Government is compelled to prac-
tice the sternest vigilance to prevent the at
tempts of bold adventures when our rela-
tons with Spain in regard to this very Is
land have become angry and threatening
at such time, a fact like this is well
calculated to serve, the thread which sus-
ponds the sword. The best and soberest
may be unable to repress their Indignation;
and thus by the promptings of common
nature, give enconrag cement to the enter
| prise.