Eastern times., 1855-04-05
Havana News.

Mr.. ]. B. Thompson, our Consular Agen
at Sapua, who was arrested aud taken to Ha
vana because he would not take down the arm,
of the United States from the wall Of his Office
has been released. The following particular
ia regard to This very unusual proceeding OF
the part Of the Cuban authorities, are gisen b,
the Havana correspondent of the New Yorl
Express:
"Some short time since Mr.. Thompson wa
sitting in his office at Sagua, when he was in
terrupied by the entrance of one of the cit,
guards, who insolenty ordered him 10 TAXI
down the American arms, which hung upoI
the wall above him. MIR. Thompson ndls
nantly refused-the celador' insisted, bu
with no effect-Mr. Thompson was firm. Elf
teen minutes were allowed our agent for refec
tion, at the expiration of this time he was tt
decide between the removal of the colors from
the wall or his own removal 10 Havana.
Fifteen minutes pass quickly under such cir
cnmstances, but they sufficed to decide Mr.
Thompson, in leaving the eagle upon the wall
and upon leaving himself for Havana. Accor
dinghy, two hours later found him en- route
uuder the guard of Two celadors prison
er. t +.
Upon his arrival here. he cslled at once up
on our Consul, Mr. Robertson-always accom-
panied by his two guards-and laid the matter
before him. Now, Mr.. Thompson had made
one mistake-he had legally no right to plac
the escutcheon upon the tcaHs of his house bu
as this had but little TO do with the insult offer
ed to an American official, our Consul proceed
ed at once to represent the case before the
Captain General.
The day but one after was appointed by Con
cha for hearing of the question, liberty being
meanwhile given TO Mr.. Thompson to selec
any hotel in Havana as his residence-hs pa
role alone being exacted to retain him in The
city. a.
Before the day appointed, the Consul ac-
companied by Mr. Thompson, went to the pal.
ace. Mr.. t. was presented TO the Captain
General as his prisoner. My prisoner no Ion
ger was the reply, Mr. Thompson is at lib
erty 10 go when and where he pleases, and
with sincere regret that so unfortunate an affair
should have happened, must beg that the
amount the pecuniary loss his business may
have received from this sudden removal, may
be presented TO this government, so that Some
indemnifcation may be made
Thus Mr.. Thompson personally is free from
further arrogance, but officials our citi-
zens must not be exposed 10 such sndden and
undesired removals from home and business,
and II is upon this question of greater respect
TO our countrymen tina; the attention ofour gov
eminent must be directed" s
In this connection, we make the following
extract from the Washington correspondence
of the Courier and Enquirer
81 understand that orders were sent on
Monday to the Navy Yards of New York
Boston and Norfolk, requiring several steam
and sailing vessels now at those stations to be
fitted with all possible despatch, to join the
Gulf squadron and, that the same time, au-
thority was given 10 direct the Commodore in
command To proceed with his whole force ic
Havana, for the purpose of enquiring into the
late occurrences.
1t is supposed that Geneeal Concha has spec.
lal authority TO make explanations on minol
causes of complaint, and to settle questions o
etiquette, in which SO many of our difference:
with Spain originate. This suppostion fur
nishes some reasonable confidence that the trair
of settlement, commencing with the adjust
ment, will not be disturbed by anything which
has since occurred"