The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-18

The Recent Massacre Near Bayamo-Lette
from the Victims to tho Foreign COnsuls.

The Recent Massacre Near BayamO-Letter
from the Victims TO tho Foreign COnsuis.
WASHING TON, Oct II, 1869.
The following paper is a translation OF a document
forwarded TO the Department OF State by one Of the
United States consular officers In Cuba. The per-
whose names ap pended to the petition
were among those who were afterwards shot at jig
PRISON or SANTIAGO DE CuBA,(
July 29-S:30 z. M.
To THE CONsUIS OF ENGLAND, FRANCE PRUSSIA
AND THE UNITED STATE5:-
GENTLEMEN--A person IN citizens dress, who. as
he said, adJutant, this day verbally directed
us to prepare TO 60 as prisoners to Manzanilo, IN
accordance with superior orders. This announce
OF General Cabaler0 de Rodas, be arrested
mere suspicion, and In case Of there being gu III
cien the arrest shall be made after due verbal
process, after due verbal process by placing the
presumptve offenders at the disposal OF the Captain
General; that IL, IN cases Of political offences. Sew
eral or us were put upon trial some days since
the supposition that we were guilty OF The crime OF
high treason ana these proceedings having been
instituted the government attorney was OF the
the associate judge twho IN Spanish courts, is the
responsible one) agreed; hereupon the Governor
General OF this department, although complying
with the letter OF this decision, demanded bail OF the
accused. thereby showing an inconsistency which
can be justified neither by the keenest reasoning nor
by any sophistry or subtety OF Interpretation.
Others were yesterday morning placed In solitary
confinement, without any reason for their arrest
being assigned, or grounds stated for the order
OF their departure, and even without due form OF
law, winch requires such thing to be done by the
attorney OF the government ana not by person IN
citizens dress. The person delivering the message
presented 1t polite and delicate mark OF atten
Xsenc n de- Asencio Bueno CoIlSzo ana Andres w.
lasana-are awaiting aroply to letters Of inquiry
which are said to have been sent TO the military
authorities OF Bayamo The cases OF these persons
were originally under the Jurisdiction OF the Cover
nor General OF this department 1t Is, therefore,
ncy Which removes them from the Judge
to whom the trial OF their cases belongs.
Is panay violation Of the order order
we, the prisoners, should have been placed at his
disposal, u due account OF the proceedings being
sent to him or we gong In person TO Havana Such
legal nformalities the neglect OF 30 many requisites,
such haste for our departure, such mystery regard
ing Its cause, the many rumors which momentarily
reach our ears, overwhelming US with grief and
causing bitter tears to be shed by tender and viru
GUS families who have no protection IN the world
but that OF their fathers, brothers and klnsmen who
to-day are thrust INTO prison, tomorrow to DO ex-
posed to q hazardous journey, to the perls OF a
causing fearful ravages throughout the counry-aIi
these things have caused dreadful apprehension
70 arise In our minds as to what WIN DO our rate ana
that Of our Manifestations poor defenceess families
now overwhelmed with such profound sorrow.
This apprehension has Increased since we nave been
informed that our destination II not TO DO Man.
zano. but that we shall thence go on through an
uninhabited region TO Bayamo, distance OF four
teen leagues, over o road which. rs you are aware.
IS IN q most wretched condition; and this apprehen-
sion il converted into horrible fear when we call
to mind that Imprisonment WIN tle circumstances
OF which you acquainted; That deed which, had
lts full intent been carried out would have deprived
several innocent men OF their lives, men whose
removal was wrapped IN mystery like our own; ana
this fear Is converted into terrible reality when
reject that In lonely region IN the midst OF q civil
newer Been proved. nav meet our death from an
attack an encounter, simple skirmish, mere sus-
pci0n arising against those having US IN charge; for
then there would be nothing contrary to the laws OF
war now prevailing on this Island.
We do not fear the sentence OF the authorities;
we do not fear to stand before any tribunals we do
nor the ISLANDERS so freely circulated against
US for the crime Of daring to , 1e LIBERALS q being
raised at Acoea; OF enthusiastically rejoicing at the
September Victories. We do not lear tho accusations
10 carefully prepared for our destructon do not
fear prosecutions; but this word has no place the
Spain OF to-day, for that spain has guaranteed ind-
vdual rights mas abolished inqusitorlal power, has
put stop TO the wreaking OF private vengeance and
party anlmosities; has closed the door TO despotsm
has forever crushed secret proceedings and nrgues
and has declared that the shedding Of blood must
cease. That SPAN has told US through the lips OF
Caballero dc Rodas two words which give comfort
TO our souls and encourage US 10 hold fast to our
sacred principles, VIZ, justice and morality. she
has told besides that the complaints OF the Door
est aborers shall DO heard as well as those OF the
Would to God that we were In Havana; would TO
God that We were In Madrid. We would then ask
audience OF the Illustrious and worthy regent VI
the kingdom, and We would say TO him, 'Slr we are
dragged from our homes. we are led to PRISON, we
are mysterousy exposed to the perils OF Joorney,
In contraventon or oil law, without any regard TO
our previous record, without any regard TO
tho eject produced by these measures In
tho public opinion, without any regard TO the roans
the tears the sorrows OF distinguished families ana
OF the people at large; deign to grant us justice"
And the lustrious victor or Acolca would grant ~;
ne would not expose US TO the perils Of q Journey
nor would he he deaf to our prayers IIe ~ u gener
Gus and great son OF the people, aud the representa-
tive OF a democratic nation and would severely pun
ish tue uphodcrs OF such tespotsm, which Is q c.n
ker worm TO spanish influence IN this island Whhl
We do fear Ii, 10 speak frankly and plainly, that we
shall perish on tue road Other by the bullets o the
epidemic or by the deep horrible aud indescrio bic
horrors and apprchensions which have nssa'lei W.
since the history OF certain deeds has been inaie
known 70 us. .