The New York herald., 1870-01-12

cruelty murdered. with o fornntv Of trial that
ruy forth In the despatch OF Mr.. Philips copy
OF which ~ enclosed, that IL IL needless sor me, tn
tins connection. TO do more tnan refer TO u. on tne
receipt or TINS Information the President directed
Admiral Hon 10 proceed at once TO santiago dc
Cuba. and TO investigate the case IN person. by
direction OF the President Dr. Phillips despatch was
also on the same day read to MIR. Roberts by MIR. Da
Wis and that gentleman, on hearing IT, assured MIR.
DAVIS that ha would inquire into the case and THAT
proper compensation should be made by the Span
isii government TO the family OF MIR. Speaxman.
A few days aiterward another despatch was
received from Mir. Phillips, copy OF which S en-.
closed. containing m account OF the execution OF
Albert Wyeth another American Citizen under CIR
cumstances OF equal barbarity and cruelty. For
the details OF Ghis also, refer you 10 the COnsul's
despatch, conilning myself IN this connection to
calling your attention 70 the iact that Mr Wyeth's
assertions 0i his own innocence. Admiral Hon,
upon tho receipt OF his lnstractioas sailed
as possible Tor Santiago dc Cu0a ard arrived there
on the IlIh OF july with the flagship, the steamship
Gettysburg, and monitor Centaur. lie proceeded NJ
once 10 make thorough investigation Of these
cases, and reported III detail to The Navy Depart
ment, with full enclosures. copies OF all wllcn
are enclosed, IN support OF the conclusions to which
he arrived. Those CONCLUSIONS are "that these
men were cruelty murdered, owing entirely
TO tho weakness or the Spanish Olicjal ut
THIS CITY lsantiago dc Cuba, IN yielding to
the demands OF the Catalan volunteers. aud In
miscQnstruing or acting upon the crdei decree OF
the Gath OF March, 1885," In TINS opinion and in che
forcibie language In which 1t expressed the Presl
dent fully concurs. You are accordingly Instructed
to demand OF the Spanish government full repara-
ton 10 the families or representatives OF Charles
Speakman and or Albert Wyeth for their murder by
the spanish authorities, 80 tar pecuniary cOmpen
sation can make reparation therefor. You will oD-
serve, also, that Admiral Hon says that Great
Britains laws OF ctzenslip have enabled her to OBJ
tain from Spain the entire revocation or thus proca-
nation, which fact seems to be known and observed
by the SpaniArds throughout the island, and GER
talniy gives British subjects greater consideration
when captured or wrecked upon the Cuban coast" /"
do not know what peculiarly IN the British laws
Admiral HofY refers 10. You will however, call the
attention Of the spanish Minister Tor Foreign Affairs
10 this fact and win say that we shall expect citi.
OF the United States TO be treated with much
consideration and TO enjoy as broad rights as the
citizens OF any other country.
You Will aso III the name Of the President,
sOemnly protest against any longer carrying on
tins war in Cuba III Ghis barbarOus way. For now
nearly year the Insurgents have maintained them
Catalan volunteers have been able TO put into the
field against them. In the Judgment OF the Presi-
dent in which believe the whole civilized world
Will coincide, the time mas come when this struggle
should be carried on IN more humane way. TO
taken with arms IN their hands Is IN accordance
with the customs Of the Christian world. THIS
country s deeply Interested IN the proper
cuba are 80 many and so intimate that
we cannot regard THIS struggle, IN all Its details
with anything but intense interest. Our earnest
wish has been and Is to do our whole duty as q
neutral nation towards Spain IN thIs emergency.
Feeling thar we have done SO, that under clrcum-
laws and maintained our neutrality, we think that
We have right ON our part TO INSIST that SPAN
HD4L carry Oh ILLS war AeFeaIJeF Ia u MANNER more
lii accordance with the humane ana Christian sentt-
mcnt 0f the age.
DIR. SickIes to Mr.. Fish.
SEPTEMBER 8, 1862
have the honor to forward to you q copy OF my
note TO Mr. Becerra, the Minister or state ad M
ter'in. IN relation 20 Charles Speakman and Albert
ther execution Of your Instructions No. TO- i have.
IN the same communication formally protested
against these deplorable excesses, demanding In the
name OF humanity. that the war In CUBA, ir pro-
onged, shall not be conducted in disregard Of the
customs ana usases Of Christian nations
Mr. Sicklss to tho Minister Of state.
Under date Of Madrid, September 9, 1859, Mr..
Scklcs writes TO the Spanish Foreign Secre-
tary about thus matter, and after having
Fsn's letter OF August 10, continues az fOilows:-
appears from these Official reports and the accom-
panying documents that Charles Speakman. citi-
zen OF the United States, residing In Aurora, Ind.
where he has wife and child, being by occupation
sailor, about. the end Of April shipped as seaman
on board the schooner Grapesh0t OF New YORK,
signing articles for Falmouth, in Jamaica, In good
fatn Knowing nothing OF the objects of the voyage.
Wnile lying III The lower bay Of New York the ing
boat which was to Tow the Grapeshot TO
rived at Midnight bringing some liIty armed CuDans
with a considerable supply OF muntions OF war.
SpeaKma objected TO continuing the voyage and
desired to return the city In the propeller; but the
captain assured MIN that, although he mad taken the
Cnbans on board he would not FISK his vessel by vt
tempting 10 run the Spanish blockade, but would
proceed at once to Falmouth, land the CuDans ana
go for cargo OF fruit. When oil Cape Maysi the
Cubans tork charge OF the vessel ran her ashore aud
disembarked.
Speakman who had had q quarrel with the cap
tain about the engagement was forciply put on
shore with the CuDans. They were soon attacked
by Lhe Spanish troops routed and dispersed, Speak
man taxing no part III the dght. lie took the first
opportunity to give himself up to the Spanish
authorties and the 10th OF June was brought to
Santiago, subjected 10 private examination before
the fiscal, In the presence OF an interpreter and con-
demned TO death Immediately. Tie Consul OF the
United States made application to the Governor OF
the place by letter to grant repreye OF few days TO
enable Speaknan to obtain from Jamaica the proofs
10 establish his innocence The letter OF the
Consul W as never answered. He then, IN company
with the English viceConsul, made . personal ap.
that his orders were positive ailudlng to Captain
General Dulce's proclamation of the 24th OF March,
1859, and added tiat owing TO the dlssenSlOnS pre-
vallng in the Spanish forces the dissatisfaction OF
the Catalan volunteers and the danger OF counter
revolution against himself 1t would be entirely lin.
possible TO grant even short repreve Consequently
SpeaKman was executed on the morning Of the t7;h
June, within fourteen hours after he was brought
reports Of the Acting United States Consul Dr. Pint
lips, Admiral Hon. and the dying statements Of
Speakman, and of those VINO were executed VITA
him. who united IN declaring hi5 innocence OF all
IN the objects OF the expedition.
And further appears that Albert Wysth. OF Penn
young man OF only twenty years OF aye
and very respectfully connected, sailed i'll the
schooner GrapeshOt FOR Falmouth. Jamaica, Tor the
benefit Of his health. On learning the real destna-
ton 0l the schooner ne theoretically protested
against taking part in the enterprise When the
expedition dlsemparked he was forced to land with
render himself TO the spanish authorities. He was
shot On the 2st oil June and 30 far be ascer-
tained without even the pretense Of trial. The act
ing Consul Of the United States In personal inte.-
view with the Governor, urged in vain the extreme
youth OF the prisoner his respectable social stand
ing, and his innocence OF any criminal lntenL as
for communication or reprleve OF the sentence
Admiral Hon In his report to the Navy Depart
ment, which Is accompanied oy all the evidence
necessary to support ms conclusions declares that
these men were sacrificed through 1.-The weakness
OF the Spanish official ut this city Santiago de CuDa
IN yielding to the demands OF the Catalan volun.
teers and IN misconstruing or acting upon The crde
decree OF the 24th OF March, 1862 In this opinion,
and In the fOrcibe languag In which 1t Is expressed
the President fully c0ncuts. aud tue undersigned iS
instructed 10 demand or the Spanish government
full IeparatOn to DO maze to the families or repre-.
ssntatives OF the said Charles Speakman ana Albert
Wyeth, In so lar as pecuniary compensation can
make reparatOn for these uniastiaabie nomicides.
It also appears by the report Of Admiral Hon tnat
Great Britain has been enabled to obtain from SPAN
tue entire revocation OF the proclamation Of 24th
March, 1859, WHICH fact seems TO be known and oh.
served by the Spanish authorities throughout the
island, aud certainly gives British subjects greater
consideration when captured wrecked upon the
Cnbaa coast" The Undersigned in bringing this
circumstance to the notice OF the Minister OF State
instructed to say that the United States claim for