The New York herald., 1872-12-30
would ns given to my passing rsel, through the

W 4 r
to carry out the mission which accepted IN New
York, even should the special protection which
seek be refused to me- Should the event-whicn
you foresee as among the contingencies OF that
mission--unfortunatey befal me. then, indeed, the
authorities are likely to be censured for not
having granted tho facilities OF the case,
and for having, by their refusal OF
. safe conduct, gwen my undertaking an
appearance OF hostility, which In reality
is foreign TO It. would not have dwelt on Q
question that, after ALL Is Of 30 strictly personal
nature, but for the emphasis Your Excellency LAID
on this point during our interview.
2 The broader and more important considerations
which must influence Your Excellency's nnai
decision are those which touch tt 6a
THE HONOR AND THE INTEREST OF SPAIN.
II is impossible TO ignore the fact that the civil
ized world desires to know how It happens that an
insurrection which the Spanish authorities pro-
claim to be of no Importance continues unsup-
pressed after four years Of armed connict II, a.
we have been assured, the insurrection has been
reduced to the last extremity, and has no longer
the sympathy Of any large class OF this community
II is for the interest Of spain that the representa-
ttvsof r&1 teFe4e e &
AN MDBPRNDENT AND NEUTRAL JOURNAL
should be able to place before the world an nm
biased statement OF the Cuban question. The In
surgents, through their sympathizcrs in New York,
have already promised to the HERALD CORE.
spondent every protection and facility once he
enters their lines, and II the Spanish authorities
refuse on their part to allow the examination to
be made, or II they throw obstacles In the
way the universal public opinion win argue that
they nave some interested motive for the adoption
Of such . course. The fact that Mr.. Henderson,
through
puAu ccrNA ArvON IN nj
abandoned his post will not be accepted as sum-
cent explanation In view Of the TACT that one Ofthc
editors Of the HERALD has presented. himself to
take the abandoned post.
For myself have but one DESIRE and that is
TO FULFIL noNoRABLY THE MISSION
entrusted to me. ! wish to leave no effort untrled
to obtain all the assistance ana information that
win help me to form correct Judgment before
record 1t. II the authorities by the appearance Of
discouragng my mission, prevent me from obtain
ing that full and broad view Of the situation which
1t is my wish and aim to obtain, they must not
blame me II my conclusions and deduc-
tons become partial from the want OF that
very information which they refuse me the
facilities to acquire. Before my departure from
New York telegram was received by Mr.. Bennett
from Admiral Polo, the Spanish Minister at Wash
ington, promising that he would use his good
Offices with Your Exceency to procure for me the
assistance Of the authorities In Cuba.
Requesting the honor Of an early reply beg to
subscribe myself Your Excellency's obedient
servant, JAMES J. O'KELLY.
THE cAPTAIN-GENERAL's REPLY.
HAVANA, Dec. "a, 1872
SR. DON JAMES J. O'KELLY:-
DEAR SIR have received your polite letter
which you have been pleased to direct under date OF
the I'd instant inviting me to reconsider the causes
which hinder me from granting you safe con-
duct to visit the enemy's camp, which you solicited
In the interview which had the pleasure to con-
cedc to you. 1t Is easy to understand how pcrti.
nent these reasons must appear to me when they
OVERCOME MY DESIRE TO GRANT YOUR WISHES.
AS you remark opp0rtunely. in your letter, this
is an affair Of personal nature and easily granted
their legitimate representatives deny or con-
cede permission mot to go and remain In
the enemy's camp-a thing against the es-
tablished practices Of war-but what is
much more generally observed and regular) to
permit In their own army the presence Of foreign
ers with q private or official character. The de.
nial when IL is given, does not give cause fol- un-
favorable interpretations as you state in your let
ter because then the government OF
THE UNITED STATES WOULD NOT HAVE DENIED
its permission, as 1t did, In the last civil war to
Spanish officers to visit the federal camps when
solicited by the representative OF the Spanish ma
tion In Washington. 1t was not then the object to
20 to the Confederate camps to declare to the world
II the Generals and Confederate authorities circu-
lated false facts or II their assertions were worthy
Of credit, as you say you pretend to do In respect
to as by order OF the proprietor Of the New YORK
HERALD, but solely to study professionally the in
teresting incidents Of that war.
Such prctensions, so clearly manifested, cannot
by any means be assented to by the first authority
OF this island, nor can he sanction so
OFFENSIVE AND UNFoUNDED DOUBT.
The pretensions OF Mr. Henderson were less alb
solute, and, therefore, granted him the permis-
sion to accompany our columns, and even to visit
some OF the rebel bands, as he did In one OF the
two departments not yet pacified. But for mo-
tves which Mr. Henderson undoubtedly under
stands, Notwithstanding the attentions he was the
object OF as guest and subject Of friendly gov
ernment, he thought himself In danger when he
ENJOYED THE MOST PERfECr SECURITY
under the banner Of Spain, and this belief appears
to be sufficient cause to excite against the authori
ties and respectable corporations public opinion
attributing to them the intention to exercise over
the opinions and conduct OF Mr.. Henderson O re-
prehensible pressure. What would 1t have been
II he had fallen victim to the undisciplined hordes
to which to-day the insurrection is reduced, or IT.
in some encounter, Spanish soldier had not
recognized him as pacific and neutral person.
Fortunately, Mr.. Henderson finds himself
in his country, and he can say what he ought to,
or wishes, but
SECOND REHEARSAL CANNOT BE PERMITTED,
nor your unusual pretensions, nor admitting your
good faith) the species OF violence which appar.
emily You intend to exercise in some OF the para
graphs OF your letter, ga In Spain, whatever has
the air Of intimidation is without precedent.
As have already had the pleasure to tell you
verbally you will be furnished with the competent
passport
TO TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND,
as could be done by any Spanish subject or
stranger; and be assured that you will not be mo-
Tested nor win your trip be fruitless, as in our
town, you can acquire news relating TO the in
surrection by consulting the thousands Of the sur
rendered who tight in our ranks or live quietly in