Newspaper Page Text
iCnniitinmanaliat fc JUpblir.
JAMES GARDNER, JR., )
and > Editor*.
JAMES M. SMTTHE, )
Caban Nrw«.
The U. S. Mail Steamship Empire City, ar
rived at H-w-Orleans. Saturday night, from Ha
vana, which she left on the night of the 17th.—
All was quiet in Cuba. Among the papers re
ceived by this arrival, is the following circular
issued, at the instance of the American prison
ers. 1 7 Mr. John Thrasher, editor of the Faro
Industna' giving a true statement of their situ
ation, names, &c.
We .jJ;o append two cards issued by the pris
qp*» themselves, in reference to the treatment
ti**,. ;ve received.
The e documents possess intense interest.
Caban Circular.
Havana, Sept. 11th, 1851.
iJtving been requested by a very large portion
oftbe prisoners of the Cuba Expedition to write
to t. <eir friends informing them of their situation
and good health, I have thought it best to throw
my observations, which must necessarily be
'general in their principal features, into the form
of a circular, and I have now the honor to address
you this at the request of all the prisoners.
The prisoners were brought to this city in
Srfferent lots, and as last as they arrived were
shaved of their hair, chained two together, and
placed all in one long saloon in the prison. Dur
ing the first few days it was exceedingly diffi
cult to obtain permission to visit them. The
British Consul, Joseph T. Crawford, Esq., did so
on the first day, and accompanied by his Secreta
ry, Mr. W. Sidney Smith, who has never ceased
in his exertions in their behalf, gave them the
first cheering words. On the next day. Mr.
Allen F. Owen, the American consul, asked for,
and obtained permission, and, as I was subse
quently informed by the prisoners, told them that
" the President had proclaimed them without the
pale of the law, and he could do nothing for
them.” During several days our only means of
contributing to the amelioration of their condi
tion was through Mr. Smith, who continued to
visit them twice daily, taking them small com
forts, and speaking in their behalf, by which
means he improved in a very great degree their
situation, lie took up a subscription among the
English residents tor the purpose of providing
extra clothing for those who were British sub
jects, and the Secretary of the German Society,
in consequence of receiving a letter from Capt.
Schlicht, went to see them and subsequently
provided for the Germans in the same manner
that the English Consul had provided for his
countrymen.
1 was not able to obtain permission to see
them until Friday Oth inst., at noon, when I
found that twenty-five had that morning been
sent to the hospital, and that some few of the
others had had their chains taken off, for what
reason 1 could not learn. The Americans, and
some others, I found very much dispirited, in
consequence of the language Mr. Owen had held
to them, and from seeing others so much better
cared lor, and I did what I could te cheer them,
assuring them I would do my utmost to have
them as well provided for as their more fortunate
companions had been.
On leaving the prison I spoke to several of my
friends about raising funds tor the prisoners, and
so great was the interest shown in their behalf
that our efforts were crowned with the utmost
success. 11 >ke this occasion to pay a just tribute
to those Cuban gentleman who so generously
provided me with funds, without which my ef
lorts would have been barren, and also to many
American friends who contributed not only
money, but personal efforts; I would gladly
mention names, but the impossibility of naming
all would render the particularising of a few ap
parently invidious, and l will therefore cite but
two, who are connected with the press; these
are Mr. White, of the N. Y. Courier and Enqui
rer, and Mr. Callahan, of the N. O. Picayune ; to
these gentlemen, in company with many otheis,
much praise is due.
On Saturday the prisoners received several
visits and a sum of money wherewith to pur
chase bread. Mr. Smith also took to them se
gars anil other comforts. On Sunday morning
their chains were taken off, they were allowed
to bathe, and I was enabled to send them their
extra clothing. They were in excellent spirits,
and as many of their countrymen had obtained
permission to visit them, and they found that
they were not abandoned by their friends, they
were quite gay. Writing materials were to-day
allowed them at the request of Mr. Smith, and
many of them wrote to their homes. They all
received a small sum of money to purchase such
trilles as they might limey ; on this day they re
ceived information that Com. Parker was not
altowed to see them, which they regretted ex
ceedingly, and during the afternoon they had a
short visit from Mr. Owen.
On Monday, as they were to embark early-,
Mr. Smith, Mr. Callahan and myself visited
them before d ty; they had coffee and bread be
fore going on board. Besides what they receiv
ed irotn the Government, each man had a pea
jacket, a woollen shirt, a pair of pants, a pair of
stockings, and a tin pot; and on board ship were
placed for their use, 825 lb. chocolate, two boxes
tobacco, two barrels vinegar, and some small
stores, and the sum of $735 was placed in the
hands of Capt. Ortiz of the Primera de Guate
mala, for general distribution on their arrival at
the port of destination. Besides this the Ger
man Society gave Capt. Ortiz $136 for the Ger
mans and several persons left sums lor individu
als. They embarked in high spirits and excel
lent health, all desiring a most affectionate fare
well to be sent to their friends with assurances
of their high hopes fora speedy release. Those
who remain here awaiting ship will follow their
companions in a few days.
Those who are in the hospital are all doing
well, and are very well cared for by every one
around them. They also have been allowed
writing materials and their friends will probably
receive letters from them as early as they may
receive this. The Captain-General has been
very considerate aud kind in his orders, relative
to both sick and well, and their attendants ap.d
jailors have treated them with much considera
tion.
In regard to exertions for their liberation, I
would suggest to you some prompt effort in their
behalf, through the American Minister at Mad
rid, for the reason that the proximate accouche
ment of the Queen will afford a most advanta
geous opportunity to grant them all a free par
don, and the liberation of three here, would in
duce us to suppose that a like boon might be ob
tained for all.
I have the honor to be, respectfully,
Your very ob’t. serv ; t,
J. S. THRASHER.
List of prisoners brought to Havana from the
late Cuban Expedition under the command of
Gen. Narciso Lopez, and final disposition of them
as far as known, viz:
Sent to Spain by the tteamer Itabel la Catolica.
Charles A Downer. Mobile,
J St Levy. Quebec.
JD Hughes. New Orleans.
F D Hough. New Albany, Ind.
Sow to Spain by the ship Vent us.
Louis Scblessinger. Hunearv.
R H McDonald. Mobile.
J Norris 3. Mobile.
D E DeWolf. Mobile.
H J Thomason. Mobile.
A R Wier. Mobile.
Sent to Spain by thip Primera de Guatemala.
Joaquin Casanova, New Orleans.
Wm H McKinsey, Bardstown, Ky.
Daniel Seay, New Orleans.
J D Baker, do.
Louis Bauder, Germany.
Benj F Hanna, Baltimore.
J G Dwin, New Orleans.
D Q Rousseau, do.
OabanNsws.
WmH Craft, Memphis, Tenn.
J G Bush, New Orleans.
T A Simpson, Philadelphia.
W W Inslee, New Orleans.
J T Pruitt, Alabama.
Thos Hilton, Washington, D. C.
W L Wilkinson, Mobile.
M Mullen, St Louis.
P Lacoste, New Orleans.
Patrick Coleman, do.
M L Hefron, New York.
James Brady, Galena, 111.,
Henry Schmidt, New Orleans.
George Foster, do.
Jas Chapman, Charleston.
C Cook, Alabama.
C Noll, Berlin.
Henry B Hart, Petersburg, Va.
Jacob Faust, St Louis.
Patrick McGrath, New Orleans.
Charles J Daily, do.
S H Purnell, do.
Conrad Tailor, Berlin.
Thos Denton, New Orleans.
C A McMurray, Baltimore
Antonio Hernandez, Havana.
Elias J Otis, Depotville, New York.
Bernard Allen, St. Louis.
Julio Chassagne, Havana.
Thos H Lee, New Orleans.
George Metcalf, Ireland.
H B Metcalf, do
Robt M Grider, New Orleans.
M K Scott, Kentucky.
Geo R Wilson, Philadelphia.
William H Vaughn, Kentucky.
William H Cameron, Jeff. County, Va.
Peter McMullen, Ireland.
John Denton, New York.
Franklin P Boyd, do.
ThosßMunroe, Mississippi.
Edward Weiss, Germany.
Robt Schutz, Prussia.
C Sckneck, Baden.
Geo Holdship, St. Louis.
Jas H Hearsey, New Orleans.
Luke Scully, do.
William Wilson, do.
Thos Daily, do.
Jas M Wilson, do.
Henry Saile, Liverpool.
Wm K Hurd, New Orleans.
G Bontila, Hungary.
Slezinger, do.
Radnitz, do.
Curmeli, do.
Petrie, do.
Kercker, do.
Vioag, do.
Ngikos, do.
Aidelar, do.
Michaol Biro, Austria.
David Winborn, Mississippi.
Thos Hudnall, New Orleans.
H Von Schlicht, Berlin.
J B Gunst, New Orleans.
Timothy K Henry, Natchez.
Howard Purnell,
John McKinnie,
E Q Bell, New Orleans.
John Carter,
Bernard McCabe, Ireland.
John Murphy, do.
Hiram West, Spring Valley, Ohio.
C Sebring,
Jas Hatpin,
Benj Gilman, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Edward Crissy,
Jas Smith,
Hudson Nelson,
A R Ludwig, New Orleans.
Charles Harrison, do.
Victor Duprat, do.
Henry Stanmyre, do.
George Quick, Philadelphia.
Henry McHenry, New Orleans.
Jas D Donnelly, PotUville, Pa.
Chas Giblin, Cincinnati, Ohio.
John Murtigh, Philadelphia.
Thos McClelland, Ireland.
John McKneiss, Pittsburg.
Pedro M Lopez, Venezuela.
Pedro Velazco, Cuba, servent of Lopez.
Manuel Fleury, Cuba.
Jacob Harbele, Germany.
Louis Hackel, Swiss.
Manuel Martinez, Havana.
F A Laine, Cuba.
F C Mahan, Danville. Ky.
John Boswell, Baltimore.
W L Constantine, Canada.
Wm Cousans, Lincoln, Eng.
H Schmidt, Saxony.
Conrad Bechtold, Prussia.
Jas Oglevie, New Orleans.
Harvey Williams, do.
John Cooper;
Jas B Fagin, Ohio.
Waiting thip at Havana.
C J Duffy, New Orleans.
Thos Little, Mobile.
Michael Geiger, New Orleans.
JohuD Brown,
George S Berry, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Asher J. Phillips, New Orleans.
Jacob Jessert,
Thos Bryan,
John Bachilder, New Orleans.
John Brown,
In the Hospital, all doing tveil.
A L Alfonso, Cuba, arm.
Manuel Aragon leg.
J B Ruvira, Galicia, leg.
Preston Essex, St Louis, leg slight.
Robt H Ellis, Washington, D C. left hand.
John Cline, N Orleans, thigh, slight.
N. Port, Prussia, finger, slight.
John N Davis, N Orleans, shoulder, slight.
James Fiddes, Malta, both legs.
J G Porter, Dublin, breast and arm, slight.
G. Richardson, N Orleans, arm, slight.
F Curvia, Havana, arm.
M J Keenan, Mobile, finger, slight.
John Talbot, N Orleans, hand, slight.
Jose Douvren, Cuba, side, slight.
Wilson A Rieves, Miss, leg, slight.
Wm Losner, Saxony, finger.
Thos McNeil, Lumpkin Co. Ga., sick.
Henry Jasper, Saxony, foot, slight.
L Palanka, Hungary, grazed slight.
Wm Miller, Northampton Eng. finger slight,
J B Weymouth, Nashville, Tenn. hand slight
John Robinson, England, side, slight.
Geo Edgerton, Natchez, sick.
N Lopez, executed; P. S. Van Vechten, deliv
ered to Capt. Platte; Andrae Gonzalez, in prison;
Somers, N Orleans, pardoned: Capt. Lopez, in
prison; Julio Herren, detained here; J. A. Kelly,
and H S Haynes, liberated.
Havana City Prison, September 7, 1851.
We, the undersigned officers and men, now in
carcerated in the City Prison of Havana, on ac
count of our participation in the late expedition
against the island of Cuba, under command of
General Lopez, being about to embark for Spain,
cannot refrain from expressing our heartfelt
gratitude to Mr. Joseph T. Crawford, Consul-
General o fHer Britannic Majesty,and to Mr. W.
Sidney Smith, British Consulate at this place.
To Mr. J. S. Thrasher, and to the American and
British citizens of Havana generally, we also owe
a debt of deep and lasting gratitude. To them
we owe all, for by their kindness and generosity
we have been able to overcome many of the dif
ficulties and sufferings we should have other
wise undergone. To them we owe a debt of
gratitude we would willingly express by words,
but language fails us; hoping, however, that
should we be spared to return to our homes, we
may have the opportunity of repaying, in part,
the debt we owe. Should such not be the case,
we sincerely pray that God, the ruler of the
universe and lover of good acts, may repay them,
by bestowing upon them in this world all the
blessings a divine providence can bestow, and,
after death, [sgned] by a reward more lasting
still—life eternal.
Captain Robt. H. Ellis, Lieutenant E. H. Me- J
Donald, Lieutenant David Winborn, Major Louis
Slessinger, Captain R. H. Grider, Lieutenant J.
D. Baker, and one hundred and thirty-three
others.
Havana City Prison, Sept. 7, 1851.
We, the undersigned, prisoners incarcerated
in the city prison of Havana, on acccount of our
connection with the late Cuban expedition, un
der the command of Gen. Lopez, cannot with
hold an expression of our feelings towards the
American Consul—Mr. Allen Owen, of Georgia
—now at this place, t ince our arrival at this
place, he has honored us once with his presence,
but since that time, although repeatedly solicited,
has always steadily refused to revisit us, either
in his private or official capacity. Placed as
we are, we feel an act of this kind far more
deeply than if otherwise circumstanced. How
to account for it we know not, but can only as
cribe it to that wrost of all feelings—inhumanity
—or that more degrading still—cowardice.
We write this so that our fellow-countrymen
at home may know what kind of a man is placed
at the head of their afTairs at this place. [Signed,]
Robert M. Grider, Capt. Com. Company B.;
Edmund H. McDonald, First Lieut. Company
A.: Charles A. Downer, Peter Lacoste, Michael
Geiger, and others.
(From the Colum/rut Timet.]
Correspondence.
Columbus, Sept. 17th, 1851.
Mr. Forsyth:
Dear Sir: You will please publish the fol
lowing correspondence between Mr. S. W. Flour
noy and myself, which will fully explain it
self. Very respectfully.
J. T. FLEWELLEN.
Columbus, Sept. 16th, 1851.
Mr. S. W. Flournoy:
Dear Sir: I have just read your article upon
Mr. Johnson in this morning’s Enquirer, stat
ing, “that conversations which have been retail
ed in regard to his positions are not only untrue,
but have no foundation in fact .” 1 desire to know
if you have any reference to the statements
made by myself, and published in the Colum
bus Times of 13th inst.
Yours, respectfully,
J. T. FLEWELLEN.
Columbus, Sept. 16th, 1851.
Mr. Jas. T. Flewellln:
Dear Sir: I received, this morning, your
note by the hands of Mr. Echols, desiring to
know if I had reference to the statements made
by yourself in the Columbus Times of the 13th
inst., in an article in the Enquirer to-day. I
can only reply that up to this time 1 have read
no statements published by you in reference to
Mr. Johnson, and am not apprised of what you
may have said of his opinions or positions.
Respectfully, yours,
SAMUEL W. FLOURNOY.
(From the Columbus Ent/uirrr.)
Columbus, Sept. 16th, 1851.
Samuel W. Flournoy, Esq.:
Sir: I desire to know from you, explicitly,
whether you intended, in the editorial article
which appeared in the Columbus Enquirer of
this morning, underthe head “Jas. Johnson, Esq.”
to cast the slightest imputation upon the veraci
ty of my statement of the political opinions ex
pressed by Mr. Johnson in conversation with
me, as set forth in a communication dated 9th
inst., addressed to Capt. Forsyth, and published
in the Columbus Times of the 12th inst.
I am, sir, &c..
PAUL J. SEMMES.
Columbus, Sept. 16th, 1851.
Paul J. Semmes, Esq.:
Your note by the hands of Capt. Davis, has
been received, and, in answer to it, I can only
say, that previous to the publication of the ar
ticle in the Enquirer, to which you allude. I had
not read, nor have I yet seen, what you publish
ed in reference to the opinions or positions of
Mr. Johnson. So far, then, as 1 am concerned,
there can be no question ot varacity between
you and myself.
1 am, &c.,
SAMUEL W. FLOURNOY.
Columbus, Sept. 17th, 1851.
Samuel W. Flournoy, Esq.:
Sir: Your note of yesterday, in which you
disclaim any allusion in your editorial of that
day, to the statement made by myself and pub
lished in the Times of the 12th inst., is reciv
ed.
It now only remains for me to request, that
you will give the exculpation publicly in your
paper, through which I deemed (before the re
ception of your note,) an imputation on my
veracity was designed to be cast.
I am, sir, &c.,
PAUL J. SEMMES.
Columbus, Sept. 17th, 1851,
Paul J. Semmes, Esq.:
Sir: Your note ot this morning has been re
ceived. The exculpation will be given, by pub
lisliiug the correspondence between us.
Yours, respectfully,
SAMUEL W. FLOURNOY.
We find in the New York Journal of Com
merce, copied from the London Times, the fol
lowing letter addressed to that paper by the
Hon. Ashbel Smith, of Texas, now in Europe.
Dr. Smith has studied the subject with much at
tention, and is able to sustain the views which
he presents, with a strong array of argument.
To the Editor of the Times.
Sir : The true cause and origin of the whole
movement in Cuba appears to be as little under
stood on this side of the Atlantic, as the rumors
about Caban affairs are uncertain and unintelli
gible.
I beg permission to state a few facts which may
perhaps throw some light on this subject.
The movement now in progress, having for its
object a change in the political relations of Cu
be, originated in that island, and exclusively
with the Creole population of Spanish origin ;
and all of the eariy steps of that movement, such
as the pubiisation of certain articles in Ameri
can newspapers, the purchase of arms and muni
tions, and the enlisting of volunteers in different
parts of the United States for the purpose of car
rying into effect the revolutionary attempts,
were paid for by moneys raised in Cuba, and con
tributed for this very purpose by the Creole
Spaniards. As to any money that may have
been recently collected, as well as expressions of
sympathy, and other acts of co-operation on thel
part of American citizens since the Cuban con
vulsion has assumed its present magnitude, al
these, I say, have, in point of fact, nothing to do
with the origin of the movement.
The inquiry, then, naturally arises, what were
the motives and objects of the Cubans ?—and
the inquiry become the more curious as the
Spanish-American populations are supposed to
entertain no extravagant liking for their neigh
bors of a different race and religion.
The main cause of the Cuban movement is the
uncertainty of their property and the insecuiity
of their social and political condition, and even
of their lives, arising from the mischievous inter
meddling of British abolitionists with the slave
institutions of Cuba. These individuals have
continued their mischievous practices, tamper
ing with the slaves and poisoning and infuriating
their tempers against their masters, from a period
antecedent to the open outrages of Mr. Consul
Turnbull, down to the present moment. And it
is believed by the Cubans that this unwarranta
ble conduct is largely approved of in England,
and winked at by this Government. Os the cor
rectne: sos this opinion, I have nothing to say;
I merely state the belief of the most intelligent
Creoles of Cuba. They know, too, that they are
“ dependant on a power of declining rank and
feeble resources;” and they strongly apprehend
that in the event of an European war, especially
if involving an v great State of the west of Eu
rope, they would fall under the protectorate of an
European Government of gigantic power by sea
and land, and of vast resources. This apprehen
sion is a fixed idea in the Cuban mind. They
know, too, that such protectorate would insure a
speedy change in the social institutions of the
island, with the total ruin of their property. —
Under these circumstances, it will not appear
strange if the Cubans should desire to become an
integral and co-equal member of “ one of the
most vigorous States of the world,” though it be
deemed also “ one of the most aggressive a
State'that possesses the power and would have the
will, to defend Cuba against all aggressions what
ever, and to secure its citizens, whether of Span
ish or Anglo-American origin, in the possession
of their property, and against all changes in or
even meddling with their internal status, except
what they should themselves freely and sponta
neously adopt.
It is this mischievous intermeddling of English
in Cuban affairs, with a knowledge
of the weakness of the metropolitan power, and
an apprehension of thejconsequences of any war
in Western Europe, impressing on the Creoles a
sense of their insecurity, which has led them to
cast about for support in other quarters. And it
is a conviction of the truth of this charge of in
termeddling, that has roused the sympathy ani
enlisted the co-operation of numerous American
citizens.
The Cubans dislike the Americans, but they
fear British protection and British sympathy
more.
I have mentioned the main cause and the
origin of the Cuban movement; I beg to call
your attention to a minor, though not unimpor
tant source of dissatisfaction. And this leads
me to intimate that you have, perhaps, overrated
the revenues of Cuba, in stating them at $20,-
000,000. I have no means at hand of obtaining
accurate information, but I believe $13,000,000
will be found a large estimate. Os this sum
about $8,000,000 are appropriated to the expenses
of the internal administration of the island, and
, M,000,000 are withdrawn to supply the fisc
(/Spain. Now, you will not be surprised if the
: Creoles of Cuba make significant comparison be
tween $13,000,000, paid in taxes by themselves,
a population of only two-thirds of a million, all
told, black and white, and the sum only three
times as large, paid by the 25,000,000 souls of the
American Confederacy. Moreover, $5,000,000
of the 13,000,000 are withdrawn from the island,
while their neighbors expend all their revenues
among themselves. At your estimate of $20,-
i 000,000, the burden appears still more oppres
sive. Besides, the Creoles are excluded from all
high offices—these form a precious stock of
places in the gift of the metropolitan Govern
; ment to natives of Spain, who affect to regard
i the Creoles with supercilious contempt,
i You will have seen that this letter of mine has
been suggested by your article on Cuba in this
morning's Times. I beg, in conclusion, to make
a remark or two relative to your intimation that
“the hereditary rights ot the Spanish Crown are
guaranteed bv Powers which would be bound to
their duties by private interests no less than by
treaty obligations.” With most of my fellow
citizens I sincerely desire that Cuba may pre
serve its present political relations, but with a
' Government more liberal,considerably ameliorat
ed, and less extortionate on the part of Spain.
Most of us believe the acquisition of Cuba by us
to be in no degree desirable for American inter
t ests, unless circumstances force us to take pos
i session of it. 1 trust that the American Govern
ment will never lack the good taste and sense to
receive, with respect, the friendly counsels of
other Powers; but 1 feel in my own mind that
1 speak the determination of my country, in de
claring that we will not permit the “Powers” al
luded to, to interfere by force of arms in the affairs
of Cuba, or in any other home matter of the
i American continent beyond their own colonial
possessions; nor will we suffer the institutions of
Cuba to be destroyed by secret fraud or open
violence. The attempt to do so by the first
means is the true cause and origin of the present
• convulsion in Cuba; the attempt to accomplish it
by the last means would insure the incorpora
tion of Cuba into the American Union. Spain
has been counseled to abolish slavery in Cuba,
in a certain event; —taking advice and acts
of hasty relinquishment have not hitherto
been traits in the Spanish character. Per
haps, too, the American people would not con
sider themselves bound to carry into effect an
edsri of abolition, such as has been counseled. It
might be equally advisable, too, in framing such
an edict, to in lude a decree for the abolition of
serfdom in Russia, and the relation of the affairs
of the Nizam.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
Your most obedient servant,
ASHBEL SMITH, of Texas.
London, Sept. 3.
Our Consul at Havana. —The Washington
Republic has received the following letter from
Allen F. Owen, Esq. our Consul at Havana I
which it submits without comment to the con
sideration of his countrymen.
Consulate ok the United States, 1
Havana, Sept. 16, 1851. J
To the Editor of the Republic:
Sir: In your weekly issue of the 28th ult. you
do me the justice to object to my condemnation
without a hearing, and to say that I am probably
able to explain, to the satisfact ion of my coun
trymen, my omission to act relative to the exe
cution ot the prisoners who were shot here on the
16 th ult.
I do not doubt that I shall satisfy every im
partial mind that I am undeserving censure, and
that I had no opportunity of doing any thing in
behalf of the unfortunate men who met so sad a
fate.
I reside about four miles from this place: andi
not being well on the morning of the 1 6th, did
not reach my office till some time after ten
o’clock, where, for the first time, I heard of the
capture ol about fifty of the men who had come
with Lopez to this island in the steamer Pam
pero. 1 at the same time heard that the prisoners
had been tried, iound guilty, condemned, ordered
to be executed, the order for their execution sent
forward, and that they were about being remov
ed from the horbor, where they were, to the place
of execution.
Shortly afterwards, the American residing
here, who, it is said, called on me, came and men
tioned the subject to me, when I said to him that
it was too late, and that I could do nothing—
that I should not have time to get permission
and see the prisoners. Os this I felt perfectly
satisfied at the time, and I have since been con
firmed in this opinion by the highest authority
in the island, who informed me that the execu
tion, which had already been ordered before I
reached the city, would not have been postponed
fer me to have an interview with the prisoners
inasmuch as all I could have asked to be per
mitted to do had already been done by a gentle
man known to some of the prisoners, for whom
they had sent.
Soon after the American referred to left my
office, I received the information that a gentle
man known to some of the prisoners had been
sent for by them, and to him thev had delivered
the articles and messages they desired to be con
veyed to their friends. It was but a short time
afterwards that I sent to the palace of the gov
ernor and captaift general, and heard that the 1
prisoners had then been executed.
You will thus see that I had no time to act
and that it was not in my power to do any thing
for the unfortunate men who had been induced
to invade Cuba with the expectation that they
would find the whole island in a state of revolu
tion, and that they would be received with open
arms by the whole native population at least. '
The charge of indifferenee to the dreadful con- 1
dition of such a number of men. the bitterest 1
enemy I have on earth will not believe; and all f
must believe it a base falsehood and an unsound- l
ed calumny.
If it were allowable on such an occasion I *
would most solemnly declare before God that in ]
m y judgment, at the time and under the cir- <
eumstances, it was not in my power either to
have an interview with the prisoners, or to have
done any thing in their behalf. s
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. F. OWEN. i
AUGUSTA, GA.
SUNDAY MORNING, SEPT. 28:
THE LARGEST CIRCULATION THE STATi
For Governor.
CHARLES J. MCDONALD.
[ District For Congress.
I.—JOS. W. JACKSON, of Chatham.
2 HENRY L. BENNING, of Muscogee.
3 DAVID J. BAILEY, of Butt*.
i 4—JOHN D. STELL, of Fayette.
* S.—WILLIAM H. STILES, of Cass.
1 6— THOMAS P. JONES, of Newton.
[ 7—DAVID W. LEWIS, of Hancock.
> B—ROBERT MeMILLAN, of Elbert,
t
Representatives for Richmond County.
1 WILLIAM R. FLEMING,
i WM. SCHLEY.
T The Campbell’s are Coining,
r We see by the Charleston papers, that West
and Peel open in that city on Monday evening.
I We hope they will favor us with a visit.
* Ventriloquism, Ac.
| It has been sometime since our citizeus have
been favored with any thing in the way of
y amusements. They will, on Monday evening,
) have an opportunity of witnessing the perform
-1 ances of Mr. Lee, at Concert Hall, who will give
J a specimen of bis art in Magic and Ventrilo
c quism.
Chatham County.
The Hon. Thos. Purse has been nominated by
l the Southern Rights Party of Chatham county,
i as their candidate for the Senate; and G. P. Har
-8 rison and Dr. J. P. Scriven for the House.
The Constitutional Union Party have nomi
-5 nated J. W. Anderson for the Senate, and Judge
■ Henry and F. S. Bartow, for the House,
j Very Little.
f “ The anticipated pleasure was, however, in
. some degree disappointed by the non-ap|iear-
I ance of those speakers of the opposition, who
bad been invited, and who it was fondly hoped
, would be present, to participate in the discussion.
, None of them came, however, nor were they
, heard from, except, Col. McMillan, the disunion
■ candidate tor Congress, who sent to the Com
. mittee a certificate of his physician, that he was
\ unable to attend.
j “ Whether the distinguished gentleman (!)
r imagined that it was a grand court of inquiry, to
. pass upon his sins of commission or omission
t during the canvass, and deemed a certificate ne
. cessary to excuse his non-appearance, we know
not, certain it is, however, the certificate was
, produced and read. Rather an unfortunate se
. quel to the boasted desire of the disunionists in
. this city, to enter into the list of free discussion.”
The above paragraphs we clip from the Chroni
> c/e of Saturday morning, noticing the Barbacue
‘ given to Mr. Toombs on Friday last.
Our readers are well acquainted with the fact,
. that Col. McMillan recents met with a serious ac
> cident, (having been thrown from his buggy)
j which has confined him at home. He was writ
s ten to by one ot the editors of this paper, re
questing his attendance at the above meeting,
t and the letter referred to by the Chronicle, (not
' a certificate) was from his attending physician
. in answer, with a request that the cause of his
absence would be communicated to the Chair
i man of the Committee on Invitations of the Con
| stitutional Union party, which was done.
The slur thrown out by the Chronicle, is in keep
ing with the general tone of that paper, and we
1 are willing to let it go for what it is worth.—
That paper it in the habit of throwing stones, and
f its editor is noted as a good dodger when stones
i are throw in return. Those who heard Col.
McMillan's address on his recent visit to this
countv, will do him the justice to say that he is
able to cope, in argument, with any speaker on
the opposite side. He has met Messrs. Cobbi
Toombs and Stephens, three of their great guns’
on the stump, and these gentlemen, we feel assur
ed, will do him the justice to say, that he is a foe
whose abilities are not to be treated lightly in
debate, and whose deportment has al ways been
gentlemanly and courteous.
This, we think, is more than can be said of the
editor of the Chronicle, by its readers.
Stop Thief! Stop Thief!!
i We can scarcely pick up a Constitutional
Union paper but we find, in glaring letters, a
caution to their readers to look out for spurious
, documents just before the election. This cry is
only to be found in Constitutional Union papers,
and our advice to our friends is, whenever you
find a chap ahead of the crowd, hallooing Stop
Thief! lay your hands on him. He is the man.
Mr. Oobb and the Central Bank.
The following letter, from a gentleman in
Milledgeville, in relation to Mr. Cobb’s indebt
edness to the Central Bank, we lay before our
readers, this morning, without further remark
than ho say it is from a reliable source, and we
hopeill silence those Constitutional Union pa
pers, in this State, which have raised a cry against
McDonald, for the mismanagement of the above
institution while in office. Many such custom
ers, as Mr. Cobb is proved to have been to that
institution, would break or cripple the best bank
ing institutions in the State. Mr. Cobb has the
means, and should have long ere this have set
tled his indebtedness to the Central Bank
whether as principal or security. It comes with
a bad grace, from his friends, to charge Governor
McDonald with mismanagement, while Mr.
Cobb stands in his present relation to the Cen
tral Bank.
Millkdgeville, Sept. 25, 1851.
Dear Sir : — Your favor of yesterday is before
me. I here give you the facts, minutely, in re
lation to Mr. Cobh’s indebtedness to the Central
Bank. The execution against Mr. Cobb, as j
security for Maj. Jackson, returned to the Bank i
no property, ’ amounts, in principal and inter
est, to about six hundred and twenty-six dollars, *
sixty cents. This debt has been lying open j
since 1842, and remains unpaid, after having 1
been placed in the hands of a second Attorney. 1
After Mr. Cobb was nominated for Governor, *
Col. Campbell, supposing Mr. Cobb had over- j
looked the matter, and knowing that the debt
would be used against him, politically, wrote to 1
him soliciting a settlement. Mr. Cobb wrote .
back to Col. C., that if Maj. Jackson did not *
settle it before, he would do so in November, f
Maj. Jackson’s insolvency has always precluded c
every hope of a settlement through him, and the *
Bar k always looked to Mr. Cobb, as the fiist *
endorser, for payment of the debt, and he has, b
until this day, nearly nine years, refused to re- 1
spond. *
The execution of $1,200, for which Mr. Cobh 1
was principal, was returned, many years ago, to 1
the Bank, “no property.” It was afterward.
• placed in the hands of a second Attorney, who
could do nothing with it. A contract was sub
sequently made by John S. Thomas, Director,
with a third Attorney, with the understanding
that he (the Attorney) was to receive one half
of all he could recover. This Attorney effected
a compromise with Mr. Cobb's Trustee, by
which about $1,500 were obtained on the debt.
The claim, at the time the compromise and set*
• tlement was made, amounted to about SI,BOO.
The Bank realized about $750 of the whole claim.
These are briefly the facts, obtained from the
Record. Col. C. is absent. You may rely per
fectly on this statement.
Mr. Cobb, in his letter to the Chronicle , tells
the truth, but not a very important part of the
whole truth. .
Hoping this may reach you in good season, I
remain Yours, truly, &c.
James Gardner, Jr., Augusta, Ga.
——->——
Mails for New Mexico.
The Postmaster General has directed contracts
to be made with Mr. Henry Skillman, of El
Paso, Texas, for the regular conveyance of the
* mails from Santa Fe, New Mexico, by Albequer-
que, Socorra, Don Ana, Frontaro, El Paso, San
” Elizario and Leona to San Antonio, a distance
of 990 miles. This service is to be performed
e once a month as far as San Elizario. and once in
two months the residue, and to be governed by
the following schedcle:
Leave Santa Fe on the first of each month at
>’ BA. M.; arrive at San Elizario by the 11th, at
- 12 M.
Leave San Elizario on the 12th of every other
month at 8 A. M.; arrive at San Antonio by 5
’ P. M. of the last day of the same month.
1 Leave San Antonio on the first of every other
month, at BA. M., arrive at San Elizario by 12
M. of the 19th.
1 \ Leave San Elizario on the 20th of each month,
j at 8 A. M.; arrive at Santa Fe by SP.M. of the
1 last day of the same month.
. This introduction of regular mail facilities in
r to the copper mining regions of the new ceun
-1 try cannot fail to be highly advantageous to the
i numerous settlers who have correspondence
with “the States,” as well as to our troops who
1 are garrisoned along that extensive route.
* Mr. Skillman, we learn, comes highly recom
. mended to the Government as an experienced
r and intrepid traveller in NewJMexico. He was
s a| member of Doniphan's command; has frequent
[ ly acted as a guide to our soldiers, and recently
> accomplished a journey of 900 miles in fourteen
. days, on mules. The arrangement will go into
, operation on the Ist of November.
The Hungarian Emigrants.—lt is stated
> that the amount very generously given by Mr
■ Corcoran, of Washington city, for the purpose of
paying the passage ot certain Hungarian emi
grants to lowa, has been declined by the steam
* boat and railroad companies on the route, which
i have offered to convey these emigrants free, and
: the amount will therefore be appropriated, ac
-1 cording to Mr. Corcoran's de.-ire, to the pur
-1 chase of agricultural tools and provisions for the
■ journey.
Statement of Toll on Hamburg and Edgefield
Plank Road Company, exclusive of Lumber and
Wood Wagons, States, and Wagons in employ of
■ the Company, from May 10, 1851, to Sept. 20,
. 1851.
. 579 Road Wagons.
169 Two and three Horse Wagons,
i 330 One Horse. do.
. 368 One Horse Carriages and Buggies.
, 307 Two Horse. do. do.
362 Horseback Travelers,
s
i 2012
, Six and a half miles of the road is completed.
We would advise those coming down the Mar
tintown Road to turn off to the lett so as to inter
" sect the Plank Road at Dr. Geigers old place,
; they will thereby save their horses the wrost
i part of the Road.— Hamburg Republican, 25th
1 inst.
The exports of Sugar and Molasses from the
s ports of Havana and Matanzas from the Ist
January to the end of August, 1851, were—from
Havana, 733,454 boxes Sugar and 37,843 hhds.
I Molasses. From Matanzas, 329,757 boxes Sugar
, and 73,077 hhds. Molasses. The exports of
, Molasses from Cardenas for the same period
| were 85,064 hhds. Total, 1,063,211 boxes Su
gar, 195,984 hhds. Molasses. The exports for
the same period in 1850, were 938,571 boxes
, Sugar, and 165,586 hhds. Molasses.
. Checks for various amounts have been forged
by Herman F. Tewksbury, acting Ceik for
Lieut. Hazard, Quartermaster of Fort Washing
• ton.
A resolution has passed the Common Council
of New York, and referred to the Committee on
Finance, to select from the unappropriated lands
belonging to the city, a suitable site for the erec
tion of a U. S. Mint, to be tendered by the Mayor
on the part of the Corporation to the General
Government for that purpose.
[From the N. Y. Herald, 4th ins/.]
Further by the Africa.
The British mail steamship Africa, Capt. Ry
rie, arrived at her wharf at half-past seven o’clock
this morning. She left Liverpool at twenty
minutes past twelve o’clock on Saturday after
noon the 13th inst. She has therefore made the
passage in ten days, nineteen hours and ten min
utes.
The A. passed the steamship Canada, Capt.
Harrison, at a quarter past 4 o’clock on the after
noon of the 13th inst. The C. left Boston at
noon on the 3d inst., and would reach Liverpool
at half-past seven o’clock on the evening of the
13th, making the passage in ten days, seven
hours and thirty minutes.
Advices from Berlin state, that since the 4th
inst., the police inspection of travellers at the
railway stations, which has been in force since
1848, has been suspended, and passports are now
only demanded on arriving at a hotel. Accounts
also state that the treaty of commerce between
the Zollverein and the Stuerverein, of which
Hanover is the representative, was concluded on
the Bth inst. The treaty comes into operation
on the Ist January, 1854.
The Madrid papers state that the Cortes will
be convoked for the beginning of November.
The report of the appearance of the yellow
fever at Oporto is contradicted.
In consequence of the great influx of foreigners
into France, the Prefect of Police has published
an ordinance requiring the observance of certain
formalities from all foreigners residing in that
country, and every person not complying with
the injunctions specified will be expelled from
the French territory.
Advices from Paris state that instructions have
been sent by the government to the commandant of
the French squadron at the Antilles, to assist the
Cuban government in repelling the aggression of
the American pirates.
The accounts received from the Brazils, by the
Teviot, state that hostilities between the Brazils