CUBA.-YANKEE NOTIONS ON THE EXECUTION OF PINTO.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 297, 5 September 1855, Page 6

CUBA.-YANKEE NOTIONS ON THE EXECUTION OF PINTO.

[From the " Boston Statesman," April 13.]

It is one of the glories of this country that not a drop of human blood has been shed for political offences : and it is difficult to conceive how that agency of the people, Government, can sieze|a valued citizen, take him before a courtmartial, subject him to a mock trial, doom him to a death sentence, drag him to a public square, and, in tbe midst of thousands of his neighbours, savagely gloat in bis blood. It could not be done here. It is done, however, by what is called Government, in Cuba ; and instances are now occurring that illustrate the inhuman tyranny that holds a carnival in sight of our shores. The case that bids fair to stir Cuba, as with the sound of a resurrection trumpet, is the murder of Ramon Pinto, a rich aud accomplished Catalan, filled with the hopes and sympathies of a doomed patriot. He was born in Barcelona, of parents in comfortable circumstances, and passed his youth at Madrid as tbe protege of" the T>:-,ke of Aragon, the popular favourite. He was educated at the seminary under royal patronage fur tbe priesthood ; but when the time arrived for taking- orders lie declined this calling, and joined tho volunteers of Madrid in 1820, when the Constitution was proclaimed. He fought on the libeinl side, hut being disgusted with the turn things took, left Cadiz for Cuba in the same year. The fame of Pinto's gallantry had preceded him, and he became at once popular in his new residence. He moved iv the highest circles, but sympathized with the endeavours on foot to free that island. He was charged with being engaged in a conspiracy against the Cuban Government, and airested. His papers were seized, but the only thing found among them which might have compromised him was a letter written with signs and accompanied by drawings, which, to the imagination of the blood-thirsty court-martial, were intended to serve in an insurrection. A spy, who was a criminal, also

testified as to certain transactions. Dr. Wagner, a gentleman then in Cuba solely for scientific purposes, but who watched these proceedings, writes to the Neio York Tribune, under his own signature, that there was " not even the slightest shade of a real judicial proof." Proof or no proof, Pinto was condemned. His sentence was communicated to him March 21. His social position, his fine education, and his gallant bearing, secured*him hosts of sympathizers ; but neither the intercessions of devoted friends, the supplications of a heart-strick-en family, nor "the interference of the foreign consuls, especially Mr. Robertson and Mr. Crawford, [were able to touch the heart of Concha, the ruler of Cuba. Nor were more than twenty-four hours given him in which to prepare for death. At seven o'clock on the morning of the 22nd of March be was taken to the market-place. The correspondent of tbe New Orleans Picayune says' —" On bis arrival at the platform, he walked up tbe steps with ease to the chair. He turned to the audience —ten to fifteen thousand people—a bright face, an unclouded brow, and he said a few words which I could not hear, but I am told that they were closed with, ' I die innocent.' He then said parting words to the father by bis "side, kissed the image of the Saviour, and took the chair; it was but a moment, although it seemed long to adjust the instrument; it turned, and Ramon Pinto was done to death." Dr. Wagner writes that " Pinto's condemnation and execution must be called 'an infamous illegal murder.'" Ramon Pinto's long life of usefulness was not sufficient to secure him so much as a defence before a proper tribunal. The government employed a villain—a man condemned by tbe courts for crime—as a spy, and on his words was he found guilty. He was thus entrapped "by the snares of watchful tyranny." Pinto might have wished for a change of government; might well have deplored the presence of the butchers that disgraced his country ; but still might have sought reform by means short of what would be rebellion. His bearing was noble to the last. He sealed his letters and sent them to—bis murderer Concha ! And he died -.vith professions of innocence on his lips ! He was importuned to make confessions to implicate associates in conspiracy, but he had none such to make. If the Cuban ruler had a good case, why was there not an open court ? Why was there not the boon granted to this prisoner of state that the civilized worldf grants to the vilest felon? Why did Concha resort to a villain's evidence ? Dr. Wagner is right. As the facts appear, this deed is murder most foul. Pinto ranks with such as Sydney and Russell, who died for no crime but that of aspiring for liberty, but who still live to inspire the patriot to organize resistance to tyranny. It remains to be seen what the political effect in Cuba will be of such scenes as Pinto's murder, in this noon of the nineteenth century. The garrote has just throttled another victim. The gallant F.strampes—in his case the trial being equally a mockery—died while trumpets and cannon in vain endeavoured to drown his expiring voice " Liberty, liberty ! Death to all kings." Such blood will not flow in vain. It must, according to the ordinary working of nature, be like the sowing of dragon's teeth ; and will spring up armed men to do battle for,-the light, and give freedom to as beautiful aland as the sun shines on.