Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-01-14

pie, DESTROYS of keeping all foreigners from
entering the limits of the State. When the
people of territory fail almost entirely to de-
velop the resources nature has placed at their
command, the interests Of civilization require
others to go in and possess the land They
cannot, nor should they be allowed, to play the
dog in the manger, and keep others from pos
sessing what they have failed to occupy and
appropriate"
1t seems that in the battle that decided
the independence" of Lower California, none
of the Americans, and but twelve "Greasers"
as they are called, were killed But human
hopes are often doomed to disappointment.
Victories are often followed by reverscs. The
last news from Mexican, and therefore not
reliable source) is, that the Fllibusteros have
met with disastrous defeat. No sooner did
the news of this defeat reach San Francisco,
than the greatest sympathy was exhibited.
ain San Francisco the news created an in
tense feeling, and the fillhusters displayed the
greatest activity in their preparations for de-
parture to the assistance Of their comrades
That night, between nine and twelve o'clock, a
body of two hundred and fifty well-appointed
troops, under the command of Colonel HI. p
Watkins, and subordinates, Captains George
R. Davidson, Cutterell, Chauncey, and Norval
Douglass, took passage on board the brig Anita,
Of 235 tons burden, and were towed FIVE miles
outside of the heads by the steamer Thomas
Hunt, when they set sail for their destinations
encouraged by favorable breeze"
We have thus given brief sketch of this
buccaneering expedition from its inception, up
to the present moment. We say buccaneering
expedition, for it was nothing else. We are at
peace with Mexico. She is at peace with her
self. We have treaties with Mexico. These
men were American citizens. They sailed
from one of our ports. They sailed without
the permission or countenance of the govern
ment. They invaded and took portion of
Mexico. If they have failed, and fallen into
the hands Of their enemies; if the like fate
shall befall their comrades now on the way to
join them, then, if our information be correct,
will they have no right to expect the protection
Of this government.
This expedition has some features far uglier
than any that characterized the Cuban expedi-
ton, conducted by Lopez. That was a strug-
gle against Spanish authority, led by Span
lard, participated in by Spaniards. The Gu
bans, or many of them, dissatisfied with Span
ish rule, grooming under Spanish oppression,
invited and aided the expedition.
But here, such is not the case Walker is a
citizen of the United States-his companions
are citizens of the United States. They were
not invited by the people, or any portion of the
people of Lower California, to come to their
assistance. Those people were satisfied with
their government. They opposed, however
feebly, their invaders We were at peace with
them, they were at peace with themselves.
Z This expedition of Walker was prompted by
nothing but ambition and the spirit of self
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. If encouraged and counte-
nanced by our government how low, and how
deservedly low, would we sink in the eyes of
the nations of the earth? Again: 1t is gen.
orally believed, we know not how well ground
ed the opinion may be, that it is in the con-
temptation Of the government to acquire, by
treaty, the very country in which these outra-
ges have been committed. If such be the case,
this outbreak, at this time, is peculiarly unfor-
tunate.
The adventurous spirit-the chivalrous cour-
age exhibited by this band and their leader,
cannot protect them from the censure they SO
justly merit.
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