Polynesian., 1854-11-25
Che Dolpuesian.
Walker acquitted.

This man who acquired such notoriety as the lead
er of the expedition against Lower California, last
year, has been tried and acquitted The California
Chronicle uses the following sensible language in
reference TO this event.
TRIAL OF Mr.. WALKER.-From the report in an
other column it will be observed that the Ex-Pres-
dent of Sonora and the invader of Lower California
whose companions ifnOt himself recently commit
ted there SO much unprOvoked havoc of human life
and property has been found by jury ''nOt gull
ty'' of the crime for which he was tried Juries
must return verdicts simply according to the eyi-
dence laid before them, and not according to uni
versal belief or their own moral consciousness of
prisoner guilt or innocence. So it seems to
have been in this case. Walker has been declared
not guilty of breaking the law of l8f8 which f0rbids
the getting up or setting on foot on the soil Of the
United States, an expedition against foreign Gov
ernment Senor del Vale, the consul of Mexico,
and Watkins and Emory, comrades of Walker s
the one vice President and the other Secretary of
War of the bogus Republic-were all found guilty
by separate juries, of having inlringed different,
though kindred sections Of the law of 1918. Yet
the chief of the last two, who notoriously shared
in all their speculations, their dangers Intentions
crimes, virtues-if any could possibly be found in
such Il murderous exploit-and glories, eontrves to
convince jury that he is not guilty Or rather,
perhaps the prosecuting party fails to discover and
bring forward the exact amount of evidence techni
cally necessary to secure a conviction.
The verdict of "not guilty" will not affect the
public opinion as to Walkers career in the South
ern country one whit. He remains, as before, what
is popularity called ''libuster'; indeed the head,
and heart and moving. spirit of flibusters. The law
recognizes such te. m; and many seem to gl0-
ry in the name 1t is not our purpose, at present,
to cast new dishonOr on it. On former occasions
we have freely given our opinions on the subject.
We only now allude to the phrase, to express our
belief, in common with the general public that the
present verdict of the jury Walkers case, leaves
that party neither better nor worse, neither more
nor less criminal the reverse than hitherto he
has been alleged and believed to be.
So, with the death of the gallant Count Raousset,
at Guaylnas and the aequital of Mr.. Walker here,
ends ilibusterism on the Pacific, for time. The
latter is as the former was, reputed to be man of
great personal courage, both physical and moral; of
much acquired information and intellectual abili-
ties. He is known to be energetic in whatever he
undertakes 4 powerful writer for the press; and,
what is of more personal consaquence-and almost
a contradiction in terms, to the statement that he
was leader of the Southern flibusters-a man of
modest manners and department, of kind heart
and an honorable disposition. Is there no proper
and lawful sphere for such man, save marauding
expeditions against friendly nations! Surely, there
are nobler ways to crafty an honest ambition
when there is the determined Will and the talents
at command TO accomplish them. We have every
sympathy with daring personal adventure but we
would wish it tried only III legitimate cause.
When hereafter we find Mr.. Walker in the field of
action of patriotic and honorable deeds, we shall
award HIN the praise which his per-
sonal merits may then deserve.