Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-01-14
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. WAL
KER's EXPEDITION.

independence is great thing progress and
expansion are great things-but national faith
and national honor are greater things. The
growth of this great country, with its free insti-
tutions, is the object nearest to our heart, for
its growth promotes the diffusion of liberal
principles. But no progress is healthy that is
not honorable, no acquisition is desirable that
is not properly made.
When we are at peace with nation-when
we have treaties binding US to the observance
Of the duties Of good neighborhood, it is mani
testify wrong to countenance, encourage, or
even to tolerate armed and buccaneering ex-
petitions of our citizens who 60 to invade, con-
quer, and despoil such nation.
On this point the late message of President
Pierce is sufficiently explicit. He says:
am happy to announce that since the last
Congress- no attempts have been made, by
unauthorized expeditions within the United
States, against either Of those colonies" Cuba
and Porto Rico.) "Should any movement be
manifested within our limits, all the means at
my command will be vigorously exerted to re-
press it."
This, though applied specifically to Cuba and
Porto Rico, is of universal application to such
unauthorized expeditions as are contemplated.
These remarks are merely Introductory to
some considerations which we desire to pre-
sent, touching the recent invasion and subiuga-
ton of province Of Mexico by band Of ad-
venturers led by Captain, or Colonel Walker.
On the 18th of October, he and his band Of
forty-fve men sailed for Lower California.
They reached the town of La Paz on the Sd of
November. They took possession of the town
and secured the person of the Governor, Espa-
noa They seized on the public documents
pulled down the Mexican flag and raised theirs
in its place, and proclaimed the independence
of Lower California Walker was either
chosen by his company, or constituted himself,
" President Of the republic of Lower California"
A government" we are told, was formed on
firm and sure basis" The officers composing
the government were as follows:
" William Walker, President ofMe Republic
Of Lo,cer California Frederick Emery, Secre.
tary Of State; John M. Jernagin, ,Secretary of
Var; Howard II. Snow, Secretary Of Nary;
Charles II. Gilman, Captain Battalion: John
McKibbin, LIST Lieutenant; Timothy Croker,
I'd Lieutenant; Samuel Buland, 81 Lieute,..
ant; William p Mann, Captain Of the Nary
A. Williams, LIST Lieutenant file Nary; John
Grundall, Second Lieutenant Of the Nary"
Many important DEGREES were issued. We
extract several:
PROCLAMATION, issued on the third day of
December, ls53.-The republic of Lower Cali
fornia is hereby declared free, sovereign, and
independent and all allegiance to the republic
OF Mexico is forever renounced.
Decree No. It'll instant.--All duties whe-
Their exports or imports, are hereby abolished.
Decree No. 9TH instant-From and after
this date, the civil code, and code of practice
OF the State OF Louisiana shall be the rule of
decision and law Of the land in all the courts
OF the republic to be hereafter organized.
Nothing, however, in this decree shall be con-
strued so as to make it an organization nc the
courts OF the republic.
WV. WALKER,
President Of Lower California.
FREDERICK EMERY, Secretary Of State"
An address was issued by the President to
the people of the United States, giving the
reasons for the course he had taken. weh,ve
hitherto published it, and will now only give
an extract from it as follows:
The mineral and pastoral wealth Of Lower
California is naturally great; but, to properly
develop it there, must be good government and
sure protection to labor and property. Mexico
is unable to furnish these requisites for the
growth and prosperity Of the peninsula The
territory, under Mexican rule, would forever
remain wild, halfsavage, and uncultivated,
covered with an indoent and halfcivilized PEG