The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-28

THE NORTHERN LIGHT NICARAGUA EMGRANrs
AND THE CONVENIENTLY appears now that the
grounds of the government prosecution against
the Northern Light steamer and the Nicaragua
emigrants on board, are:-
l. That these Northern Light emigres were
military recruits destined to the reinforcement
Of the army of Gen. Walker, whose govern
ment is repudiated by the administration.
2. That the expedition was in violation Of
the anti-colonizing article Of the Clayton-Bul
wer treaty.
g. That the movement was in violation of
our neutrality obligations
A. That these alleged flibusteros were not
destined for Nicaragua, but for the island of
Cuba or ST. Domingo
On the side Of the alleged filibusteys it has
been proved or admitted
l. That they were destined for Nicaragua
2. That they calculated to join the army Of
Gen. Walker.
3. That there were some vague gvingsoat
among them that Cuba or st. Domingo would
be their ultimate "happy hunting grounds"
4. That they had not paid their passages,
because Of an understanding of some sort that
that little matter would be settled on their ar
rival in Central America.
The third party in this affair, to wit: the
Nicaragua Istbmus Steamship Company, have
substantially pleaded
l. That they have violated no public law in
the premises-that the Clayton-Bulwer treaty
does not apply to these emigrants, or military
volunteers, as the case may be, and that the
interposition Of the government in the libel,
arrest and detention Of the Northern Light is
an outrage upon the company's rights as COM
mon carriers of traffic and passengers.
2. That Walkers government being the de
facto government of the Independent State of
Nicaragua, the company had treated with it as
sucb, and had accordingly agreed to take ont
emigrants to that country upon certain terms
not yet infinitely specified.
8. That our government in bringing back
the ship, and in overhauling and sorting her
passenger list, has rendered the company o
substantial service, in relieving them Of the
charge of several hundred emigrants or voiun-
teers who had not paid their fare.
These, as we understand the case, are the
material points and facts upon all sides; and
in thus dove-tailing them together they pre-
sent us very complicated and "pretty piece
of business" The whole merits of the case,
as far as the government is concerned,
rest, we think, upon two questons:-.
Is the government which General Walk
err has set up in Nicaragua, de facto the
government Of that State? If it be so, is
Cen. Walker or the State of Nicaragua engaged
in war with any other State with which we are
at peace? To the first question there can be
but ore answer. Walkers government ia he
tacto the government Of Nicaragua To the
second interrogatory, we can only say that
there is no public evidence that this govern
ment ofNicaragua is engaged, or about to en-
gage, in war with any other State with which
we are a: peace Accordingly, we cannot per
ceive how these New York emigrants or volun-
teers for Nicaragua were liable to arrest and
detention by our govern cent, either as viola
tors Ct the Clayton Bulwer treaty or the neu-
traliiy laws Of 1913. We fear that Mr.. Presi-
dent Pierce, in this matter, has simply been
aiming to iortify himself for the bsiligsrent
philippe which it is said he has prepared ia
his Message to Congress against John Bull and
his Minister Champion, touching those enlist.
ments for the Crimea. On that Congress
would organize and give us that warlikc Mes
sage! i. must be something unusually strong
when our uniform international policy and the
rights of our own citizens are invaded to boil
ster it up.