Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-05-03


submitted resolution calling on the Presiden
for any correspondence, not hithertofore commu
ncaied, with our Minister 10 Nicaragua, in regart
to the recognition of the Nicaraguan government
Mr. WELLER said he was in the constant re
ceipt OF letters inquirlng whether he sustained
the policy of the administration in regard 10 the
| Nicaraguan government, and he now took occa
sion 10 remark that he entirely disagreed with thai
policy. II the Executive thought II expedient 10
| reject Colonel French upon personal grounds, he
thought the Nicaraguan government should have
been notified of that fact, and been officially re-
| cognized. The usual practice of the Government
| had been 10 recognize the usual South American
| governments, whoever were In power there.
| Those which lie on the route To The Pacific es-
! peclaly ought TO be treated with courtesy and
friendship. He did not desire 10 Central
America annexed 10 this Republic, but he wanted
stable government there, and this was only 10
be accomplished by diffusion OF Anglo Saxon
| blood. Therefore, he thought that emigration 10
| that country ought TO be encouraged rather than
dscountenanced. He said that man had been
so shameiuly misrepresented as Gen. Walker,
| who was not freebooter, but man of pure
| purposes
| He read the following letter from Gen. Walker:
| GRANADA, April IS 1856.
Hon. JOHN b. WELLER, U. S. Senate;
My DEAR SIR BY the last papers from New
| York learn thar when was denounced in the
1 towards the Transit Company, you were so gem
erous as 10 undertake TO defend me from the
pensions OF men utterly ignorant of my character.
In consequence of this | take the liberty of
writing some facts in relation TO affairs here, and
| these will, think, prove not unmporant 10 the
| government OF the United States.
You have doubtless learned from the news
| papers how pacific was the policy Nisaragua pro-
| posed to pursue towards The other States Of
| Central America. Notwithstanding all our over
L IF ~ -.
| showed themselves, if not positively, at least
negatively hostile 10 the actual administration of
Nicaragua Ii was constantly asserted, not only
| here, but throughout Central America that the
States were stimulated to this conduct by English
and French agents Bul it was not until the cor
respondence of The Consul General of Costa
Rica In London was Intercepted by few
weeks ago that positive evidence was afforded OF
the active sympathy the British government mani
tests for those who oppose the Americans in
Nicaragua The correspondence shows that
England is furnishing arms TO our enemies, and at
the same time the whole British West India
squadron is sent 10 San Juan del Norte IN order
that the moral weight or the English government
may be thrown into the scale against our Repub
lic
do no, know how these facts may appear 10
the people of The United States but 10 me they
seem directly al variance with American interests.
These facts patent ALL and their significance
Is apparent 10 The most superficial observer. There
sent war wagng IN this State and IN Costa Rca
which may require Interpretation in order 10 make
their importance felt
The Government of Costa Rca has never vel
declared war against the Government of Nicara.
qua; yet il has invaded our territories and has
murdered American citizens who have never for
feited the protection Of the United States Govern
ment. This has been done under cover of
decree issued by the President of Costa Rica de-
carng war against the American forces in The
service of Nicaragua. To declare against
the forces IN the service of Mica agua herself is 10
deny in the most positive and offensive manner
the right OF Americans TO engage in the service of
foreign State Not only has this declaration of
war been made in this offensive and unheard Of
manner, but another decree has been published
ordering all the American prisoners OF war taken
by Costa Rican forces 10 be shot. This is 10 deny
TO Americans engaged in foreign service the com
mon rights 10 which soldiers are entitled By the
laws oil war. Such DEGREES those have men
toned not only throw Costa Rica, as | conceive,
beyond the pale of civilized nations but they d.
recily affect The honor and dignity of the United
States
They 1.-THE Costa Ricansl attempt 10 control the
American people and keep them within limit
which the American Government has never pre-
scrlbed. Costa Rica says Americans all not
emgrate 10 Nicaragua end take arms la ii'.r
vice. II remains 10 be seen whether she
tain herself IN SO singular position. In such
war as they are now waging against us there can
be but one result They may destroy my whole
force-a circumstance deem almost impossible
they may Kill every American now in Nicaragua,
but the seed Is sown, and not all the force Of
Spanish America can prevent the fruit from com.
| ing 10 maturity. The more savage the nature of
the war they wage against US the more certain the
result, the more terrible the consequences. may
not live TO see the end but / feel that my coun.
trymen will not permit the result 10 be doubtful.
know that the honor and the interests of the
great country which, despite of the foreign ser
vice | am engaged in, still love TO call my own,
are involved in the present struggle That honor
must be preserved nviolste and those interests
must be jealousy maintained.
80 tar We have had great moral odds against
US. The Government 10 which we all naturally
look for aid and comfort has treated with cold
ness and disdan. There has been no Govern
mentto encourage us and bid US "God speed"
Nothing bnt our own sense of the justice OF the
cause we are engaged in and OF its importance 10
the country OF, our birth has enabled US 10 strug-
gle on as far as we have done. Ws may perish
in the work we have undertaken, and our cause
may be for time lost. Bot if we fall feel il
is Ia the path Of honor. And what is life or what
Is success in comparison with the consciousness
OF having performed duty, and of having co.
operated, no matter how slightly, in the cause Of
Improvement and progress begin, however, 10
leave facts, and therefore will conclude.
remain, with high regard, your obedieni SER
want, WIN. WALKER
at Panama, 10 which thirty Americans had been
killed. The best feeling existed between this
government and that OF New Granada, and he had
no doubt the whole power Of that govern ment
would be exercised 10 bring the offenders to JUS
tce.
Mr.. SEWARD mentioned that two or three weeks
ago, on his motion, resolution had been adopted
calling on the President for information on this
subject, which had not yet been responded TO-
Probably the President had good reasons in view
Of The complicated state Of affairs, for delaying TO
answer that resolution.
Mr. WELLER was not aware Of that fact, or he
would not have offered this now.
Mr. SEWARD thought it better to lie, the. subject
rest for day or two, as information concerning
il was daily being received in this country, and
il was important TO leave the President free to
exercise his discretion in this delicate matter.
M Dorct A. believed thai The CIavton poiyvax