New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-05-12
nicaragua Important Debate.

took place in the United States Senate on the LIST III
slant, upon Senator Wellers resolution, calling upon
the President for full information in regardsto Cen
trail American affairs. Since, full account OF the
debate has reached us in the columns of the Wash
ington Globe, of the I'd instant. We copy the I'M
portant portions of the discussion:
"a N Nicarugunn Affairs.
Mr.. Weller-I ask leave to submit the following
resolution: 8.
Resolced, That the President of the United
States be requested, il not incompatible with the
public interest," to communicate to the Senate copies
of all correspondence between this Government and
our Minister at Nicaragua not heretofore communlca-
ted. var
J. desire to remark, Mr.. President, that am in re-
ceipt Of many letters from persons residing on the
Pacific coast who are anxious to know whether have
been sustaining the Administration in the policy
adopted in regard to the Nicaraguan Government. L
speak of that Government which is now in existence
desire to take this OCCASION here in my place, to
say that have no information on this subject other
than that which is published in the newspapers of
no hesitation in saying that do notapproye Of the
course which has been pursued. If, when Colonel
French came here and applied for the recognition of
the new Government, there was proof to sustain the
charges alleged against him in the public press, i'm
peaching his integrity as aman, the Administration
was justiiable in rejecting him. BUTT ought to have
been placed on personal grounds. Our Minister in
Nicaragua should have been instructed at once to say
81"
person to whom there were no personal objections he
will be received" Whether this has been done Or
not LIDO not know but presume it has not.
Our usual practice has been, so soon as any of the
South or Central American States have revout0niZed
and given evidence of their stability or of their
power and capacity to maintain the new Government
which they have thus constituted to recognize them.
need not say that this course is peculiarly proper in
regard to Central America. These States are often
convulsed by civil wars and revolution succeeds revo
luton such rapid succession that any other
would be found impracticable. The route from here
to Pacific possessions was through Central Amer
ica and this alone would compel us to suspend COM
muncation with that coast or recognize at once the
existing Government. We have now to pass through
Nicaragua Panama to reach the State from whence
come. Although it might be against the true inter-
ests of this Government to acquire annex Central
America at present. yet we are interested and deeply
interested, in having stable and fixed government
on that part of the continent. You will have no sta
blity in any of the Central American States until you
have infused a large amount Of North American
blood into their veins The true policy then, would
have been to encourage rather than discourage emf
grafton to Nicaragua. l do not ask that your neu-
trality laws Or treaties should be violated. These
would have at all times maintained in good faith
but do not6approve the means which have been
adopted to prevent our countrymen from emigrating
to that country. The proceedings in New York to
arrest persons going to San Juan del Norte were in
my opinion, not only unnecessary, but wholly unusti-
proceedings which neither existing laws, public
treaties nor good faith required, and which sound
policy forblds. However devoted l may be to the
principles which have generally governed the present
Administration, it is due to my own honor to declare
that these acts to which have alluded donot receive
| my sanction
A state of war is now existing between Costa
RIGA and Nicaragua. The army Of the former has
invaded the territory of the latter, although war
has been declared. Because North Americans aided
in bringing the present Government into power, and
| because an American is at the head of-the army,
| and some of his countrymen enlisted under his ban
ner, Costa RIGA only declares war against them. The
people of Nicaragua are now united and their dis
sensions no longer exist. They have a president a
native of their country, selected by Them at the
head Of the Government. Some of these North
Americans are now in her army and General Walker
is the Conmmander-in-Chief Is Costa Rica to pro-
other States? is she to dictate the birthplace Of the
man who shall be placed at the head of her army
have in my hands decree, Or proclamation issued
by the General commanding the invading force from
Senate
JOHN R. Mora President ofAe Republic Of Costa Rica Gen
eralin- Chief Of The Army Of !yiearagua
ali dc igor a vh dea . but ali s fiR Sssrs
who have not used their arms against this Republic and give
Costa Rica army, shall be pardaned JoHN L. MORA
Sub. Secretary of Departmental War.
passed through that country for the third time in
1854; a civil war was then raging. A part of the
Ncaraguans, by many supposed to be a majority,
Democratic party" so Called avowed liberal princ
pies, and wanted government similar in its consttu
ton and laws to ours Procamatons signed by their
leader were posted along San Juan river and on Vi
gin Bay inviting North Americans to Join his stan
dard Under these invitations, General Walker and
others, residing on the Pacific, went there and ven
tured their destines with the revolutionary party
They succeeded. The old government was destroyed
and new and far more liberal one established. The
Governments at offered large grants of lands ETC.
to induce our people to emigrate Costa RIGA now
wages war Of determination against these country
men of ours. Her chief declares they shall be shot if
they are taken prisoners and some of them have al
ready been executed. Are to stand still and see
people denied the rights of prisoners of war, and
shot down by brutal soldiery? Is not this such a
violation of the law OF nations as to demand miaed
ate redress
intimated sometime since that on q suitable occa-
sion would reply to the charges made in the Senate
against General Walker. The protracted illness OF
the Senator from Delaware r. Cayton)has prevented
few words by way of prefacng letter received this
morning. 1t is from General Walker It presents
some facts and some points which oughtto attract the
attention of the Senate But, you must allow me to
say before read that there is man whose charac-
ter has been more shamefuly msrepresented in this
| country than General Walker. l have known him for
several years on the Pacific coast, as quiet unob-
sive and intelligent gentleman of uncommon energy
and decided character. His integrity-his honor was
never impeached in any quarter. After being invit.
ted he went to Nicaragua, not freebooter p he
did not go there for plumber. He neither coveted
their lands their money for one has less of the
sordid feeling than General Walker. He was aetna
ted by high and honorable ambt;on--a patriotic de-
sire to aid in establishing free institutions in Ncara-
gua and ultimately confederate, in apeaceable man.
ner, the Central American States into one great re-
public. This was his ambition-this the object which
he sought to accomplish. Many gentlemen of the
highest character residing on the Pacific actlated
by the same motives rallied under his banner II is
a great mistake to suppose that these men are des-
peradoes and freebooters!
But, sir, will read the letter
GRANADA, April Is, 1856
Hon. JOHN B. WELLER, U S. Senate
NJ Dear Srly the last papers New York learn that
when denounced in the Senate for the conduct which Ncl
raga has pursued towards the Transit Company you were
generous undertake defend the uspersions Of
utterly ignorant of character In consequence of this
take the liberty of writing relation affairs here
and these will think prove unmportan to the Gov
ernmcnt of the United States.
You have doubtless from newspapers how pacific
policy Nicaragua proposed TO pursue towards the other
of Central America Notwithstanding all our oyertues
Of peace neghborg Government showed themselves if moi
lion of Nicaragua. 1t constantly asserted only here
throughout Central America that the States were stimulated
correspondence Of the Consul General of Costa Rca in
London vast intercepted by few weeks ago. that positive
evidence afforded of the active sympathy the British Gov.
maitess for those who oppose the Americans in Mica
rgna. The correspondence shows that England is furnishing
enemies and at the time the whole British
| the scale against Republic.
know how these ncts may appear the people of the
American principles and American interests These facts are
patent ALL md their significance is apparent tile most SUI
with the present wHgng in this and in Costa Rca
which require Interpretation in order to make their por-
| lance felt.
Government OF Nicaragua;