Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1856-05-20
walker Acknowledges.

PIRACY ENCOURAGED BY THIS GOVERNMENT.
tits humiliating to be compelled to chron-
icle acts of our E%n government which are
certain to bring upon our nation the re-
proaches of all Christendom. Never, in
the history of our country have we been SO
frequently, and 50 notoriously disgraced in
the eyes Of the civilized world--never has
our national honor been SO frequently tar
nished-never has plighted faith been SO
often and SO utterly disregarded, as during
the Presidency Of the contemplate little
New Hampshire tyrant,
Intelligence has reached us that the gov
ernment of Walker, the Nicarauguan land
pirate, has been officially acknowledged, by
the reception Of Padre villa Roman
Catholic priest-as Minister Plenipotentiary.
This is the first instance in the history of
our government, we believe, where Cath
olic priest has been received as the legal
representative Of foreign power, and we
trust it may be the last. But Of this It was
not our intention to speak. The acknowl-
edgment of Walkers government, by the
reception Of any man as Minister, is the
outrage to which we would call attention.
When this notorious robber outlaw at
tempted the subjection Of Lower California,
our government issued its Proclamation, and
ordered its navy and army to arrest the pro-
gress of his banditti. The course openly
pursued by the President was right and
proper, and was universally approved by
honest, right-minded men everywhere. But
circumstances soon led us to believe that the
course openly pursued was all sham-that
secretly the President winked at the outrage.
We now feel confident that such was the
fact. When driven out of Lower California
and Sonora, he turned up in Nicaragua,
it was intimated by the British government
that he was secretly encouraged By this gov.
ernment-that, as in the case Of Texas, the
fixed determination Of this government was
to extend her dominion oyer Central Amer.
lea, and, as she could not do SO openly with
/, out direct violation Of her treaty with Great
Britain, she chose to do so by secretly en-
courae;ng fillibustering expeditions, intend.
ing. SO socu as the country fell into the
hands of these outlaws, to "annex" It to
the United States. The delicate relations
existing at that tins between this country
and Great Britain wers such that an ac-
acknowledgement of such an intention would
have led to an open rupture. Duplicity and
deception, therefore, were again resorted TO.
Proclamations were issued against fllibus-
tering expeditions leaving our shores. Our
national police were commanded to prevent
our citizens from leaving to engage in such
enterprises" Every outwardma Of good
faith on our part was manifested, to quiet
the apprehensions Of the British govern
ment. It was well known here, however.
that this was all sham--that armed expe-
ditions left our shores frequently to Join the
outlaw Walker-that prominent government
officials were personally interested in the
enterprise, and that the Presidents Proc
lamations were only intended az blind.
When the notorious scoundrel, Parker III.
French, was sent here as the representative
Of Walkers government. the President was
still fearful Of an open acknowledgment of
his government, and French received notice
to leave the country, ,or he might be arrested
for violation Of our neutrality laws. But
French did not leave immediately, as di-
rected. He knew very well that he would
not be arrested--that those in high places
did not care to have their duplicity exposed.
But now. Walker is in trouble. He is
likely to lose his rascally head, unless inn
mediate assistance is rendered. Men, arms,
and money are wanted. Only one step can
be taken to procure these and save Walker
His government must be acknowledged, A
Catholic priest comes forward as its repre-
sentative. and he is officially recognized.
No sooner is the telegraphic news receiv-
cd at the ssaboard than we rvad that yes,