Washington telegraph., 1856-05-21
The Nicaragua War.

| we are neltner oFer-san gulne, nor undu-
ly apprehensive as to the probable termina
tion of the struggle now impending in Cen
trail America, having full confidence in the
skill, resolution, valor and Intelligence of
the followers of Gen. Walker, without be-
ing deceived as to the actual condition of
their affairs, the absence from among them
of educated and experienced soldiers. the
lack of abundant resources, and the difficult
ties in the way of recruiting their ranks.
should another Schlessinger miscarriage oc-
cur. or any greater disaster be experienced.
Neither do we altogether undervalue the
character of the opposition North American
/ ism will necessarily encounter in its endeav-
ors TO introduce into Central America insti
tutions suited to the genius of the age. and
calculated TO elevate that Interesting and
inviting region to the high place nature and
the laws of commerce have designed for
| her
There will. probably. be experienced by
Walker resistance in which Ignorance.
the widest fanaticism, and the most distem-
pered patriotism, will all be combined; and
which, flushed by It's first trivial success,
may. unless great prudence, extreme circum-
I
iIon characterise the proceedings of the lib
Grating army, lead to most untoward results
The real difficulty Walker will have to sur
mount, will be in removing the impression
fiOm the Central American mind tha. he
comes as an invader, despoiler, or an op-
pressor: and to induce them to understand
instead, tha: their individual happiness, Sc
curlty. prosperity and freedom will be pro-
NOTED by their cooperating with him, rather
than with those who. since the severance of
their connection with Spain. have pIundered,
maltreated and trampled upon him with i'm
punity
Above all things i. should be the duty of
Walker to prevent the commissions of ex-
cesses or violence against the persons and
property of Central Americans; and by
regularity of conduct, forbearance and res
pect for individual rights lead the people
by contrast to regard his coming among
them as blessing to be grateful for, not a
proceeding to be resented
The South has direct, personal inter-
est IN this matter; it comes home to the
Threshold of every man. and underlies the
entire future upon which our greatness and
prosperity will depend
We discard the question of slavery in to-
to In contemplating Central America and
Its probable destiny. and view it solely from
its bearing and connecting with commercial
greatness, and the command its possession
will give to the South when the Isthmus
becomes what it rapidly and surely will,
the great thoroughfare of the trade between
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans On this
account we did not hesitate at once to take
sides In the contest between the free, enlight-
ened and republican movement of Walker,
and the miserable. Ignorant and depraved
usurpers who, for many years past, have op-
pressed the simple inhabitants, and made a
hell of Central America, the loveliest,
wealtbiast and fairest portion Of this eont-
nent.
We saw at a glance that this struggle was
not to be one of race merely, whore the re-
suit could not be doubtful, but one where
the South, if true to herself, could establish
upon an impregnable basis a counterpoise
to her Northern rivals. and where she could
successfully dispute with them for that su-
premacy iu the trade of the world they have
heretofore vaingloriously boasted it was their
ucStiuS " OUldiu anu tueiT dUiiIt tO ccntTOi
Firmly seated in Central America, DO power
but our own infdelity or supineness. can
deprive US of the controlling influence IN the
Pacific trade, or prevent our becoming in
every respect rival. not to be contemned,
to New York and Liverpool for the lucrs~
tive commerce the people of these cities
have heretofore clutched as theirs by right,
sovereign, exclusive and incontrovertible
For these reasons it is especially ineum-
bent on the South to turn away from the
barren pursuit Of political phantoms in the
wheat producing West, and direct her earn
est attention to the inviting inier-tropical
region now wooing our approaches. and
which it is in our power to obtain without
exeItion; but it is above all things the
bounden duty of New Orleans not to stand
supine or unconcerned, or madly refuse
to receive the sceptre now lying at her
feet and which only requires to be placed in
firm and resoiute hand to make the Cres-
cent city what nature intended her to be,
the Queen city of the Western hemisphere
n @. True Delta.