Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-04-17
NICARAGUA.

time, it was supposed this was based on objec-
| tions to the personal character of Col. French,
the Nicaraguan Envoy but the act is placed
by our Secretary of State on entirely different
grounds. These, are first, that the new govern
ment was not acknowledged by the people of
Nicaragua, and that it was established mainly
by foreigners. The first point involves ques.
ton of fact. Now, our Envoy, Col. Wheeler
is in no way connected with this struggle, or
with any fiibustering expedition, bears full
testimony 0 the universal recognition of the
new government, by the people of Nicaragua
which he testifies has given rep6se and salts
faction to the country. He was on the spot,
we'll acquainted with all the facts, and his tes-
timony is sustained BY all the circumstances of
the case. Indeed, since the accession of the
new Government, the civil war, which had
desolated Nicaragua for so many years, has
ceased; no insurrectionary movement has been
made, no murmur even of discomfort has been
heard, universal confidence has been restored,
new impulse has been given to business, the
fields desolated by years Of intestine strife are
| being cultivated again, the deserted villages
re-occupied, new towns springing into exis
tence, and property greatly appreciated in
value. Everything proves the accuracy Of the
assertion OF the American Envoy, Col. Wheel
er, that the people Of Nicaragua have, with
| great unanimity, acquiesced in the new order
of things, and that stable, popular, and per-
|
There is no other Government or legal author
| ity existing in Nicaragua, except the Walker
Rivas Government, and to no other can any
new American Envoy be commissioned The
first objection of our Secretary must fall to the
ground, being opposed to all the facts OF the
case. Such being the case, the new Govern
ment should have been recognized, even if the
| second objection had more foundation in truth
| That objection is, that the new Government
was established mainly by the ins,rumentality
of foreigners. But that is an inquiry foreign
to the purpose. The question is not how the
Government is established, but does it exist; is
it Government de tacto and the well estab-
lished rule is to recognize all Governments dc
Jacto, without inquiring how they were in
stituted. Thus, before as well as after the
return of Napoleon from EIba, the Bour.
bon dynasty was forced by foreign bayonets
upon France, against the almost unanimous
wish of the French people yet on both occa.
sions the new Government was Immediately
recognized by US, because, as in the case of
4 NJ he y.
SO the Governments of the greatest tyrants
and usurpers that ever disgraced humanity,
have been always recognized by us, under the
well established rule Of international law,
which requires the recognition of all Govern
ments de .factQ. The reason, then, given for
the action of our Secretary, even if founded in
truth, constitutes no justification of the refusal
to recognize the de facto Government of Mica
ragua. The recognition of Government is
the mere acknowledgment Of the fact of lis
existence, which is the only inquiry we have
a right TO make. But was this Government
forced upon Nicaragua by foreign bayonets ?
The truth is, Nicaragua was convulsed BY in
testine commotion; two parties, with varying
fortunes, we're, and long had been struggling
for-ascendancy; the Legitimist party much the
smaller in number, headed by Chamorro, and
the Democratic party, much the more hume
rous, headed by Castillon. The latter party
had, in fact succeeded, but their complete as.
cendancy was menaced by foreign Intervention,
threatened by the butcher and brutal tyrant,
Guardiola, from Guatemala, at the head Of an
army, preparing to march, mainly from that
foreign State. Walker and his forces we're in.
vited to Nicaragua by Castillon, who headed
the Democratic party composing the great
body Of the people Of that State, and who was
then inaugurated as President of Nicaragua.
with his Government in full operation at Leon,
the principal ally Of the State. Walker did not
go to Nicaragua as a volunteer, much less as
hlibuster, but upon the previous invitation
Of President Castillon, and the idea is prepos.
ferrous, that Walker, with Sc Americans, could
have conquered the rich and populous State OF
Nicaragua, if opposed bya Government repre-.
senting the people. The truth is, the people
we're with Castillon, the Democratic President
| " @''N"6Hoj representing tue DOuy OF the
native masses, aided by the small foreign
legion, commanded by Walker, acting upon
the same principle, which the French, Irish,
Germans and Poles adopted, who cooperated
with us in the war Of the Revolution. Upon the
death Of Chamonow, Corral succeeded TO the
command Of the Legitimist party, and after
that party had been subdued, Corral himself
united with the Democratic party in placing
Rivas al the head Of the new Government, and
no opposition to it has appeared in Nicaragua.
1t is clear, then, that the Walker-Rivas Gov.
eminent is the yightful, as well as the dc .facto
Government Of Nicaragua, universally acknow.
lodged by the people, undisturbed by actual or
menaced resistance in that State and it is a
clear violation Of the rights of the people Of
Nicaragua, Of the great doctrine Of popular
sovereignty, Of the uniform policy Of this
country, and of the wellsettled principles Of
international law Ii prounisee aleo - -