Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1856-05-08
Nicaragua.

ing at the St. Louis Hotel, to hear Mr..
Soule's views on affairs in Central Amer
lea. 1t was great gathering for an i'm
promptu affair, intended to be informal, but
converted by popular enthusiasm into a
grand demonstration. Every appeal for
the gallant men now struggling in Nicar-
aqua in the cause of American progress,
was responded to with vehement applause /;
and the temper of our people was clearly
manifested to be unmistakably in favor Of
sustaining them by liberal contributions Of
money and direct support of men and arms.
Indeed the current Of public feeling is
running irresistibly with the universal con-
victicn that it is also the duty and the pol
icy of the people Of this country to aid in
the spread of American principles in the
Central States, and to defend and support
the American influences, where they have
established themselves lawfully, against
the hostile combinations which threaten to
extirpate them by force. There is Gov.
eminent in Nicaragua which was peace.
fully under the control of our own brethren
men of the same blood and training with
ourselves who, having been called in by
divided people, had succeeded in creating
order out Of chaos, and establishing an au-
thority with which the people were con-
tented, and which promised them the bles-
sings of peace, political and social i'm
provement, and solid prosperity. They
were Government de facto, without an
avowed opposition within the country
There is no pretence that there was state
of war existing with any Government
whatever, when the new Republic asked
to be recognized as State in fact, and to
enjoy, in its relations with our people and
Government, the simple rights which are
conceded to every organised selfexistent
community which is at peace with its neigh.
bors. A mistaken policy at Washington
rejected this claim, and outlawedthe young
republic at once by rejecting all official
intercourse, and by applying to its agents,
and its efforts at Strengthening its position,
by volunteer aid from this country, the
most rigid Of the rules by which the seve-
rest customs of warfare have attempted to
guard the rights Of belligerents.
Nicaragua, at peace, was treated as if
she were the object of terror and aversion
as if the first duty of the United States
were to bind her so as to make her help.
less prey to the first invader, and as if to
crush out the first sparks of American spirit
which had taken hold of Spanish Ameri-
can State, and begun to awaken it with a
vital and regenerating glow, were the mis-
sion Of the great North American Repub-
lie. This is great wrong, for which the
people of this country owe PREPARATION to
the Nicaraguan Republic, which is now
exposed to the assaults of deadly enemies,
whom our unfriendliness has encouraged
TO the attack, and our hostile measures
have invested with dangerous advantages,
to be used to the peril Of our own friends.
The fury that has been kindled in the sur
States against Nicaragua is the
of their hatred of the American
name and race, and the war they have de-
clared is openly proclaimed 10 be for the
purpose Of driving the American influence
entirely out Of the Isthmus and the license
with which it is avowed takes its courage
from the fact that the American Cabinet
is the enemy and prosecutor Of the Ameri-
cans. The public feeling here is rous.
ed to the enormity Of this position, and
will soon make itself understood as re.
it as unworthy Of the spirit Of the
age and character of the country. Indi.
cations will soon 60 forward, too numerous
and emphatic to leave any doubt of the
sentiments of the people themselves, and
exposing the lamentable delusion that
there is any sympathy hero with the inva-
1ers OF Nicaragua, or those who have
nisused and maligned her liberators and
her rights. She needs help-we owe it
% her in reparation Of injuries to which
we have never consented, in justice to
band of gallant men, struggling in good
cause, in support of doctrines and meas
Tres with which our best and permanent
interests are deeply and vitality identified,
Ind in homage to the principles to which
We are pledged by the history and the ge-
Illus of our own institutions, and which are
he only surety Of their durability among
ourselves.
Opinion Of Schlessinger in New York.
The alleged cowardice Of Col. Schless.
niger, says the N. Y. Express, will be e1.
raordinary news to the friends ofthe Col.