American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-04-26
WHO is GENERAL WALKER

| General Walker of fillibuster notorie.
ty.i is attracting probably as much atten.
ton at the present moment as any other
single man on the continent. The fol-
lowing incidents in his life will be read
with interest:
General Walker is thirty-three years
ofage, and 10 the son of a respectable
merchant and president of an int ance
company, in Nashville Tennessee. He
received an excellent scholastic and col
legiate education, and at an early age
commenced the study of medicine. In
the prosecution Of his studies he visited
Paris. On his return home he abandon-
ed the medical profession and took to
that oflaw, in which he graduated with
distinction, and proceeded to New
1 Orleans, where he hung out his sign as
an attorney and counsellor. But the
retiring, modest manner, and studious
tastes OF Walker were not adapted to
tho practical habits Of tho people of the
great Southern mart. He did not sue
ceed at law,therefore; and requiring some
vent tor his 'pent up ideas, connected
himself with The Crescent newspaper,
then new and very vigorously conduct
edjournal. Associated with J. D. Lane
now Judge Lane--apd with S. L.
! Wilson, one ofthe editors and proprie-
tors of The Picayune, Walker soon be-
gan TO make his mark in the columns of
The Crescent. His articles were char
acterized by thoughtfulness, by con-
serVative spirit, and a supreme contempt
for al! demagogueism.
Among his ablest and earliest contri-
buttons with the Crescent were certain
articles against the tendency Of Amer
leans TO invade the territories Of their
neighbors, and in ridicule Yf the design
OF the hllibusters. A ierce controversy
on this theme arose between Walker
of The Crescent aud Walker of The
Delta, the latter being tho first Of the
/ fil'ibuster Journalists in, the South
4 The conservative tone of The Crescent
noarly destroyedthat journal, and nee esi.
tated tho retirement Of Walker, " no
emigrated to San Francisco. Before
this event however being involved in a
4 personal quarrel with the editorsof the
4 Spanish paper La Pa,ria, he proceeded
to tho office of the editor aud severely
logged him. In San Francisco Walk or
soon extracted notice as ono of the edi-
tors ofIhst very pugn acious journal, Tho
San francisco Herald got into quar-
rel with ono OF the judges. and was i'm
Prisoned tor contempt; impeached the
Judge befor the legislature, displayed
great ability and eloquence, in his con-
duct OF the prosecution,andf fought d u.
ol with one Of the judges friends. AE.
ter several other scrapes, in all of which
Walker manifested great GOODNESS and
determination, we next find him at the
head of hundred wild youths, proceed
ing to conquer an empire from Mexico.
The very desperation Of the enterprise
contributed TO the success which for
some time crowned Walkers effoits.-
ie achieved several victories over great
ly superior Mexican forces, and inspi-
red them with such fear of his rifles
and revolvers that they would never
come within shooting distance ofhis par
ty, but hang on his rear and cut off COM
munications.
The ndomitable spirit and intense
earneslness of Walker sustained him
through all the suffering and perils
which bcset him in the desperate strait
into which he was driven. With his
score dragged, shoeess men---or rath.
er boys--from San francisco and Now
Orleans, he continued to issue proclama-
tions bearing the signature of William
Walker. President of the Republic of
Lower California. The world regarded
this as a laughablo joke interchangeable,
put walker was III earnest, and earnest
ness aud seriousness are his prominent
traits. He is q man who never laughs
or jokes, and is sensible to ridicule or
sarcasm. Finally, Walker being redu.
ced to starvation, and having but six
men to follow him, retired, like Marshal
Ney before the Russian Cossacks, with
his face 10 the foe, and arrived safely in
California. His subsequent career is
too fresh in the minds Of our readers to
Justify an extension of this article by
the details Of his wonderful victories,
escapes reverses and final success, and
concluding long and bloody rovo.
luton in a State containing half a
million Of people and establishing, amid
the ruin and chaos ofcenturies of misrule
and civil strife, solid aud real govern.
ment.
i For the task thus assumed by him
|, Walker possesses great fitness. He is
studions, deliberate, intelligent and we'll.
Informed. Secretary Marcy and Prcsi-
dent Pierce will soon discover that he il
fully as well read in international law
and history as they are Walkers am.
biton, too, has mono Of the taint Of tho
Spectator and egoiist. He dospiscs
money and las a great distasle for tho
dissipation, pleasure and iudulgoncies
of our Southern youth. He is equally
iguorant of cards aud cocktails, cigars
and cog0oc. He is ip fact man oi in.