The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1856-05-17
Affairs in Nicaragua.

Affairs in Nicaragua.
Letter from Gen. Walker to Senator Weller.
The subjoined letter from Gen. Walker, Of
Nicaragua, to Senator Weller, was read by
that Senator in the United States Senate, on
the LIST inst, and excited much interest, from
its reference to " British intervention" in be
half of Costa Rica !:
GRANADA, April Is, 1856.
Hon. John B. Weller, U. S. Senate :lasV
My Dear Siir-By the last papers from New
York, I learn that when / was denounced in
sued towards the Transit Company, you were
so generous as to undertake to defend me from
the aspersions Of men utterly ignorant Of my
character. In consequence Of this, l take the
liberty of writing some facts in relation to af-
fairs here, and these facts will, l think, prove
not unimportant to the Government Of the
United States. d
You have doubles learned from the news
papers how pacific was the policy Nicaragua
proposed to pursue towards the other States OF
Central America. Notv ding all our
ovcrtures Of peace, the g dovern-
ments showed themselves, ! )sitively, al
least negatively hostile to VI adminis-
~tration Of Nicaragua. 1t stantly as
serted, not only here, but thi ut Central
America, that the States w ,imulated to
this conduct by English and ench agents.
But it was not until the correspohse,.se Of the
Consul General of Costa RIGA in London was
intercepted by me a few weeks ago that posi-
tive evidence was afforded Of the active sympa-
thy the British Government manifests for those
who oppose the Americans in Nicaragua. The
correspondence shows that England is furnish
ing arms to our enemies, and at the same time
the whole British West India squadron is sent
to San Juan del Norte, in order that the moral
weight of the English Government may be
thrown into the scale against our Republic.
l do not know how these facts may appear
to the people of the United States, but to me
they seem directly at variance with American
principles and American interests. These facts
are patent to all, and their significance is ap-
parent to the most superficial observer. There
are other circumstances connected with the
present war wagiDg in this State and in Costa
Rica which may require Interpretation in or
der to make their importance felt.
The Government of Costa RIGA has never
yet declared war against the Government OF
r Nicaragua yet it has invaded our territories,
and has murdered American citizens who have
never forfeited the protection Of the United
States Government. This has been done un-
der cover Of q decree issued by the President
{ of Costa RIGA declaring war against the Amer
lean forces in the service of Nicaragua. To
declare wal against the forces in the service of
Nicaragua and not against Nicaragua herself
is to deny, in the most positive and offensive
manner, the right of Americans to engage in
the service Of a foreign State. Not only has
this declaration of war been made in this Of
~fensive and unheard of manner, but another
decree has been published ordering all the
3 American prisoners of war taken by Costa
r Rican forces to be shot. This is to deny to
Americans engaged in a foreign service the
common rights to which soldiers are entitled
by the laws of war. Such DEGREES as those ]
) have mentioned not only throw Costa RIGA, as
| conceive, beyond the pale of civilized nations,
/ but they directly. affect the honor and dignity
of the United States.
They 1.-THE Costa Ricans) attempt to control
the American people and keep them within a
limit which the American Government has
never prescribed. Costa Rica says Americans
e shall not emigrate to Nicaragua and take arms
n in her service. 1t remains to be seen whether
. she can sustain herself in so singular a posi-
. tion. In such o war as they are now waging
uItlo 40 LAVlV NIl w u plC lCAulNs uC
may destroy my whole force-a circumstance
l deem almost impossible-they may kill every
American now in Nicaragua, but the seed is
sown, and not oil the force of Spanish America
can prevent the fruit from coming to ma
I. turity. The more savage the nature Of the wal
u they wage against us, the more certain the re
c suit, the more terrible the consequences. ]
I may not live to See the end, but / feel that my
!, countrymen will not permit the result to b
doubtful. | know that the honor and the in
terests of the great country which, despite o
the foreign service l am engaged in, I still love
to call my own, ale involved in the present
struggle. That honor must be preserved in
violate, and those interests must be ~iealousl,
. maintained.
So far we have had great moral odds agains
us. The Government to which we all natu
rally look for aid and comfort has treated II
! with GOODNESS and disdain. There has been IL,
= Government to encourage us and bid us go,
u speed" Nothing but our own sense of til
o Justice of the cause we are engaged in and o
its Importance to the country of Our birth la
enabled us to struggle on as far as We hay
done. We may perish in the work we have I'LL
~ dertaken, and our cause may be for q time LOST
But if we fall, We feel it is in the path of honor
: And what is life or what is success in compar
son with the consciousness Of having performe
a duty, and Of having co-operated, no matte
how slightly, in the cause Of Improvement an
progress? I begin, however, to leave facts
and therefore will conclude.
I remain, with high regard, your obd't serv'
WM. WALKER.
The American Party Defended.
" -