The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-06-18
Gen. Henningsen's Opinion of Walker.

II.
was very enthusiastic affair. A Nicara-
guam flag was presented to the General in
behalf of number of his friends, by Alder
man Wilson, accompanied by very neat
speech, to which Gen. Henningsen respond.
cd in very eloquent address. In referring
to Gen. Walker, he said:
Now, to those who aSsail William Walker
because he has not yet succeeded. would
say, wait. BE not precipitate Remember
That The man who, with fftysix followers,
changed for two years the destinies OF Nj.
caragna, lives still, is only -four and thirty,
and mas many score times fifty-six who
conhde IN the retrospection of his marvel
lous career and in the future that looms
before him.
To those disparaging his military merits,
! would say, if you were Washington or
Napoleon, you are not in possession OF facts
enough to enable you to Judge correctly in
the preWises; but you arc not Washingtous
and Napoleons. Far from it. In fact. |
should conjecture, from perusa oc your
criticisms, that you are, on tire contrary.
utterly ignorant of the subject YOU were
treating, and incapable Of coming to "A ra.
tionaI conclusion, If facts had been accessi
bic to you IN the most ample detail. Now
|, who have chauced 10 know some of the
men who mark, in their genera,ion-I
who have had some military experiepce-.
/, VINO have been participator in two.
thirds of the struggle-am not afraid to
assert-nay, | am anxious to place on re.
cord--my conviction, that William Walker
Is one Of the most remarkable men of the
age in which he lives. As versatile in his
talents as profound in his requirements, il
is true that he knew nothing of the art OF
war but what study and his experiences in
Nicaragua have taught him; but whatever
be or be not his proficiency in those details
which experience and study enable even
medocrity 10 master, | unhesi;atinrly AS.
sert that in those higher combinations which
only the forethought Of genius and the
prompungs of inborn aptitude can inspire
his military career has been so far distin.
gulsned, that | believe that manv Justly
celebrated commanders would have failed
to mako the long and successful stand that
he has made, against such odds and So
many adverse circumstances.
1t mas been my good fortune whilst in
Nicaragua never 10 be forced by the inexo.
raoie necessities of war 10 put any one to
death. What they call humanity has ever
been lauded by the allies and their abet.
tors, 10y way of throwing blame, by impli.
cation. upon William Walker. Now. to
thos who accuse him ai o,oodihirstines.
aud cruelty, | can only say that solemnly
declare, that in noinstance has he taken life
where, In his place, should not have fel,
compelled TO do so-and know many in
stances where death aud suffering have been
eaiaiIed upon his followers by his UNWILLING.
ness TO make examples
My friends, there are some who. if they
could, would irown down William Walker
who yet pore with admiring interest in tlr
pages OF Prescott over the history Of Cor
lez and Ojeva. Yet his career has been no
less romantic than their career-no less rs
tohishlng and daring. Is il because they
were Spaniards-s it because they came
with the sanction Of u king to raise the
blgots stake, and safe their thirst for gold,
whilst he is an American, battling to in.
augurate civilization through the maunifi
cent regions which for three centuries the
descendants of these conqucrors have mis-
Appropriated
lweuty.three months after he had landed
with hls iifty-six followers, lie had wiki
twenty-five hundred and eighteen men in
all, fought against nineteen thousand Thi,
has been denied. His force has been greatly
exaggerated. ltis easy for ANONYMOUS and
irresponsible disputants 10 swell in priut
that twenty-five hundred into twenty five
thousand, If they please; but the list by