Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-06-09
From the New Orleans Delta. !
SpEEru NJ nEN VM WAIKEl


Agreeably to the announcement that Gen. Walker
would address the citizens of New Orleans last even
ing Canal street, Carondolet one OF the lar
gest mass meetings have ever seen. assembled ut
the appointed hour. The general spoke nearly two
hours, and was listened TO with intense interest
throughout. Knowing the general anxiety OF ihe
public TO know and to read what Geu Walker has to
say upon the important subject he represents we have
taken especial pains to prepare as complete report
Of his address possible II is scarcely necessary
for us to commend It's perusal to our readera, and
without further comment at present, we submit our
report as follows:
Fellow. Citizens: stand before you, not to vlndl.
cate cnuse for it needs none. What is just needs
no vindcation. This concOurse OF sympathy here
manifested attess the interest you feel. But stand
to vindlcate Americans and the acts ny which an
American cause has been upheld by American clli-
zeus. In examining the motives OF these acts.
1 ask you to dsoard all preiudices, and to stand
here as if you were posterlty, to Judge he'ory-
to Judge without fear or favor.
Many and INSCRIPTIONS have been the means re-
sorted to- to place me in lass light before my coun.
trynen These it is necessary TO remove, and l
challenge my enemies to point 10 single act o nlne
which has been in violation of civil national or inter
national rights. lCheers challenge any one pre-
sent to name any ACT Of mine in Nicaragua which mas
not been stamped with the seal OF justice.
There are those who have charged upon me such
motives as to attempt TO vlndicate then' would Dc
sheer mockery There are those who have charged
From such scorn to vindcate myself. The men
who were with me in Slcaragua-my fellow country
men in srms-wi vindicate me from the chalse oi
having entertained such motives. But there are
other motives not so degrading at first blush -that
was a mere soldier of fortune, attempting to carry
out nv ambition, TO make for myself name and tame.
This imputaion reject as equally unfounded; ana l.
hope convince you that was not mere soldier OF
fortune riskng the lives aud fortunes OF my country
meu for the sake of am bton: Ihe actions Q, my
rnntivA (
self for any purpose it has been to extend American
influence and Americanize Nicaragua.
For thirty ive years a struggle for liberty has been
going on among the Central American republics
The civil wars showed that the people were incapable
of selfgovernment. Nicaragua was in state OF an
archy when accepted the offer OF Chhstilon. re-
fused to act in open violation OF the laws OF the Uni
ted States But said there was no violation OF the
laws of country in their asking mt TO night III oe'
half of the Democratic party. ! aent an agent to
Chastillon 10 tell him that the contract between us
must be- made accordingly; that had an invitation
from Gen. Cauduras to assist the Hondurians, and
would go there if Chsston spprehended any dan
ger from the presence Of Americans in Nicaragua.-
On bended knees and with supplant tones, the Pro-
visionaI President of Nicaragua insisted that should
remain and wished the Americans To be on his own
side for he knew them to be loyal and true.
After my success on the transit route, made a
treaty by which the presence OF Americans wac ap
proved by Corral and his party. did this to secure
the good will of all. There was not Nicaraguan
who could say in the face of this treaty, that he had
not approved the presence OF the Americans. Seven
days after in the presence ot the priests, before
whom Gen. Corral and myself were sworn to the
treaty, and before the ink WAS scarcely dry on thl
paper, he penned encouraging letters to the H9ndu
risus against the Americans. These fell into my
hands, aud | felt might have brough; him to the
block; and by the provisions OF the treaty h9 co.,!
not have evaded his execution. This traitor, proved
to be guilty, plead nothing in his extenu"tion, but
begged for mercy. felt then, as now. that court
of justice an act of WISDOM and mercy the part
Of folly Applause.
felt that justice and mercy would s.iil Do i'etei
out and that in six months after Currals death M.
party would be yanuushed. After the execution OF
Corral, the Rvas party went over to the Democratic
side, and Gen. Cabanas assisted the innuurians'
went by invitation, to the assistance Oh Ncaraguans
Gen. Heras Joined in the application which was made
To me- Every exertion was made to Influence Inc To
take the Americans to Honduras. replied, that the
Americans were there AZ friends to all parties. by
my suggestion, commissions were sent to HONDURAS
and all the States stating that We desired peace that
our policy was pacific, and that under the clrcun
stances to take sides wss illiberal. Heras acknow
ledged the truth of my suggestions. He was not a
Democrat, and not in favor OF assisting CHbanas
Deputies were SCI: by my ADVICE stating that we de
sired peace We shall see how Tar this was granted
In the meantime an important event transpired. Al
the suggestion of Don Patricio Rivas, an American
was sent to represent the Government at Washing
ton. I opposed this as bad policy; but was not in
authority, and my opposition was unayalilng. They
wanted an American 10 speak the American language
You all know fellow citizens, how he was received
None can paint the surprise of the Nicarsguans, be
cause on the plea of Pierce and Marcy, he was re-
.cted on account Of his being born in the O. States
/ we'll knew the result and told them of the relations
that existed between the United States and Ncara
qua; but assured them that my countrymen knew
a power higher than that Of Presidents and Cabinets
that had infinite confidence in that higher power
which the people held in their own hands-he tru'
American sovereignty. [Applause.]
The alliance which followed between the four Cen
trail American States-the combination against
American citizens in Ncaragua-s due to Pierce and
Marcy, under their rejection of the Nicaraguan MIN
ister. This brought the matter to maturity. lmme
dately the Costa Ricans, the supposed weakest pow
er Of the combination, commenced hostitles oy al
open declaration Of war. Then followed the almost
anomalous decree by which the Costa h'cans insoe
war. not against the State, but against the M
in Nicaragua. Thus commenced the wa, VI ne
races-the great battle Of the mongreIs anu luz "ne
men. .Lo ,o.;...
This war, then was not begun oy .ne ,; 90 :
=, N;oerasna and I challenge the production OF a
single act in which they did any thing but uphold the
oIaSssas nsds by the people Of Nicaragua. After
h;s !, ann.sr, that Don Pstrcio Rlyas plotted with
hn orbsrn States for efecng the desertion of such
.n,srcans as could not be expelled by force. Amer
oan r;sbts were ignored in Nicaragua; bribes OF
nnev and even lands freely offered in the face
of our having braved war IN ts worst forms, and
suffered the loss Of life by the rage of famine and
nes,iIence They, however pretended to be- con
yincsd of my of ths merits Of our position
and were willing that the election Of President s0ull
90 before the people. This desired. for We'll knew
that the mass OF them detested with impacabl.
hatred the forced military service Of the Costa Ri
sans.