The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-11-15

Letter from Gen. Henningsen % Gen. Cass-
Violation OF the Walker-Eaenninsscn Treaty
at Rivas.

wAzusoros, Nov IL, 1857.
To rH How. LSwr cAss, sDcRErARY or STATS
SR-On tho lst Of May last, in Nicaragua charged
by President Walker with negotiating drafting and subse
qucntly carrying into the convention OF Rvas
That negotiation entered INTO and the capitalization
wa mads soly with United States officer Capt DAVIS
Of the u. 8 ship OF 81 Marys under the guarantee OF
the United st ates flag that certain would be OBJ
served by the besiegers.
One Of the most important stpulaons referred 10 the
native Ncaraguans who had faithfully served with and
who be left in the country. All the Of that
capnlaton have been in greater or lesser degree vio
ed but most aganty has the clause referring to those
natives.
That agreement substantially provides that they shall
permitted 70 reside unmolested wherever they please
In Nicaragua have since learned various times with
deep regret that these have been forced carry
arms coerced 70 labor and in various ways
informed, on unquestionablc authority, that
Of them, Gen. Pncda, s working in chains on the
Segovia road.
General pineda the brother of former President Of
Nicaragua ia brave and chivairous gentleman, whose
long record Of public is without bemish, whose
political and military consistency and fidelity make him
bright example the Spanish this continent and
would render him an honor 10 any couary.
General Pineda regarded General Walker the legitimate
President Of Nicaragua. General Walker, without any
larger majority than any President received before
probably will receive again in Nicaragua, because
the only classes who labor produce had witnessed
der his auspices the abolition Of forced military SERVICE
and in his election for the first time in their genera
on the prospect Of not being coerccd by ambitious fac
Ionss fight through nerminable revolutions for
In which they took When the pressure of in
erna treachery foreign invasion and extraneous ntuen
prevented him from protecting them from conscrip
on they 10 regard this an Illusion and resigned
themselves, they had done from time immemoria TO
be dragged from their peaceful avocons and driven 10
slaughter by leaders whom IL was my fortune 10
hear oil in the front of battle II is difficult for any
acquainted with facts not TO have regarded with Gen
eral Pneda not TO continue To regard General Walker
the legitimate President of Nicaragua, since valid
election take place as long the Costa Rcan foreign
force occupies part of the territory Of that republic
II h worth observing that besides being still j,re Presi
dent General Walker de aco President of Nicaragua
far beyond the average term In the fifteen changes OF
that have taken place in this respect within six
years, there Is only Chamorro whose term Of power
ceeded by month"; and President Pineda by four
months, General Walkers actual exercise OF that Office
To that legitimate Presidents government, when Pres
dent dc and de fdcto General Pneda took oath He
adhered TO faithfully and valantly in good and evil for
tune and this sir is the crime for which this man. whose
word through long has been invoate is persecu
ted native and foreign leaders whose antecedens are
one tissue OF per- ry and deceit.
fearing aton Of the captuaioD guaranteed by the
United States flag, but possible assassination. Captain
Davis, however, particularly undertook to provide for
bis safety and that he should pass to his home without
molesaton whereupon Gcn. Pneda expressed his deter
mnaton 10 remain and eviDced the confidence In
the protection Of the nag OF the American Union which he
had always shown in the Americans who had identified
themselves with tho OF his country.
Now sir, great the socitude OF President Walker
with regard 10 our Ncaraguan fellow soldiers in Rvas
and generally the feeling Of their American
companions IN arms that am only expressing the com
mon sentiment when emphacaliy declare, that II ever
circumstances could have driven 10 captuate with he
Central American invaders insurgents | would have
all risk OF dying sword in hand, than have
less strong than the obligation Of opponents towards
powerful nation.
they naturally looked TO the Americans in Rivas el.
ciently to guarantee their safety. President Walker,
who ntrused with the details OF that negotiation aud
my comperons IN arms, who knew that was herewith
inirusted look me- and T. sir have the ~ n the
rcan Union 10 look To- NV duty towards the sufferers
and my honor asodier oblgc me, therefore, respect
fully appeal for redress of tbs great wrong to the chief
magistram Of this republic, whom believe II s proper
that should address through you.
feel compelled in connection with this matter, 10 oa
your attention certain facts relating 70 that captuaton
Of Rvas which have been much misrepresentcd II had
been my intenton day 70 have set them their
light no one else undertook 10 do So But had deferred
the task TIL that auspcous settlement Of the Nicaragan
question when American institutions add civilization will
predominant on the very spot which was tho scene Of
merted American disastsra result look upon even
tuay inevitable and which your recorded opinions
assure me, General, that you sympathise with me in
desiring. am aware that, az you 40 eoluenty state
In your letter OF the 2lst May, 1885 you "sre 10
be dcercd from tho expression Of those feelings BY sneers
or reproarhes or hard words"
Is however, necessary that should advert tho-e
facts this communication, because they tend 10 x
strongly the responsibility Of re res3 the govern
ment o the United States than appears In the face Of the
capituation.
An atemp, been made TO create the impression
the Nicarnguan army ai Rvas was In An utterly despo
position, from which relieved by the inaerven
ton OF Captain Davis, whose interference pretended 10
have been only ocious dictated solely by motives Of hu
manity and undertaken on his own responsibility.
Now SIR, though do not wish ~ impugn the motives OF
Captain Davis, and though we have never done the
Cabinet at Washington tho injustice 10 believe that
he acted either upon s instructions or In conformity with
lis intentions, must remark firstly, that Captain Davis NJ
commanding the only United States force there, represent
cd for the United States secondly thai ia far
position desperate, rendered by his act
and thirdly that after the commission o that act stu
alton not desperate enough for us 10 have trusted
our wounded or naivo companions In arms 10 the
mercy Of our opponents wnhouta better guarantee than
the word they had 40 often violated.
We could no; have done 50, remembering that m tho
spring of 1855 President Mora had preached crusade OF
which the svowed object The determination Of all
North Americans who took any part IN The Affairs or TO
him foreign country; that IN March q that year be shot
all the straggers and wounded who fell into his hands after
the disaster Of Santa Rosa that 10 the following April be
put 70 death peaceabe American citi1ens In Virgin
Ray; and tha. beng ssacked 70 , nsas IN ., s,ca,a
president MorS) hed back 70 Costa Rica with his
brother, General Mora leaving General Can1 70 bring
back his shattered fproes thai Gen Canas obliged
abandon his SICK and Costa Rcans 70 Gen Walk
ers mercy who had them tended with the same
hs own We could no, have done 60 re%smserins n.
massscred In Granada, smongs others minister Of ths
Gospel the Rev Mr.. Wheeler, and Mr.. Iawicss, mcr
chant long resident In the country and tho neutrality Of
both of whom beyond csv or dispute
We could not have done 20 even " treating with the
only invading or insurgcnt leaders, whose personal cha
ractcr entitled thcm any confidence rcspccGcnorals
Canas and Zavala-becsnse the ono, Gen. Canas, was
subordinate 20 the Norss, his brothers nls~, who,
cordng 10 the report of the country Jealous OF
his popularity home kept him abroad ~ bear the brunt
of danger with the intent David when he sent
Urah forth battle. Because the other, zavaa, Qua
tealan general had evidently not influence enough 70
restrain his colleagues At least after letter written By
him In October, 1850 proposing 70 humanizc the war and
requesting the liberation Of favortc buelcr request
with which President Walker Immediately complied Col
Ianc Cuban In tho Nicaraguan army taken prisoner by
Zavaas forces shot by order Of tho allied and naur
gent leadcrs-an act in which am 10th 10 believe that
Gen zva either participated or had tho power o. pro
venting.
Astothc condition Of tho Ncarauan army under President
Walker Rivas tho attempt TO besego that city began
the 21k Of January 1857 he being that time on
from all communication with the Atlantic States by the un
lawful seizure Of the Transit steamers.
ny repeated and vigorous attacksonce n Obraje, four
san Jorge, the 10Th Of January ID and lith