Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-04-11
WHOLE NO. 600.


But, during all this timc Walker must have had
his own views, and was subject to political as we'll
rs commercial influences. He went to Ncsraeua. I.
As soldier OF fortune goes everywhere ahd any.
where, to do the best be could do for himself He.
Idoubtless, used others and Others certainly used
him. lie had upon his side the appearance Of
fair invitation. But every sensible man is Judge,
whether Central American party would, unless
especially melted to the step by n strong outer in.
huence, be likely to invite. as an ally notorious
Californian adventurer. Still the appearance was
in his favor. lie led the allies and conquered n
transient peace; went through the form of making
part OF new governments; and almost instant
| iv. by his own word, traitor 10 it.. OF course,
Walkers objects were. first, William Walker
second, the .rty of his natural predictions and
| their principles. The Steamship company was
shrewd, but the political inlu erce was sagacious.
The main end for Walker to hold constantly in
view, was not dividends to a company. but advan-
tage to n great political party, which divided the
Unun AT home and upon which his claims would
be vast and patent. The steamship company was
useful to supply money and men,and must be pro-
pitiated, because the hope of Americanizing
Nicaragua greatly depended upon the favor Of the
transit company, then in possession, But this
was all secondary. The gentldmen absui Bowling
Green in New York were only tools thinking them
selves handles-a fate which has belallen mer-
chants before.
The general intention of the Walker movement
was to obtain absolute control of the governments
right to be supported by the official recognition
of the United States Government. by the pecu-
mary interest of commercial company, by tho
popular sympathy of a spurious philosophy Of
manifest destiny, and the necessity of short road
to California, and 10y the general Indifference of
all who not especially interested in the sue
cess of the effort. Thus Nicaragua to be im-
pregnated with American influences and interests;
and. in the fulness of time, as practically Amer
cai state, comprising the shortest and safest tran
st In nr ..r1 tI,a
commerce, she was to ask annexation and admit
ance to the Union, care having been taken
| from the beginning that no psalm-singing YAM
KEGS" but good Christian shareholders, should
have control of the elections and the state consti-
| tuition.
This was doubtless, the gener al intention, de-
veoping itself, OF course i'm per fectly, and mods.
he'd by various circumstances. And. equally be-
yound doubt, this is a general intention of the
extreme party Of slavery in this country, which,
for the moment, and in Nicaragua, is dsappoint-
ed. The plan includes Cuba and the islands Of
the Gulf. with Central Americas and it implies
war with Europe and dissolution of the present
Union. Its object is the extension Of slavery in
to regions deemed more suitable to the institution
than some of the cooler slave states and in which
a langud climate will be the most subt ally Of
the sophisries and sins of the system 1t is easyto
see. for instance, that slavery would flourish much
more luxuriantly in the ignorance of the Tropics
than IN Virginia beGirt with intelligence and free
Ahto 10 tio RfDht OuJcCbs anu tS VulO5Opuy
is the doctrine that the superior Saxon race lead
ing the van Of civilization must and ought TO over
spread the continent and displace the barbarism
] of Central America as it supplanted the savagss
Of North America.
That 1t is the design of Providence to .ubdus
this continent and the world to intellectual and
moral light and liberty. we have no doubt. Thas
the ways OF Providence, in accomplishing its de-
signs. are often inexplicable, equally believe.
That God is present in history, and that no great
at n nasp tl,,t th,t
necessary faith as that sparrow falls to the
ground without his care. Al! this is simply to
say thar God is God, and rules in the universe.
But to assume that it is the divine intention
j, thing should he done, because We can do it, is Q
little dangerous. Such doctrine is dear and con.
/ venient to every wrung-doer, and is as good an
argument in the mouth Of Cain in that of the
Holy lnqr isltion. 1t is very evident in history
i that the race, has gradually advanced from the
East toward the West, its moral condition i'm
proving with its march. The great experiment Of
/ popular government about to be tried, the new
world was discovered, and the pilgrims arrived
upon its shores. Belonging to the superior race
they were IN the divine order, to supplant the in
ferinr. Now will any man contend that any in
! divdual pilgrim who, having helped TO enrap tho
Indians into war. then went u Saybrook and
S helped to slay the PequOts, was less murder-ho
the individual Pilgrim who shot the individual
: Pequot-because, in the order of Providence. the
e Saxon race was to Overspread this continentf Ii
Tue argument is VaUu, every crlnc is JNStneQ. III
IL man is found murdered in his room, it was,
is doubtless, the divine design that the man should
r be murdered. Shall we then regard the murderer
d as the instrument Ui GOdr
IS The best civilization Of the race now occupying
81 the North American continent will undoubtedly, v,
IF gradually stretch all it. But while that is q
y philosophical dream Of the thoughtful American,
l. it is his practical duty to hang pirates If the
= Lord intends to carry civilization across the
= thmus, ria Nicaragua, we take leave to doubt il
a he proposes to give 1t in charge to slavehoders,
going to make Nicaragua a slave state. We do
not say that such are not the mems he may en-
{ ploy. Certainly many of 1.-The methods of progress
>. have been as strange and inscrutabe as that.
f But if lie has implanted an instinct of faith in
G his purposes, however dark his way 10 them may
Y be, 50 he has given us an instinct and q command
e Of conscience to resist oppression 1t may be in
q the order of Providence that man should break
into your house; but it is equally in that order
!. that you should shoot him il you can. So it may
be i'll the order oi Providence to extend civilization
by suffering slavery IN other regions Of this
: tiucnt than those it already curses. But ii j,
e equally i'll that order, that every humane and re
r. hGious man should resist that extension to th'
e end.
4, Until, therefore. conscientious man co.
operate with clean hands in what he euneeives tc
he the design Of G"d upon this continent he may
# be very sure the moment for his cooperation has
e not arrived 1t is not necessary thai we should
get San Francisco within any special time but
is IL is of the last importance that We should nut lie.
and steal and murder. II. as a people. we
Y not be just-if we cannot even pretend to
!. be just It might be as Ill to postpone obses
IS vations upon Providence and the progress Of ha-
r. manty.
Il The practical present question in the matter oi
s. Nicaragua is this: Nicaragua being a state q,
le independent Of US as Great Britain. what 10 the
best arrangement we make with her 70 pas
v over to the Pacific and California il We conelud,
e. to go that way? The answer is plain enough
le we must negotiate for the right of way, which
n Nicaragua viii gladly enough coneede upon proper
r. terms. and she must agree to protect the passage
to or le. us protect ourselves, each power being
b amenabe To the other for nfracions of the agree
m ment, according to custom and international law
of and as the stronger power we must in honor SEQ
~ that we are not the offenders. To this England