Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-06-24
A LETTER FROM GENERAL WALKER.

paid by the Magistrate advertising.
A LETTER FROM GENERAL WALKER.
General Walker has written letter to the
President, complaining of the interference OF
Commander Davis with his operations of Mica
raeua He says he felt perfectly secure at Rivss
as long as he had the schooner Granada to rely
on. After giving long history of his advent
and performances in Central America, with which
the public are familiar, he comes down to the
subject in question, and states that Captain DAVIS
once or twice before his last "outrage" offered
to.assist him in his escape out OF the country.
He then goes on to say:
After the visit of Lieut.. Houston, heard no
more from Commander Davis until the goth OF
April, @hen two aids-de-camp from the enemy
under flag of truce with letter from that otti-
Ger to myself The letter proposed that should
abandon Rivas and 60 aboard of the St. Mary's
to Panama, Com. Davis undertaking to guaran-
tee my personal safety. Although this PROPOSE
ton was extremely offensive as 1t
did, that my personal safety, instead of the honor
and dignity Of the Government of which was
the Executive, might prove determining CIR,
cumstance in military convention-l replied
that the proposition was vague, and suggested
his coming into Rivas, and.a personal confer
ence between us. only submitted to the NOR.
tifeation of answering such letter on the sup.
position that Commander Davis might have in.
formation did not possess, and which might
Justify the substance, though not the manner, OF
his offer. He answered by saying that he was
sorry / found his proposition vague; that he pro.
posed ~ should abandon the enterprise and
leave the country" that might rely on the fact
of Col. Lockridge having left the San Juan river;
and finally, that he had maturely considered the
invitation to enter Rivas, and had decided, unre-
scrvedly, not to take such step.
The tone of the note was, if possible, more
offensive than that of the first; and the use OF
the word enterprise" in connexion with Gov.
ernment which Commander Davis had studiously
acknowledged, by addressing me as President,
but few weeks previously, sounded strangely
discordant. AS, however, the letter stated the
EVACUATION of the San Juan river-thefrst news
I had of this event. stopped to answer the
offensive note by proposing to send two officers
Gen. Henningsen and Col. Waters-to meet
Commander Davis, provided they had safe con-
duct from the allied General. AS answer soon
came, enclosing the required safe conduct; and
the answer was in effect, that Gen. Henningsen
and Col. Waters should proceed at once to the
headquarters of the allies, as Commander Davis
instructions required hi, speedy return to San
Juan del Sur. I was surprised to recognise the
body of the note as the handwriting of Gen.
Zaysla-one of the generals of the allied forces,
who spoke and wrote English-and to find that
such note was signed by professed neutral.
For what passed between Gen. Henningsen
and Col. Waters and Commander Davis refer
you to the report of the former officer, herewith
enclose, and to the terms of the convention of
Rivas Allow me to suggest that the convention
itself is the best evidence the army in Rivas was
not on the eve of destruction or dissolution. If
the peril to my command was as great as has
been publicly represented, the allies never would
have permitted us to evacuate the place, not only
in safety but with honor.
In his interview with Gen. Henningsen, Com
mander Davis had expressed his unalterable
determination" to seize the schooner Granada !;
and this had been determining circumstance
with me in signing the convention. was there
fore surprised on the morning after l went
aboard the ST. Mary's, to hear Commander Da-
Wis propose that should deliver the vessel to
him without the necessity for the use of force.
This rejected He then proposed should de-
liver the vessel on. condition he gave me the
arms and ammunition on board of her. re-
piled, not rag or splinter should be given up,
except to an overwhelming force for the honor
of the little vessel was in her hull and rigging
and in the flag she bore, and ineomparison with
this, the value of the property aboard her was
mere dross. Need I express surprise that
United States naval officer should make so dis
honorable proposition?
Finding that Commander Davis appeared to
hesitate m the execution of what he had declar-
ed his unalterable determination" endeavor
ed to convince him Of the gross wrong aud in
Jury he would commit by the seizure of the
Granada. eudeavored to satisfy him he had
no right to question the flag of the schooner
while she lay in the port Of San juan that
while there she was within the territory of Mica
ragua, and subject only to the sovereignty of
that Republic; that it was unworthy of the
United States thus to trample on the most sacred
rights of sister State; and that I could not
and would not believe his Government would
sanction such violation of international law.
He replied he would weigh what had said and
see me again on the subject but without any fur
ther conversation, he gave written orders to his
first lieutenant to seize the Granada by force.
The order was executed. The first lieutenant
boarded the Granada with small force. Capt
Fayssoux of the Granada, beat to quarters
Lieut.. Maury endeavored to persuade Captain
Fayssoux to give up his vessel, alleging, in &C.
cordance with his instructions, that it would be
in accordance with the Rivas convention.
Capt Fayssoux said his orders were not to de-
liver the schooner unless to an overwhelming
force. Lieut.. Maury returned to the St. Marys
and informed me that he intended to take the
Granada, and if desired to save the e6usion of
blood should give an order to deliver her to
him. he then brought his broadside of eleven
guns to bear on the schooner, manned his small
boats with one hundred men, and came to me
for the order; which was of course given. Soon
afterward had the modification to see the Nj.
caraguan flag hauled down and the American
flag 6oisted. Indignation as an officer Nicaragua
ut the lowering Of its flag was stiAed by shame
as native of the United States at seeing its glo
rious ensign disgraced by covering an act of per-
idy and wrong.
I ask leave to beg your special consideration
If the fact that Lieut.. Maury applied to me for
IN order to Capt. Fayssoux. This was an &c.
that Capt. Fayssoux was still an
officer of the Government Of which was the
Executive.
But the dignity and honor of Nicaragua had
not been sufficiently degraded by having her oHu