Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-06-09


lmmediatsly the Costa Ricau-, the 81 poss Fealf
power Of the comhinafi0h fonIRen hos ties ~
an open declaration Of par. Thaa 4ollQFed re
almost anomalous decree q which tie Costa Ricss
made wsr, not against the State, but against the
Americans in Nicaragua Thus commenced the var
Of the races-the great battle Of the mongrels and
the white men.
This war then, was not begun BY. the Americans
in Nicaragua and challenge the production Of
single act in which they did anything but uphold
maae-by- the people Of Nicaragua
After this 1t appears that Don Rareo kiTas plotted
with the Northern States for Erecting the desertions
of such Americans as could not be expelled by
force. americas rightz Bersignored in Nicaragua;
brides Of money and even lands were freely offered
IN the face Of cur having braved var in its WeFst
forms, and suffered the loss Of life b. The rage Of
famine and pestlenee.
They, however, pretended to be convinced Of my
assurances of the merits Of my position, and were
willing that election Of President should 60 be-
fore the people. This ] desired, for 1 well knew
that The mass Of them detestsd with an implaeahle
hatred the forced military service Of the Costa Ri
cans -
The election was decreed, bat only think the re-
suit was not declared, before Rivas was plotting
revolution, under the pretence that the people
OyeraWed by my presence. But q the wicked fee
when no man p1rsueth ~ was not there. they were
running from their own eonsciences. NotWithstand-
ing this conduct of RiEas the election resulted In
elcVatlQnl TO the ffealQency. by LnlB, L stood
forth the only protector and lawful representative
Of the Eiearaguans. Riyas was previously but tie
provisional President. l was Commander-in. Chief
Of one portion Of the army and it was through me
he was mined for the position. was joint sponsor,
and after the death Of Corral was the sole cause Of
his elevation. bound BY oath to put Rivas ont
when was sworn in, but was justified before the
world by the nHmistakabls voice Of the people, who
knew the facts under wHichI had been elected ,
need not recount the events which followed.
have but to yndieate the acts Of Americans in Mica
ragua.- You al know how long and how successful
ly striVed; with what means forced back the enc
my; brayed that worst of foes, the lurking pesti-
leRee, then raging with violence in Granada. But
for a new influence, which, I regret to say, cones
but little less from my own than a foreign country
we might still have been in arms in Nicaragua
It is probable, we had no right to expect sympa-
thy from the British, even if determined at the sac
rfce of the honor and rights Of British officers; but
need not tell you that officers of the British ser
vice encouraged desertion from our army. They but
obeyed the dictlm of superior authority. But what
ever the position Of these officers / could not but
think that unless governed by some strange eoIlu-
sion, they would not thus have nerfered with Anne
rican citizens. 30 III
It is impossible to explain it except by supposing
that Americans we're the same side with the Brit
ish. Our worst enemies were Americans. Oh that
they had been born in some other country It is
our shame thai they should at their birth have
not until the last exigency-that Of reverse and
danger-an American, bearing the name and arms
of anAmerican officer, consummated what British in
reference had begun. tits duty to myself to ex-
plain why We are no longer in arms; and that how
insignificant might be the representative of our
Government, 1 should respect the American flag as
much in him the highest officer; and that In sur
rendering, [ reserved the right Of appeal-not to
the Government but to the gOyernors-to the peo-
pie themselves.
Capt Davis made representations which could
hardly believe were frue; and American as he was
he Committed act which was really one Of war
upon Nicaragua But consider, fellow citizens that
that little vessel he Granada was covered with hon
or by American hands. She was manned BY Ameri-
cans, and met vesselsOf thes enemy and came of
victorious in an engagement unequalled in the an
mails Of naval warfare since the days Of Paul Jones
Yes feHow-eitizens, that event. in which the little
Nicaraguau schooner was successful will be reeur-
red to with pride by the historian, and the eleventh.
of April Will long be remembered by the American
people. Who of you cannot feel proud at the spirit
of manhood manifested by an American born in
your midst2 Yes, you can but feel that that little
vessel fact in the history Of American enter
prise, surrounded with glorious memories which can
not be erased. Yet, despite the glories she has at
tached to our fame, there was not wanting Ame-
rican to commit act Of which every lover Of his
country should be ashamed. .aal -. 81.
1t was reserved for Capt Davis to make himself
party to an alliance with the British and the mon
gre,s Of Central America to drive his own race from
the Isthmus. He expressed his determination to
seize the Granada and we were bound to yield to
him. Yes fellow citizens, we were forced to make
terms, and to surrender to officer Of the Ameri-
can Navy
Great was our indignation when we learned that
the Americans had thus interfered with the Ameri-
can cause in Nicaragua Why this action of Davis
Because he had received instructions from Washing
ton. But why we're these instructions given? It
was because here was presented the real issue be-
tween he Marcy treaty, as it was, and the Ameri-
cans in Nicaragua Here was the starting source
The American Minister to England and the Adolf
onists at the North determined that slavery should
be excluded from place over which Americans had
no control
Icare not what may be the ideas of those present,
or what they may say in justification, it was but
combination to exclude the action Of sovereignty Of
Honduras from the Bay Islands Between the
States of New Grenada and Costa RIGA there exist
ed a question Of boundary, originated mainly
through men at New York, the agents Of the steam
ship company. g.
There was also a question Of territory between
New Granada and Costa Rica, and between Costa
Rica aud Nicaragua in relation to Buena Costa and
the Mosquito country. The idea Of this question
was for New Granada TO enter into an agreement
with Nicaragua that slavery should be excluded.
Here commenced British intrigue in the desire to
ooniOund the relations Of these governments with
our domestic Institutions Here let me say that do
not wish to excite political feeling this subject
1t is perhaps fortunate that was born in a South
ern State; which may be unfortunate that cannot
consider slavery a moral or political wrong. My
teachings may not have been altogether of Wilber-'
force may have touched a too sensitive point
but feel that have but struck upon the proof of
British interference.
Look back to the Origin of slavery in American
histOry-whO introduced it into this country? Was
lie man without hoRor2 Certainly few have stood
by her in moral worth than La Gras Casas, the
Spanish priest, who was the head and front of this
offending. He introduced it in the 10Th century, for
the relief Ct the Indians from the subsection Of the
SpaDiards It were better that he had fixed It per-
manently not only in Cuba but in other regions of
Central America. Certainly he was wise and far
more liberal for his day than the present fol-
lowers Of Clarkson and Wilberforce.
Central America was in a worse condition than
under the Spanish rule The government was going
to ruin. Mongrelism was the secret Of its waning
fortunes. What was to be done? 1t was left for US
to Americanize Central America.
{ On whom rested the right Of regenerating the
amalgama ed race? On other than the peOpleof the
United States and especially of the Southern States
call upon you therefore, to execute this mission
You cannot, IN justice to yourselves shrink from the
endeayOr, You cannot but contribute your ener-
ges in carrying out the great principle of American
influence. As for myself, forced here as am, can
but apperl to you to assist in regaiuing the Ameri
can ascendaney. My duty has been paid, and
would not turn back on the path have traversed.
No,gentlemen, forced here against my viii, l feel
that duty calls on me to return. Applause All
who are nearest and dearest IN me are there There