The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-07-02

Under these DEGREES, a large number oil
Americans and other foreigners emgrated
to Nicaragua, and extensive interests were
acquired by them in the country.
AS soon, however, as the other States OF
Central America perceived the policy of the
United States Government, they entered
into league for the expulsion of the
Americans from Nicaragua. On the 1st of
March, 1850, Costa Rica declared war, not
against Nicaragua, but against certain
class of persons resident there, and accom-
panied this declaration with other DEGREES,
disgraceful to TIE age and revolving to civ
ilization. Costa Rica invaded our territory,
and was repelled by the courage of the natu-
rallied Americans.
But soon after the enemy retired, it be.
come apparent that Don Maximo Jerez,
who had for his own purposes again enter
ed the Aabinet of the Provisional President,
was smarting under the defeat of his war
policy, and was conspiring will, Don Patri-
co Rlvas to join the other States in their
opposition to the Americans. This was so
palpable that, in the election for President,
in June last, became candidate before
the people, and was elected by large ma
Jorlty. The great objection urged against
my election was, that was not native Of
Nicaragua. The constitution of 1854, how
ever, required no such qualifications and
Don Fruto Chamorro himself was a native
OF Guatemala. As the office of President
was not known in the constitution of 1888,
it is clear that the qualifications for the Of
flcc were to be fixed by the constitution of
1854, which alone created such chief ex-
ecutive.
Duty to the Americans who had been
invited to Nicaragua required me to accept
the place of President, no matter how anx-
ious might be to escape its labors and re-
sponsibiitesr. Their interests were, to my
eyes, above and beyond all others; for on
them verify believe, the welfare of the
whole country, and its utility to all the civ
ilized nations Of the earth depend
1t is unnecessary for me to recapitulatc
the events of the struggling in Nicaragua
| for the last year. You, as well as others,
are familiar with the dangers through which
the Americans naturalized in Nicaragua
have passed. You know whether or not
they have sustained tile ancient fame of
their race for valor and good faith. You
know how they have met the open foe and
the lurking pcstience, with nothing but
sense of duty and justice to sustain them
in the hour of trial. Alone in the world,
unrecognizcd by the government to whicl,
they naturally looked for sympathy and
countenance, they have still shown that they
knew how to die in defence of rights Justly
acquired and attempted 10 he wrested from
them by violence and fraud. 1t merely be-
hooves mefnow to state how the evacuation
of Rivas was effected, and how the Ameri-
cans in Nicaragua became exles from the
land of their adoption.
On the 22d of March last the allied force
of Costa Rica, Guatelamala, San Salvador,
and Honduras opened cannonade on the
town of Rivas, where tho main body of the
army of Nicaragua was situated; and on
the morning of the 2ad they made gener-
al assault, which was repused with great
loss on thespart of the enemy. Afterwards
they attempted to invest the town, but never
fully succeeded, on account of tho vast force
required for such an undertaking. On the
l1th Of April they again assaulted Rivas,
but were driven back with even more loss
than on the 23d of March. In order to
show how the enemy were reduced after the
llth of April, need only. state that on the
evening of that day single officer accom-.
panied bya native servant passed out of Ri
vas andwent down to San Juan del Sur
He there received the letters sent to me
from New York by the steamer of the goth
Of March, and brought them to Rrvas on
the morning of the 18th OF April. This,
fact let me say, was known to Commander
Davis.
From the Esd of March until the 2sd of
April, knew that Commander Davis was
in correspondence with the allies concern.
ing the state Of the force IN Rivas. knew
that he was receiving information from
them calculated to mislead him in relation
to my position and prospects. But Com
mauder Davis was, in the meanwhile, ma
king such professions Of friendship for his
countrymen in Nicaragua, that was dis
posed to attribute his conduct to an over
arxiety for the garrison of Rivas. On the
Esd of April, however, circumstances oc-
cured which led me to doubt the sincerity
Of his protestations.
On that day, the second lieutenant OF
the st. Mary's, Lieut.. Houston. accompa.