New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-06-23
nj by the Washington "sssts' in sdvsnce Of pubea,o
LETTER FROM GHn. WALLER
TO the President Of the un,s.d States.
WAsH1sarox i.1nne TX 1asz

tory Of Nicaragua. Justice TO myself az we'll a. To-
the republic OF which claim to be the Tightul and
lawful Chief Executive, requires me to communicate
to yonr Excelleney the circumstances which attended
this convention And in order that the events which
led to the agreement between Comr Davis and my
self may be more fully understood, beg leave 70 mar
rate some facts connected with my presence and
authority in Nicaragua, which have never been prop
erly presented to the Government Of the United
States.
In the month Of May 1854, q few exiles from Mica
rsgua landed in the port OF Reaeo declared against
the then existing government Of the republic, and
secured within two months possession of nearly all
the principal places in the State They soon organ
lied provisional government of which Don Fran
rent however that although the vast majority OF the
people Of Nicaragua were friendly to this movement,
it was likely to fall through for want Of proper mill
taTy force and organization. Castel0n, therefore,
sent to mel was then residing in San Fnncisco-a
contract authorizing me to raise three hundred men
for the service Of the provisional government. This
act Of Congress Of 1878; and sent backthe agent.
employed by Castellon, with instructions 70 secure
possible, grant of colonization, which would mt make
amenable to the laws Of the United States. Such
grant was obtained; and as soon as received it,
showed ii the u s. District Attorney for the North
ern District of California, and to the general COM
manding the Pacific division, who then had special
powers and instructions from the President under the
neutrality act of 1918. Both these officers informed
that could act under the contract not only with
out fear of interference their part but with the
express assurance that they would do all in their
power TO forward the enterprise Not only did sai,
wishes Of all the federal authorities, but the Amer
can sailors from revenue cutter then in port actually
bent the sails for the vessel as she was towed out Of
| the harbor. sg
After arriving at Realejo and my fellow colonists
were regularly naturalized as citizens of Nicaragua
and it became necessary for ns TO use our arms in de-
fence Of the rights we had acquired under the Pro-
visional Government II was soon apparent how
lever that the presence Of the Americans in Nicara
qua not acceptable to all the adherents Of Castel
/ lon, and therefore informed the Provisional Direc-
tor that if our cooperation injurious TO his cause
and prospects. we would willingly retire from the
country But Castellon insisted that the Americans
were the only hope for the Democrats, not only Of
Nicaragua but of all Central America, and he begged
with feryency and perseverance, that we would not
think Of abandoning him in his extremity. Thus ap
peaed to and besonght, we undertook the campaign,
which ended in peace between the contending
parties and may safely assert that the American
influence was chiefly instrumental In achieving the
treaty of the 23d October, 1865. .e$4. .5-a,s...
By this treaty Of the 23d October, the old Legiti-
mist Government recognized the rights of the Ameri
cans naturalized n Nicaragua under the grant from
the Provisional Government And in order to re-
stran the Legitmists said. the excesses of the
Democrats made arrogant by their success they in.
sisted that should retain command Of the army Of
the Republic. t14 i.6Se ,ss. s.,
Soon after the Inauguration of the Provisional Pres
dent under the treaty of the 23d October one of the
Americans in Nicaragua was accredited as Minister
to the United States. An American selected by
the Provisional President at the suggestion OF mem
bers of his Cabinet-al natives Of Nicarag
such person would be more acceptable in the Uni
ted States, from his knowledge of the language and
{. laws of the country to which ne was sent unfortq
nately for Nicaragua and for Central America this
Minister was not received by the Government of tht
United States
About the time the news OF the refusal on the par
h of the United States to recognize the Nicaragual
minister reached Granada, General Cahanos was ap
plying to the Provisional Government for assstanc
is toregan his authority in Honduras opposed thi
policy and endeavered to impress on the Goveinmen
n that the first necessity of Nicaragua was peace.
" stead of making on Honduras, suggested th
proprety of sending notes to the other States OF Ger
: tral America, declaring our peaceful Intentions an
, soliciting friendly intercourse. These suggestion
prevailed with the Provisional President but were nc
paIatable to the Minister of Relations, Don Maxim
~ Jerez, who resigned in consequence OF the peaeeiu
~ ~ policy pursued by the Government.
In the meantime, DEGREES had been issued, invltin
s emigration to Nicaragua, offering grants OF land an
other privileges to such as took up their residence
" =. the State Under these DEGREES, large number {
a Americans and other foreigners emigrated to Mics
u ragua and extensive interests acquired by theI
- in the country. W
As soon, however, as the other States of Centri
y America perceived the policy of the United State
Government, they entered into league for the ezpu
sion of the Americans from Nicaragua. On the Is
ID of March, 1856, Costa R;ca declared war; not agans
Nicaragua but against certain class of persons res
y dent there, and accompanied this declaration wit
other decrees disgraceful to the age and revolving
" civilization. Costa Rica invaded our territory, an
was repealed by the courage OF the naturazed Amer
j, cans. s.I.s l.. = NJ --t
But soon after the enemy RETIRED it became appa
.- rent that Don Maxine Jerez-who had, for his ow
purposes again entered the cabinet OF the Provisions
m Presidentwas smarting under the defeat OF his wa
nc policy, and was conspiring with Don Paricio Riva
d. to join the other States in their opposition to tn
ne ton for President in June last, became candida
NJ. before the people, and was elected by large mi
VI jority. The great objection urged against my e!e
ne ton was, that was not a native OF Nicaragua I'LL
en- constitution of 1854, however, required no sue
ny qualification and Don Fruto Cnamorro himself W;
to a native of Guatemala. As the office of Presidei
ut not known in the constitution OF 1855 It's ces
to that the qualifications for the Office to be fixed
5" the constitution of 1884, which alone created such
'er chief executive. 81
on Duty to the Americans who had been invited
ch Nicaragua required to accept the place OF Pres
r dent, no matter how anxious might be to escape
he lahors and responsibilities. Their interests were
my eyes above and beyond all others for on them
verify believe the welfare Of the whole country al
The it's utility to all the civilized nations of the cart
zee depend. ar a.s' s.a a r.
e 1t is unnecessary for to recapitulate the even
of the struggle in Nicaragua for the last year. 4o
ne as well as others, are familiar with the dange
-" through which the Americans mturalized in Nlcal
,au wv qua have passed. You know whether or not TN
have sustained the ancient fame OF their race for val
t Ma and good faith. You know how they have met Il
'ti open foe and the lurking pestence, with nothil
but sense of duty and justice to sustain them in
'ne hour of trial. Alone in the world unrecognized
AZ al the Government to which they naturally looked
~ w sympathy and countenance they have still sho'
po that they knew how to die in defence OF rights just
"n acquired and attempted to be wrested from them
!, violence and fraud 1t merely behoves me now
aef state how the evacuation of Rivas effected,
-. how the Americans in Nicaragua became eNiles frt
.nr ann the land of their adoption. ' 7R'
rtz On the 22d Of March last the allied force of Co
,tch Rica Guatemala San Salvador and Honduras open
ter a cannonade on the town of Rivas, where the MI
The body of the army of Nicaragua situated and
the morning of the 23d they made general assat
his which was repused with great loss on the part of
et- enemy Afterwards they attempted to invest
heir town but never fully succeeded on account OF
Hall vast force required for such undertaking. On
ked llth Of April they again assaulted Rivas, but W
r. no driven back with more loss than on the 23G
.nter March. In order to show how the enemy were
the duced after the 18th of April need only state I
out on the evening of that day single officer accom-
MED by native servant, passed ont OF Riyas :
,,da went down to San Juan del Sur He there recei
her the letters sent to from New York by the stear
Of of the Goth of March, and brought them to Rvas
bot the morning of the 18th Of April This fact, let
aled say, was known to Commander Davis. e..
A From the 23d of March until the ,23d of Apr
knew that Commander Davis was in corresponds
used with the allies concerning the state OF the fore
cor RivaS. l knew that he was receiving informal
from them calculated to mislead him in relation to