Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-06-19
LETTER OF GEN. WALKER.
TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATEs
WAsHiSGToS, June Is, 1857

eioop 81. Nh'y =, 10 eVacuate tne to~n Cl tlVhs,
the territory of Nicaragua. Justice to myself, wei
as TO the Republic Of which claim to be the righuu
and lawful Chief Executive, requires me to commu
uicate to your Excellency the circumstances which
attended this convention. And in order that th,
events which led to the agreement between Com
nander Davis and myself may be more fully under
stood, beg leave to narrsts some facts connected
with my presence aud authority in Nicaragua. which
have never been properly presented to the Govern
nent Of the United States.
In the mouth of May, 1854, a few exiles from Mica
rsgua landed in the port of Realeo declared agans
the then existing Government OF the Republic, anC
secured within two months, possession of nearly al
the principal places in the State. They soon organ
l1ed Provisional Government, OF which Don Fran
CISCO Castellon was the head. 1t soon became apps
rent, however, that although tue vast majority of th
people OF Nicaragua were friendly To this movement
II was likely 10 fail through want Of proper niltar,
force and organization. Casteon, therefore, sent {,
mel was then residing in San Francisco-a oOnti a,
me- to raise 800 for the service of th.
pfovislonal Government. This contract l rejected
because It was contrary to the act OF Congress o
1913; and sent back the agent employed by Caste
lon with instructions secure If possible, grant
colonization, which would not make me smenabe tC
the laws OF the United States. Such grant was OBJ
tanned ana as soon as received it, showed il tu
the United States District Attorney for the northern
district Of California, and to the general commanding
the Pacific division, who then had special powers and
instructions from the President under the neutrality
act of 1913. Both these officers Informed me that
could act under the Contract moi only without fear Of
interference on their par but with the express assu-
rance that they would do all III their power to forward
the enterprise Notony did sail from San Francisco
with the appreciation and we'll wishes of all the federal
authorities, but the American Sailors from revenue
cutter then in port actually bent the sa. for the
sci as she was towed out of the harbor.
Alter arriving at Reaejo and my fellow colonists
were regularly uaturaliz-d citizens of Nicaragua;
and 1t became necessary for TO in de.
fence OF the rights had acquired under the P.ovi
slonal Government. 1t was soon apparent however,
that the presence Of the Americans in Nicaragua was
not acceptable to ell the adherents of Castelon aud
therefore informed the Provisional Director that il
our cooperation was injurious to his cause and pros
poets, We would willingly retire from the country
But Castelon insisted that the Americans were the
only hope for the Democrats, not only of Nicaragua
but of all Central America, aud he begged with fer
vency aud perseverance, that We would not thiHk oi
abandoning him in his extremity. Thus appealed "a
and besougflr, undertook the campaign, which
ended in peace between the contendng parties; and
may safely assert, that the American influence Wa
chiefly Instrumental in achieving the treaty Of the 2d
October, 1855.
BY this treaty of the 23d October the old Legiti
mist Government recognised the rights Of the Amer
cans naturalzed in Nicaragua under the grant from
the Provisional Government And in order to re-
strain, as the Legitlnlsts sad the excesses of the
Democrats, made arrogant by their success, they iu
sisted that should retain command Of the army o
the Republic.
Soon after the inauguration OF the Provisional Pre-
sdent, under the treaty Of the 23d October, one o.
the Americans in Nicaragua WAS accredited rs Minis
ter to the United States. An American was selected
by the Provisional President at the suggestion o
members of his Csbinet-all natives Of Nicaragua
that such person would be more acceptable in the
United States, from his knowledge Of The Isnguag,
and laws OF the country to which he was sent. Un
fortunately for Nicaragua and for Central America
this Minister rpcaiyad nv fhe (Snvprnmrnf A
the United States.
About the time the news of the refusal on the par
nf the United States to recognise the Nicaraguar
Minister reached Granada Geuersl Cabsnas was ap
plying to the Provisional Government for assistance
10 regain his authority in Honduras. / opposed THU
policy, and endeavOred to impress on the Gov
ernment that ths first necessity Of Nicaragua was
peace. lustead of making war on Honduras, / sug
gested the proprety OF sending notes to the Other
States of Central America declaring our peaceful in
tenlions, and soliciting friendly intercourse. These
suggestions prevailed with the Provisional President
but were moi palatsble TO The Minister Of Relations
Don Maxine JereZ, who resgned IN consequence OF
the peaceful policy pursued by the Government.
In the time, decrees had been issued inviting
emigration to Nicaragua, Offering grants of laud and
other privileges to such took up their residence IL
the Stale UDSer these DEGREES, large number o
Americans and other Foreigners emigrated to Nicara
qua, spd extensive interests We're acquired by then
in the country.
America perceived the policy of the United State
Government, they entered into league for the eI
pul.ion of the Americans from Nicaragua. On thu
Let of March, 1856, Costa kica declared war, no
against Nicaragua but against certain class of per
sops resident there, aud accompanied this declaration
with other decrees disgrsceul 10 the age and revolt
ing to civilization Costa Rca invaded territory
and was repeed by the courage of the naturslzec
Americans.
But soon after the enemy retired, it became apps
rent that Don Maxine Jerez-who had, for his owr
purposes, again entered the cabinet Of the Provision
al President-was snarting under the defeat Of biz
war policy, and was cons2iring with Don Pstriclr
Rivas to join the other States n their opposition to
the Americans. This was 80 palpabls that, IN th-
election for President, in June last, became can
didate before the people, and was elected by large
majority. The great objection urged against my
election was, that WAS not native Of Nicaragua
The constitution of 1854 how.ver, required no such
qualifications and Don Frato Chamorro himself was
d native of Guatemala. As the oltice of Presiden
was not known in the constitution of 1888 ii lie clea
that the qualifications for the office were 20 be hxet
by the constitution OF 1854, which alone created suct
chief executive.
Duty to the Americans who had been invited tC
Nicaragua required me to accept the place OF Presi
neut no matter how anxious might be 10 escape IL
Isbors and responsibilities. Their interests &c
my eyes above and beyond all others; for on them
verify believe the welfare OF the whole country, ant
its utility to all the civilized nations OF the earth de
pend.
II is unnecessary for me to recapuhte the event
of the struggle in Nicaragua for the last year. You
as we'll others, are familiar with The danger
through which the Americans Daturalized in Sicara
qua have passed. You know whether or not the!
have sustained the ancient fame Of their race for valo
and good faith. You know how they have met th
open foe and tho lurking pes;epce, with nothing bu
a sepse Of duty and Justice to sustain them IN tn
hour of trial. Alone in the world unrecognized b.
the Government to which they naturally looked TO
sympathy and countenance, they have still ehowl
that they knew how 10 die in defence of rights usfl
acquired and attempted to be wrested from them b!
violence and fraud. 1t merely behoves me now Il
state how the evacuation Of Rivas was effected, ant
how the Americans in Nicaragua became exiles frou
the land of their adoption.
On the 22d of March last, the allied force of Cost,
Rica, Guatemala San Salvador, and Honduras open
ed csnnonsds on the town of Rivss, where thu
main body of tie army of Nicaragua was situated
and on the morning Of the 23d they made genera
assault, which was repulsed with great oss on the
part OF the enemy. Afterwards they attempted to III
vest the town. but fully succeeded on srcoun'
Of the vast force required for such all undertaking.
On the lth Of April they again assaulted Kivas, ou
we're driven back with even more loss ihan on the
23d of March, 10 order to show how the enemy were
reduced after the lth of April need only state thai
on the evening Of that day single othcer, accompa
MED by native servant, passed out OF kvas anc
went down to San Juan del Sur. He there received
of the 10Th of March. and brought them to Rivas or
the morning of the l'.h Of April: This fact. let mf
say, was known to Commander Davis.
From The 23d of March until tue ODD Of April,
knew that Com'r Davis was in correspondence with
the allies concerning the state OF the force in Rvas
knew that he was receiving information from then
calculated to mslead him in relation to my position
and prospects, But Com Davis was, in the mean
while, making such professions OF friendship for BIZ
countrymen in Nicaragua, that was disposed TO at
tribute his conduct to overan1iety for tho garrison
of Rivas. On the 23d of April, however, circum
stances occurred which led ms to doubt the sncerie,
of his prOtesfations.
On that day, the second Lieutenant of the Sain
Mary's, Lieut. Houston, accompanied by q non com
missoped officer of marines, came into Rvas for tn
purpose of conducting the woInen-boh American
and nstive-from that place to San Juan del Sur
While in the town, Lieut.. Houston expressed hi
great surprise at the good condition Of the garrison
and at the spirit of cheerful confidence which per
vadsd the officers and men. But during his pre-
sence. he and the soldier of marines with him gav'
information to the garrison calculated to diminish tn
courage of the command. These acts, derogatinl
from their neutrality, were done in violation oil al