Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1857-07-31
The Late Administration and Fillibus-
ter Walker---Jetferson Davis Inter.
ference in Favor of the Fillibusters.

The Late Administration and Fillibus-
ter Walker---JetIerson Davis Inter.
ference in Favor Of the Fillihusiers,
The National Intellieoncer, Of june l7th,
has. lcttor from Gen. Wool, lately com
mandsr Of the Pacific department, in answer
to that Of Fillibusier Walker, TO the Prcsi-
dent. Walker asserts that when, in May
1854, n few oxiles landed at Realejo, and de-
clarcd the government RSpnblic, they at
once took all the important places in the
State; but, although the masses were friend
ly 10 tho now movement, it was likely to
fail Tor want Of proper military organlEa'
ton. At this junciurc Walker was sent for,
at san Francisco. and authorized to raise
three hundred men. This he would not do
without grant from the Nicaraguan gov.
eminent which would not make him amen.
able to the laws Of the United States. lie
says;
"Such a grant was obtained, aud as soon
as received il showed il to TO 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 instruction from tho
President, under the neutrality act Of 1918.
Both Of the-o officer. informed mo that |
could act under the contract, not only with
out fear Of interference, On their part, hut
with the express assurance that they would
do all in their power to forward the enter
prise"
Its to tho assertions IN this paragraph
tha, Gen. Wool replies, and in making the
explanation, directly duplicates the late al.
mini.,ration in conniyancc to favor Walker
IN establishing \ slave c0nicicracy in Cen.
tal America.
Aftsr cuumcrntinr the circumstances un.
der which he received bis appointment, he
says
Accordingly, on tho Goth Of January,
1851. .at out for the Pacific department.,
with instructions from the Secretary Of War,
and a proclamation from the President Of
tho United States, extracts from which are
annexed, as follows
WAR DrrErvrNr,
WASHINGTON. January H.. 1851. I
Sir In addition IN the ordinary duties
OF the military command 81 which you have
hccn assigned, 10 il deemed proper o. direct
YOUR attention % certain special duties which
will involve on YOU.
among these will b, the duty OF main
tanning our international Obligation. hy PR.
venting unlawful expeditions against tho
territories of foreign powers. Confidence l.
f,lt that YOU will % the utmost ot your
ability, use al proper means 20 detect the
fitting out Of armed expeditions against
countries with which the lult0d states are
at peace, and wall zoallusly cooperate with
the civil authorities IN maintaining the
neutrality law.
Tho President, in his proclamation,
dated the 18th January, 1851, relating 10
unlawful expeditions being fitted out asains,
the territories II Mexico, calls upon all
omcyr- OF the government, civil and military,
to u-c any efforts ia their power 10 arrest
Tor trial and punishment every such Offend
cr.'
with the foregoing instructions and
proclamation. | arrived at san Francisco the
10th February, ani on the l5ih entered up
ON the duties assigned inc. I was no. long
in discovering that Col Watkins aud Mr..
Emory were engaged in recruiting men 90
reinforce Col william Walker, who had
taken possession Of Lower California, "
which be- proclaimed himself President. At
the same time tho Mexican Consul, Del
Vale, and the French Consul, ratricc Dill
Ion, wero actively engaged in raising an
army Of throo thousand men. principally
Fr,uchmcu, 20 take possession Of sonora, 20
be commanded by Count d. Rrou,,et Of
B,ulbou. Upon the facts which | obtained
and presented to the pistric, Attorney, Mr.
Iucc, Watkins, Emory, the Mexican Consul,
and tho French Consul wcro arrested and
tried for violating the neutrality laws Ut
the United States, md all convicted save
the French Consul. In his ca,a the jury
stood ten for conviction and two for acluit-
tai Had he been tried a second time be
would undoubtedly have byru convicted.
Having, by the arrest Of Watkins and
Emory, prevented men aod supplies being
sent To Walker, he was compelled to surren.
der him, self and party to the officers Of the
united States army at san Diego. Tho
commanding officer sent Walker AMI hi.
party to me at san Francisco, all Of whom
| turned over to the United State, District
Attorney and Marshal. Walker was in.
dicicd and tried hu, no, convicted.
"Ah5ut thi. time received an cNtraori.-
nary letter from tho Secretary Of War,
Jefferson Davis, an sHtrac, Of which is an.
ncSed
"WW DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, 18th April, 1854. I
"Sir. Your remarks in rola-
ton TO unlawful expeditions sailing from
the coast % california, suggest the pr0pristy
Of referring you 10 your instructions upon
the subject. 1t was not Ipoi'd or d1Hr'd
that me- military commander should do more
than J5l3ngs % hs ordinary ro'aiicus IF h,
drR and military D1wrr. and, ia iustructiug
YOU 90 aid che civil authorities, it was not
Intended that YOU should originate arrests
and prosecutions for arh miSd.molH01.-
You will readily perceive that consequences
injurious TO the public service would proba-
bly follow from such interference by the
military with the frurtious Of civil rfirgrs "