Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-06-24
Letter of Gen. walker to the President
of the United states.


well a. to the Republic of which claim to be the
rightful and lawful Chief Executive reoures me to
communicate to your Exceleucy the circumstances
which attended this convention. And, in order
lhatthe events W ch Id to the agreement between
Commander Davis and myself may be more fully
understood, beg leave to narrate some facts con-
necteo with my presence and authority in Nicsrs-
qua, which have never been properly presented TO
she Government of the United Stats.
In the month of Nav, 1854 few e1ilcs from
Nicaragua landed in the port Of Reslsjo, declared
against the then existing Government Of the Re-
public, and secured, within two months, possession
OF nearly all the principal places in the State. They
soon organized Provisional Government, of which
Don francisco Csstellon was the head. IL soon be-
came apparent, however, that, although the vast
M orty Of the people of Nicaragua friendly to
this movement, il was k ly to fail through want OF
proper military force and organic ition Castellon,
therefore, sent to mel was then residing 10 San
Francisco-a contract authorizing me TO raise three
hundred for the service of the Provisional Gov
eminent. This contract rejected, because it wss
contrary to the act Of Congress of 1918; and sent
back the agent employed by Csstellon with iDstrue-
tons to secure, pcssible grant of colon'z ion
which wouli not make me smenable to the laws Of
the United States. Such grant was obtained; and,
as soon as l received it, showed 1t to the United
Stairs district attorney for the northern oltIltt OF
California and TO the general commanding the Pa
ciic division, who then had special powers and in
siructous from the President, under the neutrality
act OF 1918. Both these officers Informed me that
could act under the contract, not only without
fear of Interference their pert, but with the tx
prpss assurance that they would DO all in their pow
or to forward the enterprise Not only did | sail
from San Francisco with the appreciation and well
wishes Of all the Federal authorities, but the Amer
lean Sailors from revenuc-cutter then in port,
tuslly bent the sails for the vessel as she owed
oct of the harbor.
After arriving at Reaejo, and my fellow.colc-
nists were regularly naturszed as citizens Of Mic
aragua and it became necessary for US to use our
arms In defence Of the rights we had acquired W.
der the Provisional Government 1t was soon ap-
parent however, that the presence of the AmeIi-
cans in Nicaragua not accepdble to all the adj
herents of Castellon, and therefore informed the
Provisional Director that if our cooperation was in
urious to his cause and prospects, we would will
ngly retire from the country. But Castellon insist
cd that the Americans were the only hope tor the
g. mocrats, not Only Of Nicaragua, but OF all Cen
trial America, and he begged with frvency and per-
severance that we would not think of abandoning
him in his extremity. Thus appealed to and be-
sought, we undertook the campaign, which ended
in peace between the cOntending parties; and
may safely assert that the American influence was
Gult Nv llSuuUeHNai III dSulSfihB tuS hNosJ " WV
2Gd October, 1855.
By thi, treaty of the 23d October, the old Logit-
mist Government recognized the rights OF the Amer
leans naturdljzed in Nicaragua under IN grant, from
the Provisional Government And in order to re-
strair the Legitimiss said, the excuses OF the
Democrats, made arrogant by their success, they
insisted that should retain command of the army
of the Republic.
Soon after the Inauguration OF the Provisional
n III. % n
of the Americans in Nicaragua accredited as
Minister to the United States. An American
selected by the Provisional President, at the sug
geston of members of his Cabinet-all Hatives of
Nicangua-that such person would be more
ceptabe in the United States, from his knowledge
OF the language and laws of the country to which
he was sent. Unfortunately for Nicaragua and for
Central America, this Minister was not received by
the Government Of the United States.
About the time the news of the refusal on the
part of the United States to recognize the Nicara
guam Minister reached Granada General Cdbanas
wa applying to the Provisional Government for =
sistance to regain his authority in Honduras. OPP
posed this policy, and endeavored to impress on
the Government that the first necessity Of Nicara
qua peace. Instead of making wsr on Hondu
ras, suggested the propriety OF sending notes t.
the other States of Central America, declaring our
peaceful intentions snd soliciting friendly inter
course. These sugg, stions prevailed with the Pro-
vsional President, but were not palataGle TO the
Minister OF Relations, Don Maxine Jerez, who re-
signed in consequence of the peaceful policy pur
sued by the Government.
10 the mean time DEGREES had been issued in
viting emigration to Nicaragua, off ring grants G
land and other privileges to such as took up their
residence in the State. Under these DEGREES
large number of Americans and Other foreigners
cmigrated to Nicaragua, and extensive interests
were acquired by them in the country.
As soon, however, as the otter States OF Central
Amt RIGA perceived the policy of the United States
Government they ent, red into a league for the ex
pulsjon of the Americans from Nicaragua On the
LIST OF March, 1856, Costa Rica declared war, not
again Nc ragua, but against a certain class OF
persons resident there, ard accompanied this de-
caration with other DEGREES, disgraceful to the age
and revolving to civilization. Costa Rica invaded
our territory, and repealed by the courage Of
the naturalzed Americans.
But soon after the enemy retired it became ap-
parent that Don Maxine Jerez-who had, for his
own purpos S, again entered the cabinet OF the Pro
visioDa President-was smarting under the defeat
of his wsr policy, and was conspiring with Don
PatrciO Rivss TO join the other States in their OPP
pc 'llion to the Americans. This was so palpable
that, il the election for President in June last,
b, came a candidate before the people, and was
urged against my election was that | was not ma
tive OF Nicaragua. The constitution OF 1854, how
ever, required no such qualification; and Don Fruto
Chamorro himself a native OF Guatemala. As
the office OF President was not known in the con-
stitution of 1888, it is clear that the qualifications
for the Office to be fixed by the constitution
OF 1854, which alone created such a chief execu-
tive.
Duty to the Americans who had been invited to
Nicaragua required me TO accept the place OF P.esi-
dent, no matter how ANXIOUS might be to escape
its labors and responsibilities Their interests
to my eyes above and beyond all Others; for on
them verify believe the welfare Of the whole un-
try and it, utility to all the civilized nations OF the
earth, depend.
Ii is unnecessary for me to recapitulite the
events of the srugc 10 Nicaragua for tn last year.
You, well % others, familiar with the dan
gers through which the Americans naturaliZed 10
Nicaragua have passed. You know whether or not
they have sustained the ancient fame OF their race
for valor and good faith. You know how they
have met the open foe and the lurking pestilence
with nothing hut OF duty and justice 20
tain them in the hour of trial Alone in the world,
uurecognized by the Government TO which they
naturally looked for sympathy and eountenance,
they have still shown that they knew how to die in
defence Of rights justly acquired attempted to be
Srested from them by violence and fraud. II
merely behOOyes me now to state how the evacua-
ton OF Rivas effected, and how the Americans
IN Nicaragua became exiles from the land OF their
adoption.
On the god of March llst the allied force Of Costa
Rica, Guatemala, San Salvador, and Honduras
opened cannonade on the town Of Rivas, where
the main body of the army Of Nicaragua was stua-
ted; and on the morning OF the 2Sd they made
general assault, which was repul'ed with great loss
on the part OF the enemy. Afterwards they at
tempted to invest the town, but never fully sue
ceeded on account OF the vas. force required for
such an undertaking. o. the llth OF April they
again assaulted Rivss, but were driven back with
even more loss than on the go Of March In order
to show how the enemy were reduced sitter the llth
OF April, need onlv state that on the evening Of
thA, day sin lie officer, accompanied by a native
servant, passed out OF Rivas and went down 10 San
Juan del Sur. He there received the letters sent
10 me from New York by the steamer Of the sOlh
al and ~ Rfwas h.