The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-16

W
franc pieces legal tender and should not be refused
at their full value.
We recommend this subject TO the consideration Of the
business community, so that some speedy action may be
taken in the matter and the present uncertainty and dis
trust be removed.
DEFENCE OF GEN. WALKERS COURSE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
There are usually two sides to question and the
judgment Of those who have only heard side is al
most TO be preudced and perverted from the true
merits of the TO the great injustice OF the other
side; and ~ You appear 10 occupy purely impartial
stand in reference to the subject treated of in this
article, and to view IL in a comprehensive and
larged view, and to give TO the subject that promi
due to the vast and important interests il in
wolves, propose, through your Journal TO offer to
the reading public some facts and views in relation
to General Walkers past and present position in
Nicaragua.
The past deplorable condition Of the country ever
since the old Spanish rule. say thirty years, IL his
torical and patent to all the world. Proofs are
superHuous to show its decline in all the elements Of
progress and prosperity, and its rapid depletion,
even in population; and until the time of our acqui
sitions the Pacific, and their incalcuable value
TO us and the world, brought the Isthmus transit
routes into prominent notice, the States adjacent
had become almost forgotten, and thought Of only
as uninhabitable swamps, junges and tropical
forests Finally, the natives, after coming in con.
tact with the bold and adventurous California emf
grants, and witnessing their almost superhuman
powers Of exertion and resources and looking on
in amazement and admiration at their achieve
ments, and hearing OF the golden treasures that
rolled forth from the bowels Of the earth at their
bidding very soon began TO contrast the condition Of
these enterprising Americans with their own poor,
miserable halfcivilized and down troddcn natives,
under the CALLING yoke Of their petty military chief
tains, who had kept their country groaning under
the mscres OF civil strife and bloodshed for long
a time that their villages we're crumbling into ruins,
their fields grown up with weeds, their mines un-
worked, and their population wasting away Under
this new impulse TO thought and hope the Leon, Or
democratic party. the most numerous In the coun-
try. once more reused themselves in their struggle
against their oppressors, and although In possession
Of most of the country, failed to conquer them,
until, hearing of Walkers enterprise and bravery,
they invited him TO join them and assist in over
throwing Che petty tyrants who had olong been the
curse 20 their beautiful but distracted country,
and in their stead found democratic republic, and
thereby enlarge the area of freedom and civiliza-
tion.
The motive being pure and noble one, and the
recompense adequate, the bold spirit Of Walker
prompted him at once 10 heed the feeble cry for
help which arose 10 him from the struggling band
and with the spirit Of q Lafayette or a kosciusco
he threw his life into the scale and victory crowned
niously merged into one government, freely chosen
by the leaders OF the factions cemented by treaty
and formally accepted and approved fy the whole
people. Their deverer was spontaneously chosen
commander OF all the forces, native and adopted and
he was proclaimed the Gray eyed man Of destiny"
from the North. who had come and in n few short
weeks done more than they had been able 10 accom-
psh In life time. The hand Of death was stayed
and peace and plenty regned. Rvas appointed
President and the leaders of the old opposition or
ser,ile party were given places Of great trust and
honor.
General Walker and his gallant ffty-six country.
men took the oath OF allegiance TO the constitution
and laws Of the country and for their services re-
ceved their patents Of lands and pay soldiers of
the revolution, and retained such under the
new government. The government then passed emf
grafton laws OF a very liberal character offering
great Inducements to emigrants, in grants Of public
lands, &c. The whole country was then In profound
peace, and many Americans accepted Of the offers
and entered the country and received their lands,
and capitalists began to deveope the mines and other
resources. For fifty years the country had not been
40 prosperous and happy; when the self sacrificing
generous Costa Ricans and their kindred allies, in
their cousiny sympathy for the poor deluded Mica.
raguans, unlimited and against the known wishes Of
the people, invaded the soil Of Nicaragua and de-
clared war Of determination TO all Americans in
Nicaragua, and without offence or cause for such
war-excepting the noble desire TO rid the soil Of
Nicaragua Of Its invaders. Kind, good cousins how
their subsequent has proved to the world the
generous purity Of their motives and their justifca-
toni The ungratelul Nicaraguans, however Joined
in, and, hand in hand with Walker, drove them igno-
miniously out of the country and Mora with his deci-
mated army returned crestallen TO Costa Rica hav-
ing however achieved q great victory over all the
Americans at Virgin Bay and other points on the
Transit-in killing twelve neutral Americans at
Virgin and robbing the property OF all the rest doing
business the route but complaining bitterly Of the
poor oppressed people of Nicaragua fighting hard
with Walker against them, and determined the next
time TO go in such force as to show them the neces