Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-06-24
From the Washington estates. u
T ETTER OF GEN. WALKER.
WASHINGTON, June Is, 1857

From the Washington Estates"
LETTER OF GEN. WALKER.
WASHINGTON, June Is, 1857
y, thu President of the United States:
S1R. On the first of May last | entered INTO =
,onv.n.;on with Commander Davis, of the On'see
States sloop St. to evaeu.se d he to nv
sef as well as to the Republic Of which claim 70
se he rebtful and lawful Chief Executive requires
No to communicate to your Excelency the clrcum-
etances which attended this convention Anu III Ut
der that the events which led to tne ogree%ent oe
tweep Commander Davis and myself may be more
fn,lv understood, beg leave to narrate some facts
connected with my presence and authority in Mica
raoua. which have never been properly presented TO
4be Goyernment of the United States.
Tn the month of May, 1854. few exiles from Nj
carauga landed in the port OF ReaeJ declared against
.ha then existing Government of the Republic and Sc
cured. within two months possession OF nearly all
the principal places in the State. They soon organ
lied Provisional Government, OF which Don Fran
cisco Castelon was the head 1t soon became appa-
rent however, that although the vast majority OF the
people of Nicaragua were friendly to this move
military force and organization. Castellon, there
fore, sent to mel was then residing in San Fran
cisco-a contract authorizing me to raise 3OO men
for the service of the Provisional Government
This contract rejected, because 1t was contrary 10
hcact,of Congress of 1878; and sent back Inc
agent employed by Castellon, with Instructions TO
secure. If possible. grant of colonization, which
xonld not make me amenable to the laws of the
United States Such grant was obtained; ana as
COON AZ 7 received it, | showed it to the United
States District Attorney for the northern district OF
California and to the general commanding the "a
ci6c division, who then had special powers ana IN
structions from the President under the act OF 1913
Roth these officers informed me that could act I'M
der the contract not only without fear OF Interior
ence on their part but with the express assurance
that they would do all in their power to forward the
enterprise Not only did sail from San Francisco
with the appreciation and we'll wishes OF all the led
eral authorities, but the American sailors, from
revenue cutter then in port actually bent the sails
for the vessel as she was lowed out of the harbor
After arriving at Realejo, / and my fellow.co
nists were regularly naturalized as citizens of Mica
ragua; and it became necessary tor US to use our
arms in defence of the rights we had acquired I'M
der the Provisional Government. 1t was soon ap-
narent however. that the presence of the Americans
in Nicaragua was not acceptable to all the adherents
Of Castelion, and therefore informed the Provis-
iena Director that if cooperation vas injurious
to his cause and prospects, We would willingly re-
tirefrom the cauntry. But Castellon insisted that
the Americans were the only hope for the Democrats,
not only Of Nicaragua, but OF all central America,
and heibegged with fervency and perseverance that
we would not think of abandoning him in his ex-
tremity. Thus appealed to and besought, we I'M
dertook the campaign which ended in peace be-
tween the contending parties; and may safely as
sert that the American influence was chiefly 'nstru'
mental in achieving the treaty Of the 23d October,
1856.
By this treaty of the 23d October the old Legiti-
mist Government recognised the rights Of the Amer
leans naturalzed in Nicaragua under the grant from
the Provisional Government. And IN order to re-
strain as the Legitmists said the excuses OF the
Democrats made arrogant by their success, they IN.
sisted that should retain command of the army of
the Republic
Soon after the Inauguration ofhe Provisional Pres
ident under the treaty of the 23d October, one of
the Americans in Nicaragua was accredited as Min
lister to the United States. An American was seiec-
ted by the Provisional President at the suggestion of
members of his Ca6net-all natives of Nicaragua
that such person would be more acceptable in the
United States, from his knowledge of the language
and laws of the country to which he was sent. I'm
fortunately for caragua and for Central America,
this Minister was not recevedb 10y the Government of
the United States.
part of the United States to recognize the Nicaragu
An Minister reached Granada, General Cabanas was
appvine to the Provisional Government for assistance
to regain his authority in Honduras. l opposed
this policy and endeavored to impress on the Gov.
eminent that the first necessity of Nicaragua was
peace Instead of making war on Honduras sug
eested the propriety of sending notes to the other
States of Central America, declaring our peaceful
intentions and soliciting friendly intercourse. These
suggestions prevailed with the Provisional Pres-
dent. but were not paatable to the Minister of Re-
lations, Don Maxine Jerez who resigned in con-
sequence ofthe peaceful policy pursued by the Gov
ernment.
In the mean time DEGREES had been issued invi-
ting emigration to Nicaragua, offering grants ofland
and other privileges to such as took up their resi-
denoe IN the State. Under these DEGREES, large
number of Americans and other foreigners emf gra-
ted to Nicaragua and extensive interests we're ac-
1rk :v,< ho
As soon, however, as the other States of Central
America perceived the policy of the United States
Government, they entered into league for the ex-
pulsion of the Americans from Nicaragua. On the
LIST of March, 1856, Costa Rica declared war, not
against Nicaragua but against certain class of per-
sons resident there and accompanied this declaration
with other decrees disgraceful to the age and revol
ting to civilization. Costa Rica invaded terrific
ry and was repealed by the courage of the natural
lied Americans
But soon after the enemy retired it became appa-
rent that Don Maxine Jerez-who had, for his own
purposes, again entered the cabinet of the Provis-
ional President-was smarting under the defeat of
his war policy, and was conspirng with Don Patri-
clio Rvas to Join the other States in their opposition
to the Americans This was SO palpable that, in the
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 a native of Nicaragua.
The constitution of 1854 however, required such
qualification and Don Fruto Chamorro himself was
q native of Guatemala. As the Office of President
not known in the constitution of 1888, it is clear
that the qualifications for the office to be fixed
by the constitution Of 1854, which alone created
such chief executive.
Duty to the Americans who had been invited to
Nicaragua required me to accept the place of Presi-
dent, no matter how anxious might be to escape it's
Iabors and responsibilities. Their interests were to
my eyes above and beyond all others; for on them
verify believe the welfare of the whole country and
its utility to all the civilized nations of the earth de-
pend.
1t is unnecessary for me to recaptulate the events
If he Sfruoolo in N;c.-oc,. %Lo l,,t yaor Vo,