The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-11-21
FILLIBUsTERING.

We all remember how regardful of the
national honor our Government was when it
was charged that Mr.. Champion, the British
Minister, had violated our neutrality laws by
enlisting or enticing men into the British
Provinces to enlist in Her Majesty army.
The United States Government, on that occa-
sion, exercised the most praiseworthy vigi-
lance and manifested patriotic indignation,
which not even an apology from the Earl of
Clarendon could appease-nothing short of
the recall or dismissal of Mr.. Champion would
heal the breach that had been made in our
laws. Mr.. Marcy distinguished himself on
this occasion by his very able dispositions
upon the importance of national faith and the
Nervousness of the crime Of permitting forces
to be raised here for the purpose of attacking
a nation with which we were at peace We
remember, too, that everybody said, That's
right; let us observe equal and exact justice
toward all nations
Mr.. Marcy's state papers, able as they were,
1t is true, were u palpalle satire upon the
Government of which he formed part since
busterism against those with whom we were
at peace had been, if it was not then, winked
at, or, to say the least, if not seen, il was
because the Government chose not to see and
| repress it. 1t was notorious to the whole
world that expeditions of an unlawful if not Of
a piratical character had been gotten up, fitted
out and gone from the United States, scarcely
molested, certainly not prevented, for the
purpose Of making war upon those with whom
we were on terms of peace and friendship.
Nor did these buccaneering expeditions ever
call forth any diplomatic homilies upon the
importance of maintaining the sacredness of
treaties and the faith of the nation towards
other nations. But there was one little cir
cumstance in regard to the two cases that
should not be overlooked, namely, that Russia,
against whom the men attempted to be Gu
listed by Mr. Champion were to act, was "a
great power among the peoples of the earth; :"
whereas, Spain, Mexico, and Central America,
against which the fillibustering expeditions
were to act, were comparatively weak, and
could do us no harm, nor demonstrate, with
the sword in their hands, against our bad
faith. This should always be taken into ac-
count when we are disposed to Judge our
Government harshly for its vigorous action or
its mastery inactivity" Those who do not
take this into consideration might be puzzled
to account for the fact that the great fillbus-
ter, Walker, has been permitted to enlist three
or four hundred men in the United States. for
the notorious ifnot openly avowed purpose of
again attacking Nicaragua, with view to
conquer and possess that republic, with whom,
simultaneously with the departure of this
lawless band, our President signed treaty
| and received minister.
1t may be said that our Governor intend to
protect Nicaragua, and it may be that arrange
ments have been made to intercept him; but
why leave the stable door open that the horse
may be stolen, and then say, eve have made
arrangements to pursue and arrest the thief? {"
Walkers movements and purposes could have
been no secret to the authorities of the United
States; everybody knew what he was doing
and intended to do; why, then, was he not
arrested, and his men too? He was arrested
and held to bail in the sum of $4,000 and
forthwith embarked with his men and de-
parted Was there no revenue cutter, no
United States steamer at New Orleans. that
could stop his steamer? Ifnot whyp Would
Mr.. Champion have been let off on $4,000 bail,
and then permitted to embark 800 or 400 men,
enlisted in this country, for England or the
CrimeaS But we forget Nicaragua is weak
Russia powerful; the one might show her
teeth--the other has none.