The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-07-02
-; LETTER OF GENERAL WALKER
10 The President Of ithe u States.

SohsShsiourMltH SOtuIldHuer lJaylS, Oh tue
United States sloop St. Maiy's to evacuate
the town of Rivas, in the territory of Nicar-
aqua. Justice to myself as we'll as to the
republic of which claim to be the right
full and lawful chief Executive, require me
to communicate to your Excellency the cir.
cumstances which attended this convention
And in order that the events which led to
the agreement between Commander Davis
and myself may be more fully understood,
u begaeave.to narrate some facts connected
with my presence and authority in Nicara-
qua, which have never been properly pre-
seuted to the Government of the United
States.
ID the month of May, 1854, few exiles
from Nicaragua landed.in the port of Rea-
ieJo,I declared against the then existing gov
eminent of the republic, and secured, with
'in-two months, possession of nearly all the
principal places in the State. They soon
organized Provisional Government, of
which Don Francisco Castellon was tue
'head: 1t soon became apparant. however,
: that although the vast majority of the peo-
pie of Nicaragua were friendly to this
movement, it was likely to fail, through
want'of proper military force and organiza-
ton. Castellou, therefore, sent to mel
was then residing in San Francisco con-
tract authorizing ME to raise three hundred
men for the service of the Provisional Gov
eminent. This contract rejected. because
1t was contrary to the act of Congress of
1918; and sent back the agent employed
by Caste!lcn, with instructions to secure, if
possible, grant of colonization, which
would not make me amenable to the laws
OF the United States. Such grant was
obtained; and as soon as l received it,
showed it to the United States district at
torney for the northern district of California,
and to the general commanding the Pacific
division, who then had special powers and
instructions to the President, under the neu-
trality act Of 1918. Both these officers in
formed me that could act under the con-
tract, not only without fear of interference
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 approba-
ton and we'll wishes of al the federal au-
thorities, but the American sailors, from a
revenue-cutter then in port, actually bent
the sails, for tue vessel as she was towed
out Of the harbor.
!" After arriving at Realejo, and my fel-
iow-colonists were regularly naturalised as
citizens of Nicaragua; and it BECAME ne
cessary for us to use our arms in defence of
the rights we had acquired under the Pro-
!visional Government. It was soon appa-
rent, however, that the presence of the
Americans in Nicaragua was not acceptable
to- all the adherents of CastclIon, and I
therefore, informed the Provisional Director
that"if our cooperation was injurious to
his cause and prospects, We would willingly
retire from the country. But Castellon in
sisted that the Americans were the only
hope for the Democrats, not only Of Mica.
rasua, but all Central America, andhe beg
ged with feryency and perseverance that
we would aof think of abandoning linn in
his extremity. Thus appealed to and be.
sought, we undertook the campaign, which
ended ina peace between the contcnding
.Pafaes; .ahd-I may safely assert, that tho
American ;intllehce was chiefly instrument.
aalan achieving the treaty of 23d October,
Bythis treaty of the 2sd October, the
old ;Lssgitilnist Government recognised the
rights ..i eftfe Americans naturalised in Mica
sragia &nnder the grant of the Provisional
-A9yernment. And in order to restrain, as
the Legitimist said, the excesses of the Dem
ocrats mslae arrogant by their success, they
inslstsd that T should retain command of
the. army the Republic.
: Soon atter the inauguration of the Pro-
yisional President. under the treaty of 2ad
;Qsteherp one 81 the Americans in Nicara-
Hqs Masaccredited as Minister to the Uui-
feGStates. An American was selected by
,ths. Provisional President at the suggestion
Of members of his Cabinet-all natives of
Nieassgua-that such a person would be
sgasceptabie In the United States, from
hisskpowledge Of the language and laws Of
S9nnlry, to,which he was sent. Unfor-
;tunately for Nicaragua and Central Amer
ioa, this Minister vas not received BY the
G0HesA5tsht Of the United States.
b6dE the time the news Of the refusal
crfthe part Of Fthe United States to recog-
i,ise tie Nicaragua minister reached Grana-
az enessf Cabanas was applying to the
RteyhiOpkl Goverimept for assistance to
fsgsin slie authority in honduras. L op-