Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1857-06-02
yvrLIIAM wALKER-HIs HERoIsM, HIS MIS-
TeRTUNRs .ANpHIs FAILURE:

There are few names in the annals of adj
venture, fsays the Richmond Enquirer that
elicit greater admiration, or excite stronger
emotions of amazemeut at deeds of daring,
enterprise and confidence, than that of William
Walker. Entering Nicaragua with a handful
of followers, he unfurled the flag of rational
liberty, and pointed out with his sword the
pathway of progress and prosperity to that
people. With his brave band Of adventurous
heroes in foreign land, under the adversely
of diseases incident to the, climate, and with
no nation at home to cheer him on, he held
bis ground against an enemy. imPlacable, nu'
merous and active in their operations against
him, with philosophic fortitade tha! brings
to mind Massena at the seige of Genoa and
won battles which, placed upon the page of
history, unshaded by that censure of the fill
buster. which the conventionalsts OF nations
attach to him, would entitle him to higher
rank asa man of martial ability, than some
who have been made immortal by achievements
less brilliant, but because they were performed
in their country's cause, or were trophies in
the train of the triumphal car of agconqueror,
instead of Iatres whitening under the touch
of misfortune aud failure. Central America,
with its rich resonro ap ailaPidated rei
puoncs, asits States are called, offers an invi
ting field to the enterprise aud genius of such
men as Walker aud those who were with him.
And although the aid of our government
would, Of course, have been consistent neither
with our national policy nor the conservative
character Of our institutions, it is to be regret
! ted that Nicaragua, and all that interesting
| portion of the American continent. have been
deprived of the advantages which would have
accrued to them from an infusion OF the ele-
ments of genuine constitutional liberty into
their decayed social and political systems; the
also have been benefited by an earlier extern
sion of our institutions in that direction, to
which they are pointed BY the finger of fate
While the telegraphic dispatch, which we
published yesterday, announc ng the capitula-
zion of General Walker to Capt. Davis, of the
Il. S. sIoop-of-war, St. Mary's, on the LIST of
| May, and the arrival of him and his staff at
New Orleans, is the sad finale of an enterprise
which, at one time, was promised with sue
cess, it is far better than, from last accounts,
we bad reason to expect wonld be the fate of
bin, whose star has aIternated from sunshine
to shadow, until, at last, it has sunk to its
padr, leaving nothing behind to trace its
course but heroic deeds misspent, and hard
ships endured in vain. Had he succeeded,
the world would have called him benefactor.
Rut he has failed, and except, perhaps, from
a; few, che will escape censure only wheh'he
passes without observation" That William
Walker is no ordinary man-that he is as am
bilious as Alexander and as brave as Nelson
that he is, withal, strong in intellect as he is
stout in heart, his career in Nicaragua attests
to the satisfaction of the most prejudiced of
| his enemies. Butin bis invasion of Nicaragua
he seems to have struck before the iron was
hot, in undertaking an enterprise which was
in itself not sustained " the sympathy of those
who would have been benefited by its result.