Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-07-09

RECEPTION AND SPEECH OF GEN. WALKElI 4
The reception of Gen. WALLER by the citizens of
his native city, at the State Capitol yesterday was
one of the most enthusiastic, it was also one of
the largest, assemblages have seen in Nashville
Gen. WALKER escorted to the State Capitol by
the Shelby Guards, and he spoke from the Speakers
desk in the -hall of the House of Representatives
The hall was densely crowded, and many persons
found it impossible to obtain standing room inside
AT the commencement, and throughout the speech
of Gen. WALKER, he was greeted with the warmest
applause. The demonstration from his old towns
men and the associates of early youth must have
been exceedingly gratifying to Gen. WALKER. The
gallant Capt FAYsoUx, the sharer of the struggles
of the General was present, and was warmly greet
ed by the crowd.
The substance of Gen. Walkers speech follows:
TENNEssEANs In returning to my former home,
feel proud of the interest you manifest not only in
my past career but also in the hopes and objects
have for the future. 1t consoles for many SANDER
uttered by my enemies-for many trial and many
q fprivation-to feel that my purposes and aims
are appreciated by those who knew me in my boy
hood and youth. And let me say that when 1 felt
had done my duty both tomy native and adopted
country-unless l felt that L could stand in your
midst without blemish on my name or a stain upon
my honor-I should not venture to appear among
you. Many of you knew me in days..when had not
been tried by the temptations of difficult and ar
duous eareer-when l had not been tempted to
swerye from the path of truth and duty by finding
treachery where l expected faith, and enmity where
looked for friendship. In every step. of my pub
lie life have endeavored to remember that was
! Tennessean and to act worthily Of the State to
which l owed my life and my principles. Next to
the approval of my own conscience, l value your
good opinion and all ask at your hands is a calm
and impartial examination of the facts connected
with the presence of the Americans in Nicaragua
1t is hardly necessary for me at the present time
to detail the circumstances connected with the first
arrival of the Americans in Central America. You
| know how they were invited thither-how peaceful
was the policy they proposed to pursue-hOw anx-
iously and long they endeavored to conciliate the
States Of Honduras, San Salvador Guatemala and
] Costa Rica. But all their efforts were foed; and
the four allied States declared against the
Americans in Nicaragua. They made it war, not
| against people or State, but against race
They published decree Furnishing with death every
prisoner who, by the fate of war, might fall into
their hands, Instead of being has been so false
ly and untiringly stated the aggressOrs in the war
waged in Central America, the Americans acted en-
tirely on the defensive Never there juster
war than that which we sustained against the Allies
for it was one in defence of rights and privileges
which had been guaranteed ous by the whole native
population in Nicaragua Because we would not
yield what lawfully and justly belonged to us-be-
cause we would not leave the soil had purchased
with our tolls and blood at the bidding of degen
crate people-they began a war of determination
against US.
But in the course of short time they learned
of the race with which they had undertaken to
contend. The bloody streets of Rivas-the fatal
plantain walks of Masaya-the burning ashes of
Granada-soon taught :bem the hopeless nature of
the contest they were engaged in. Finding that
force availed them lttle-that threats of death and
determination could not shake the nerves of the
sons of the North-they resorted false and deceit
full promises in order to accomplish their purposes
Foreign agents had told them that it was easier to
get the Americans out of Nicaragua by persuasion
than by force. Hence they revoked their order to
shoot all the prisoners and wounded and flooded
our camp with seductive procamations, inviting to
desertion and to shame. And here approach more
nearly the subject on which you invited me to ad-
dress you-the of retirement from the soil
of Nicaragua.
The history of the late campaign in the depart
ment of Rivas is but family and imperfecty known
by any portion of the American public. So many
interests and prejudices have combined for the
purpose of classifying facts that the truth has been
almost completely smOthered. You will, therefore,
pardon me if 1 enter into some details which have
not yet been fairly placed before the people of the
United States.
After the destruction of Granada in the month of
December last, the force of the allies was almost
tirely broken up and destroyed. The obstinance of
the resistance offered by the half famished and
cisted garrison under its able commander, Gen. !
Hennngsen, had filled with despair the officers and
soldiers of the four States. But in the mean time
Costa Rica, aided, l ashamed to say, by a
gade American, had planned the occupation of the
San Juan river. Wild and hair Drained was the |
expedition of Spencer to the San Juan, it met the
success which fortune frequently awards to des- |
perate enterprises The criminal negligence of Of
fcers the river, together with singular and |
uncalculated of luck placed the Costa Rican
forces in command of the lake and river. This |
revived the spirit of the allies and in the latter part
of January they invaded the Department of Rivas,
where the main body of the army of Nicaragua was
then situated.
With my communication cut off by the Costa
Rican occupation of the San Juan, it was clear
ly my duty to make my military operations
as purely defensive as possible until these
communications could be re-established. But
while having chiefly in view the maintenance of
our position in the Department, did not forget
that active offensive is the best defensive There
fore made frequent attacks on the allies Worstng
them in almost every encounter; and this system
was kept up until about the Goth of March In the
mean time many of the men had yielded to the Sc
duction of the enemy, and had far forgotten hon
to desert; the hospital was filed with wound
ed and many of the men reported as effective were
really worn out by the fatigues and hardships and
struggles of long and exhausting campaign; so
that when, on the 22d of March, the allies took
their position around the town of Rivas was
reduced to force which almost entirely useless
except for purposes of defence. On the 23d of
March, however, the enemy was so inconsiderate as
to assault the town They were repulsed with great
loss, and had been able to follow up this victory
with n fresh and vip had :, boo,