Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-09-19
From the Nea0 Orleans True Delta, Sept. 9.
LETTER FROM GEN MALKER


LETTER FROM GEN. WALKER
New ORLEANS, Sept. 2, 1857.
SIR: In the conversation we lately had at Angus
"a concerning the re Introduction of slavery into
Central America, we agreed that much of the
IMPOSITION TO my course in Nicaragua was due 10
he act of annulling the DEGREES of the Federal
Constituent Assembly. 1t may be matter of in
crest to you well TO Others for 20 explain
r he motives which led to that measure; and in
this connection, it will not be irrelevant and GER
rainly not unimportant to the people CT these
States for me to advert to certain combinations of
he Spanish American Republics, with view of
limiting the increase of negro slavery on this CON
,inenL
Il has been incorrectly asserted that and my
comrades emigraled to Nicaragua for the express
purpose of establishing negro slavery in its terrific
~ For myself ! can only say that had no such
intention. Although born and bred amidst southern
Influences trust that am sufficiently insane
10 attempt the propagation of slavery, independent
If its adaptation TO climate, soil and productions
The experience of Locke in the formation of his
Carolina Constitutions is sufficient 10 deter any man
ordinarily modest from the attempt TO frame laws
and institutions for a country he has never seen
md facts nearer our own time might satisfy any
ne OF the evils higher law political philosoph ars
youlI entail on society if all their theories were re-
luced 10 practice. Certainly am not so partial to
.uch modes oflegisatiOn as to be tempted to follow
Them myself.
ragua was the result of observation, not priori
population. It was only after a residence of If
cen months in the Sta'e-after attentvely observ.
iug he soil. the climate and the products of the
.nuutry-after narrowly watching the character OF
irs inhabitants, together with the social and pollti
cal organization, that l determined to revoke the
sct Of the Federal Constituent Assembly, whereby
avery abolished review of the history of
.ropica America-insular as well as continental
will, am satisfied, manifest the wisdom of the mea
-ures severely criticised in the Northern States
and Europe,
you are aware in a spirit OF benevolence and phi
Iau' hropy In the annals of humanity there are
few brighter names than those of father Las Casas
he originator of the system; and certainly few
wiser monarchs have ever reigned in Europe than
he Spanish sovereign who put in practice the sug
yestions of the holy father 1t is true that Lord
8rougham has lately characterized the measure of
Las Casas "a union Of the most far-sighted in
crest with the most short sighted benevolenee
hut when did his lordship forsake his Benthamian
principles and cease TO acknowledge that in political
fairs the most Heightened terest is the puresi
rud most genuine benevolence? The admission
IF the noble lord at destroys the economi-
cal argument for the ahoOn of slavery in tropical
Nmerica, and reduces it to pure question of phi
lanihropy.
Ii was not until towards the close of the last cen
furv that people began TO doubt the wisdom and
Casas Then the ideas Of Buxton and Garrison and
Wilherforce became fashionable in America as well
rs in Europe At first, these ideas were confined
a small portion Of the English public; but caught
mp they were by religions party which con-
rolled TO "A great extent parliamentary elections
they soon became powerful in British legislature.
The fashion spread to France, and the free think
ing legislators Of that country were as eager TO
adopt the theories of Wilberforce as to follow
the example Of the Puritans Of the Long Parlia-
meut. The horrors of the Hayden history for the
last sXty-6ve years attest how dangerous it is to
transplant political seutimentalsm from England to
France; and the condition of Jamaica, in compari-
with that of Cuba. proves how little good Brit
ish colOniss have derived from humanitarian legs-
larion.
The events which have followed the abolition of
slavery in tropical America srikingly illustrate the
fact that government is a science and not fine art
and hat its Ia as to be sought for iuductvely-
not through the sentiments emotions. The Pha-
risaical philanthropy of Exeter Hall has made Hayti
and all Spanish America the seat of dire and almost
endless civil il is fast converting Jamaica into
q wilderness. Further than this, it is making the
whole western coast of Africa one vast slave ship.
before which the horrors of the middle passage
sink into iusignifcance. The slavery of the negro
10 his fellow savage-prOductive as it necessa
rily is Of canubalism and human sacrifce-has been
hundred fold increased by efforts to suppress
The slave trade; and the vices of the smuggler have
been added THOSE properly belonging to the SLAYER
by forcing him to ry his trade with the halter
round his neck.
A comparison Of the negro in Africa with what he
Is in the United States, in Cuba or Brazil,
shows the advantage Of Western slavery TO the in
fcrior The condition of tropical America where
slavery does not exist, indicates the necessity for
he development Of the natural wealth of that
portion of the world.
And of all the countries of tropical America, Nj
caragua has the most need for a thorough reorgani
zaiOu Of labor. The revolutions of nearly forty
years have made idlers of a large majority of the
population, and but for the exceeding fertility of the
-oI would long since have converted it into a des
art The relntroduction of negro slavery constitutes
he speedest and most efficient means for enabling
he white race to establish itself permanently in
Central America, and il is the consciousness of this
act which Is leading TO a combination of the mixed
races Of Spanish America for the purpose Of ex-
sluding slavery forever from the territories now
occupied by them The tendency of this comhina-
uon Is. of course, to cOnfne avery on the Ameri-
IAN continent within its present limits and IL ap-
pears to me Of some importance that the evidences
IF the combination should be placed before the peo-
ole Of The Southern States
Nor are written and palpable evidences of this
nmhinarion lacking You may find them in the
rchives of Costa Rica San Jose, and in those of
New Granada At BogOts. Still nearer home you
nay find the evidences not only of the Spanish
american combination, but also of British cOmpli-
city with it among the archieves of Washington and
II Westminster It is strange that ihese facts have
attracted little attention the part of the south
I'm people; but they may feel the importance Of
them long after they have lost the power to control
The consequences Of the combination.
To the facts: In the month Of May, 1856, a trea-
Y was entered into between the States Of New Gran
ida and Costa Rica Ostensibly the main object of
his treaty was the settlement Of a boundary ques
lion long pending between the two Republics; and
he treaty was signed soon after the English govern
ment had agreed 10 furnish to Costa Rica.fOr
he purpose OF fighting the Americans in Nicaragua.
hu in this treaty the strange and singular clause
is inserted, whereby the contracting parties agree
mat slavery shall never be introduced in the erri
tories OF either. No intimate relations exist be-
ween those Republics for, although Co minus
vast unluhabued, region extends between the Guilt
waited districts Of the two countries. And yet these
two sovereignries yield to each powers over the 9th
err which one State Of your contederacy will yield
either TO sister State TO the Federal Government
10 must have been q powerful influence which Sc
cured the insertion of such clause into a treaty
concerning boundaries Nor are we left to conjeo-
lure the source of this influence.
Not many weeks after the treaty between Costa
Rica and New Granada signed. Great Britain
entered INTO treaty by which the Bay Islands were
given upto Honduras, with The proviso that slavery
should be forever excluded from them And this
treaty, signed by the Honduras Commissioner and
the British Secretary of State, is afterwards embOd
led In what is known The paas- Clarendon treaty.
Il received the signature of the American Minister
at London, Is approved by the American Secretary
Of State, and American President sends it for
ratification 10 the American Senate One is almost
tempted to believe that the United States itself is
not unwilling to become party treaty which is
Insult, well es injury, to the whole southern
people.
And other Spanish American States have shown
heir desire 10 Join in this league. Not only was
the proposition for a general combination of these
Repgblics discussed in the Gillian Congress, but