Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-08-03
S..ro,..,, p,ovd and the Fi,ibusters.

Secretary Floyd is certainly most uniorVu-
nate individual: no sooner is he out OF one
scrape than he's in another. Ever since he en-
entered public Lire this bad luck has attende"
hin. The latest trouble is charge pre-
erred against him by the filbuster Walker
Who has several times stated publicly that a
member of the Cabinet had made certain dis
areditabe propositions to him in reference I"
Mexico and Cuba. The name of the Cabinet
officer was not mentioned and no clue to his
discovery was given. But the Washington Union
having fatty contracted Walkers Statements,
he has published in the Mobile Register, of the
Goth ult, full account of the matter. > Inc fol
lowing is an extract from his letter 2syr,
SIN the month of October last was IN New
Orleans preparing to return to Nicaragua. A
pouU the middle of the month General Hennlng--
sen arrived from Washington, and he Informed
me that he had important news to communicate.
He then proceeded to state that while in WASH
lngton he had held several conversations with
the Secretary of War; that in the course OF one
Of the interviews the Secretary had informed
him of the determination on the part OF the
President to arrest the expedition to Nicaragua,
adding at the same time, that the acquisition OF
Cuba during his administration was an oolec'
dear to the heart of Mr.. Buchanan. The Sec
rotary farther proceeded to say,according to Gen'
eral Henningsen's report that If we would turn
our attention to Mexico and enter into the SER
vice of Comonfort, we should have the support
of the United States government; that while ID
the Mexican service we might by some act such
as tearing down the flag of Spain, bring about I,
war with Spain, and Cuba then might be seized
by the former power. The Secretary, accord
ing to the report received, informed Genera
Henungsen that means would not be lacking
for such an enterprise, and when pressed by the
General to state how the means could be had
he replied, 81 have gone the length OF my teth
err before can say more it will be necessary
for me to see person above me-" In the mex,
interview the Secretary informed the Genera
that he was not authorized to go further, ou'
that he might rely implicitly on the means be-
ing provided if the enterprise were undertaken
When General Henningsen made this commu
nicatlon to me was shocked at its nature, and
remarked that the government could hardly Of
in earnest. He said that he had been authoriz
ed to place oeio. q. the character OF the con
versations held with the Secretary OF War, ant
to communicate them also to friend OF the Nj
caraguan cause residing in New Orleans.
"The foregoing are facts which have substan
TALLY detailed in speeches made here and else
where. have been careful always to state the
source of my information, and need hardly say
that am firmly convinced of the truth and &C
curacy of the report made to me by Genera
Henningsen. have ever found the General tt
be nan not only of strict truth and honor, ou
also careful in his use of language, and particu
larly accurate in the reports he makes aoou
public matters In controversies of such mo
ment as those have narrated, | would rely or
his statements as implicitly as if had heard my
self what passed between the Secretary and him
self.
0In the recent trial in New Orleans, en-
deavored to place these facts in the shape OF lie
gal evidence. General Henningsen was sum
moued by me as witness for this purpose
But when the question was put with view
eicting these facts, the District Attorney lmme
distely objected, aud the presiding Justice ruet
out the question without waiting to hear IN
object had in trying to elicit the testimony"