Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-01-13
The Walker Family.


names once classic in the history of our country,
are about to be robbed of the glorious assoola-
tons that have hitherto made them familiar to
the people as household words. John Smith
the veritable John-who has been wont to
trace his genealogy back to the days "ayant" the
flood, so often reported among the dead, but al
ways found among the living, is really about TO
pass into oblivion. Major Jones-the gallant
Jones of Pineyille-distinguis alike in camps
and eourtships, will soon become very COM
mon-place individual and fade away from the
memory of man; and as to that very celebrated
parsonage Billy Patterson, nobody will care to
know who Inflicted that mysterious blow upon
The venerable William Another star is in the
ascendant; another family is mouopolizng all
the attention of the people, and the government,
and the press, two members of which are fast
ascending the ladder of fame. 1t said that there
are several "F. F. VS., first families in Vlr-
ginia-but there is only one first family in the
United States at this present writing, and that
is the "Walker" family.
This "Walker" family is in many respects re-
markable 1t can boast of incalcuable ANTIGUA
ty, and royal ancestry. The Smiths are descen-
ded from Tubal Cain, q cunning artihcer IN all
sorts of metals, buteAdam himself was Walker.
In primitive days there were no railways, or
steamboats,, or stage-coaches, and it is nowhere
mentioned that Adam was ever seen on horse
back. In the early history of our own country
the Walker family played no mean part Who
has not read the affecting story of the "Devil
and Tom Walker" rendered classic by the in
imitable pen of Washington Irving2 This
Thomas Walker, it is true did not reflect much
credit upon the name, having involved himself
rather unpleasantly, by an unfortunate bust
ness transaction with the Prince of Evil but
nevertheless he cut distinguished figure for
brief season, and his name will be handed down
to countless generations in the future. Since
Tom. Walker disappeared from the stage, the
Walkers have kept remarkably quiet until a
very recent period. The fact is Tom. Walkers
transactions WERE to say the least Of them, rath-
err disreputable, and the younger members OF the
family, have, with commendable modesty, re-
Trained from thrusting themselves forward as
prominent actors upon the public stage. Re
Gently, however, two of the name have sudden
" sprung into marvellous notoriety. President
Buchanan, finding it almost as difficult to deal
with the unruly people of Kansas, as it would be
to treat with the Prince of Darkness, and recol-
lecting the daring spirit of the Walkers, called
one of them from comparative retirement ana
sent him into Kansas to manage the rebels
This was Robert J. Another of the family,
named William, having probably Inherited the
adventurous spirit of his ancestor Tom., struck
out on his own hook some years ago, and has
made several huge attempts to figure as great
man on the soil of the neighboring Republic OF
Nicaragua. The appointment of Robert >. seems
to have resulted as disastrousy to the Democra-
cy as Toms contract with the Devil did to MN.
1t has only made confusion worse confoundeu'
while the Governor has become more dlstln-
guished and probably more popular man. Inc
other gentleman, Gen. VIM. Walker, seems to
have in his veins oil the recklessness and hardl-
hood, and love of fame and gain that marked the
character of the adventurous Thomas, and which
finally lured him to his ruin. Tom finally fell
into the hands of the Devil, in conformity with
specific contract. William recently fell iuto the
hands of Commodore Paulding, whose Father
arrested the gallant Major Andre, and was sent
on to the government at Washington. In one
respect Commodore Paulding did not initiate the
wisdom of the Serpent. The Devil never would
have liberated Tom. Walker on his parole OF
honor.
What disposition will be made of the General
remains to be seen. We think it likely that the
Administration has come to the conclusion long
since that Tom. is not the only one of the Walk
err family that has been in league with the EVIL
One.