Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-06-14

After the United States District Attorney
had concluded. Gen. Walker rose to address
the jury His defense of himself and friends
| was very eloquent, imprisoned, and earnest
| in the spirit of a man who felt that he was
unjustly accused of a high crime-and many
| i'm the crowded courtroom seemed to be sur
| prised at the ability he displayed, while it was
| manifest that bis eloquent and emphatic adj
dress made a deep impression upon all who
heard him. He said. in substance: The
| counsel for the United States has told YOU
| that am arranged before this tribunal for
a high crime, the punishment for which, If
| found guilty. will be imprisonment for years
| or fine of $4,000. Impoverished as / am
| by the act of the United States government
the fine l could not pay but loving liberty
as do, there is every reason why should de-
sire to defend myself from this accusation.
Should be proved guilty, should feel that
was no longer worthy to ive-that / was
man disgraced; but instead of being guilty OF
all the overt acts charged upon me by the
government, through its counsel here, he has
not shown that | have raised a single man or
applied single dollar for an expedition Sio-
lating the laws of this country. Twice have
sworn, in the august presence of that God be-
fore whom l shall have to render my final ac-
count, to defend the constitution of my adopt
ed country; and if the United States District
Attorney should call me to that witness stand,
l defy him to elicit from me one word which
would convict me of any attempt to violate
the laws of this country. In the charge of the
presiding Judge of this Court. from which
the counsel for the United States has just been
quoting, it is laid down that this accusation
against me is tantamount to piracy. 1t is on
such charge as this that am arranged! /,
who can trace my blood to an honorable
source who have been brought up to duty
and honor who am not only a soldier myself
l. g al II IL, 4
here with Offense which would dishonOr
and contamnate the blood which flows in my
veins from those who have fought for the
very rights and liberties which you now en-
joy. All have or am, or hope to be, here
or hereafter. rests upon the decision which
you will make in this case. Whether am to
go through life branded and disgraced rests
with you. The country from which was
forcibly brought, was my adopted country.
Ilabored there because / thought it was for
your good-yours and your children. But
was torn twice from that country-from the
rights and property which had acquired
there; and now, to cap the climax, | am
brought before this tribunal to be deprived
of my liberty. Will this government be sa-
tisfed with nothing less than this-nothing
less than to dishonor and disgrace me? 1t is
not only l and Col. Anderson, but it is the
people of the United States who are arraign-
out the country, and publicly declared every
where that | intended TO return to Nicaragua
to assert my rights there Was not that the
first word. almost. L uttered on my arrival in
this city? Was that received with scorn by
the people of New Orleans? Was l pointed
out then as one who was, in the language of
the presiding Judge of this Court, engaged
in schems of lust p,
The Judge here interrupted Gen. Walker,
and said the Constitution permitted him
to, defend himself, but not to comment upon
the language of the Court or the acts of the
government in the tone of invective.
Gen. Walker, after a few remarks from Mr..
Soule. apologIzed 20 the Court ifhe had trans
cended the respect due to it, and resumed his
remarks. IL is not the habit of criminals to
make continued and public declarations of
guilty intent. My course is proof that /
did not intend to insult the laws of the Unit |
ed States, and the expressions of appreciation |
met with throughout the land show that |
was not so regarded. And if the interpreta-
ton of the law by the United States District |
Attorney be correct-that my proceedings |
were criminal-then the whole country swarms |
with criminals, from the Potomac to the Rio |
Grande. Never did / invade Nicaragua
never have trod her soil as an invader, and |
the recognition of Padre Will, the representa-
tive of the government was the means of es-
by Mr.. Marcy, proves my declara-
ton. 1t was admitted that | was the only
rightful authority in Nicaragua even to the
time when | left Mobile. Nor was it by any
revolution that | was expelled from
the country, but by combination of four
other States making war upon me. There
was one fact he wished to be taken into con-
sideration by the court and jury. Yrissari
first went to Washington in August, 1856, as
the representative of the Rivas government,
but there he remained, asking in vain for re-
cogntion, until the 18th of November, 1857,
when he was recognized as the representative
Of a dcfunct government
A few words more to the witnesses for
the defense Did they refuse to answer the
questions of the counsel for the United States?
Did he succeed in bringing to light from them
any criminal act or word of mine? Compare
their bearing as officers OF Nicaragua with
that of the witnesses for the prosecution
Commander Chatard. But he would not in
suit them with the comparison. They de-
clared to you that they had homes and pro-
perty in Nicaragua. Are they to be told by
your verdict that they are to be kept here and
prevented from going back to their adopted
country to resume the rights and property
they have acquired there?"