Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-06-15

q. S Circuit Court-.Jadgss CqrnDbsu and AfeGals5s
The United States Us Gen Wm- Waller and An
dersoa. Future Of The Jwy 70 agree, and asr
dismissal.
The Court room wss deusely crowded yesterday,
long before The hour for opening the Court render
lag it exceedingly hot and disagreeable The jury
having answered 70 heir names, mr. Semmes, the
District Attorney addressed them for the space Of
o hour. reviewing the whole case, and making the
best of the evidence.
After he took his seat Gen. Walker rose, and in
his quiet manner-Which, however IS he advanced
grew excited ani forcible-sddressed the jury sub
stantiay thus;
GENTLEMBE OF TIE jury: have been arraigned
before you by the mighty Of the United States,
charged in The Indictment with having been guilty
OF q high misdemeanor, which, if by your verdict
you find guilty Of, viii subject me to two years
Imprisonment, and 10 fine Of $4,000. There is
slmething TO me dearer than liberty or money-it
i honor! Gentlemen Of the Jury, the charge made
by the United States, Il it could be brought home
to me, would make me, in my own eyes, infamous,
and l should feel if / could no longer walk the
elrth and look men in the face. Not an overt act
MT the raising Of single dollar, can be brought
home 10 me-nor either the intent; for I feel that
If had organized force in the United States, end
proceeded to Niearagua, / would have been dis
honored
Twice on Bonded knee, and in the presence of
that Maker before whom I one day expect to be
luuEeu-L E6ptAts bNlc6 on pended knee have I
sworn defend the rights and interests Of Nicara
qua. The presiding Judge had declared. in his
charge 10 the United States Grand Jury, that the
crime with which he stood charged was tantamount
to piracy. Gentlemen. | trace my blood TO an hon
CRADLE source; not only soldier myself, but de-
seended from soldiers. The charge if true would
not only mark corruption in my blood, but would
flow back and sugmaiizc those from whom am
sprung Shall l tell you Of my grandfather who
when youth q nineteen. buekled on his sword
hurried the field of battle, and fought for the in
dependence Of this your country; and that l. with
his blood running in my veins, am now charged
with an offense pratical in its nature. Gentlemen
all 1 am aud all ] hope to be in future rests in the
decision which you shall give and whether l 20
forth without blot blemish or with shame and
dishonor The United States brought me by force
from The place Of ny adoption, deprived me Of my
little property and political position, and am now
TO be deprived Of my honor? win the Government
not be satisfied with using the brute arm Of force
but must also attempt TO make dishonored for ali
time! IL is not only who am on trial here-it is
also the Judge the Witness and The people Of fifteen
States. Have l not declared that l intend 10 20
back 10 Nicafagua? Some Of you know that almost
the first words uttered after landing in your city
Were that l was determined to return to Nicaragua
as / could do SO, and assert my claims both
civil and political Have 1 not proclaimed 1t
throughout The land before assembled thousands in
your city, along the banks of the Mississippi and
aye! even upon the Potomac?
THE Court here interposed, and stated TO Gen.
Walker that it would not allow him TO make any
reflections upon the Government or the Court Mr.
Soule rose and made an explanation, remaFking to
the Court that he feared the Court had mistaken the
drift Of the Generals remarks. The Court replied
that the tone Of the prisoner was inclined to be in
vective, and that could not be allowed. Gen.
Walker, turning to Judge Campbell, remarked that
any disrespect shown to the Court, BY tone man
ner on his part, was entirely uninientional. The
Court then told the General to proceed
vas going on to say that it vas not the habit of
persons who intend to disregard the laws of the
land to proclaim it throughout the land harbOred
no guilt in my bosom. did not intend TO suppl
cate the thousands whom addressed, OF make them
disregard their oountry's laws, by giving me their
appreciation, which appreciation the District Attor
ney has told you by the letter of the law is erime
and let me tell you, gentlemen, if 1t be crime then
the country from the Potomac to the Rio Grande is
swarming with criminals, and who shall escape p
had expected to prove, by witness, certain facts,
which the Court ruled would be taken matters Of
history. Reads the letter Of Marcy Wheeler I
The United States, by the reception Of Padre Vigil
acknowledged the fact that l was no invader.
never was an invader. meant TO, and have, studi-
ousy abstained from violating the laws Of the Uni
ted States. 1t is Omitted that l was acknowledged
as President Of Nicaragua, and Acknowledged as
such by Wheeler-and from that to the day of leav-
ing Mobile last, the District Attorney cannot show
other President II Is notorious that the Tour eth
er States aided by the United States drove me from
Nicaragua. Il is notorious that no other President
has been elected Il is notorious that two military
chiefs assumed the power, but not the government.
It is notorious that frssar received the commission
from Rivas in August, 1856; and from then TO the
18th Of November. 1857, he has remained in Wash
ing on asking 10 be received but vas not. The
double headed government, as it was termed was
never recognizediby the United States. Rivas, who
cent him, was long since defunct, and had gone to
E gland.
l ask you, gentlemen, how an / to be convicted
of violating the laws. when it is publicly known
that the United States did not recognize Yrissari
until Jew days after ! was at See, and he only
then being the representative Of a Government
SEINE twelve months defunoj? This case differs
from any which has ever been presented Has there
been any refusal the part Of my officers to an
swer any questions put by the District Attorney?
Has he been prevented from sounding them to the
core? and could they who we're in full communion
with rue, have escaped hearing any sentiment which
l should express? Could l have concealed from /
them any criminal feeling which might have existed
in my bosom? Il C Uld not be. Has the District /
Attorney succeeded in fixing any blame upon me? /
The United States has teken advantage of the Law
to prevent the elictiDg OF testimony. Compare the
testimony for the prosecution and that Of the de /
fence; compare the testimony of Capt Fsyssesux |
with that Of the Government officer, Capt. Chatard,
il it were not an insult to the former to be compared
to the latter except by contrast and the result
All our witnesses told you they had homes in Mica |
ragua,, and that they had submitted to every trial.
privation, and peril TO build up for themselves
hsbitations in the tropics and they are now to be |
told by your verdict that, "You forever to be |
kept within the boundary of the United States, and /
to regain what rightly belongs to you in Mica