The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-10
THE WALKER CORRESPONDENCE.

In preparing for the press the correspondence com
municated to the Senate on Thursday last by the
President, in reply to resolution Of that body, we
patches, not bearing directly upon the Nicaragua
expedition, in order to give complete view Of the
whole at once. To render the record more complete
we insert to-day despatch No. 1873, from Commodore
Paulding, the reply to which from the Navy Depart
ment was embraced in the correspondence publish
ed by us on Friday morning, being No. IL:
mo. 1873. FIAa-sHIP WABASH
OF Aspinwall, October 20, 1857.
Sin: have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
your despatch of the Sd instant accompanying copy of
the sailing orders Of Commander Amy of the steamer
sFulton and circliar order from the State Depart
me mt in reference to our neutrality laws.
The department Will not fail to observe that my feel
iA0s as conmarer in chief of this squadron must be
very much wounded when say that the service could
have been better performed II Commander Amy had
been sent to me- and some discretion had been given
by the department for employing the force nominally
der my command instead of its being assigned to duties
at distance from home by the government whom it is
impossible should we'll understand the localities and
the most proper measures to be taken for given pur
pose
Now, sir how would it look if the Secretary of War
should direct general in the field to place himself
certain point and remain there?
Then dctach the subordnates and their commands and
locate them at points near him, WITHOUT tne means OF
communication. ut is an impossible wilderness between
this and Chirqui.)
Could battle be gained the commander-in-chief be
respected the interest of country in any manner
advanced /? No. sir and this is parallel case and,
in my Judgment it would be better for the department
to snpersede an officer whenever it wants confidence in
his capacity for command
II Il not only in this instance but Others that feel
called upon present to the notice of the department
irregularities which the department alone redress In
the first place tho Cyane has been absent from here
ut the North for more than three months without my
having received report official notice in regard to
her 1t is the same with the Roanoke If the 'Ful-
ton has taken Of the passages she should have
DONE her course for Chrqui in the direction of As
pnwal and without material deviation she could have
passed within sight of my flag.
From this it will be apparent to the department that
must feel that my prerogatives commanderinchief
the squadron turned aside with but little consider
alton and that my presence here can have but slight
appreciation.
without presmng to inrude discourteously upon the
department. it is proper that should present my views
and in doing So to say that the duties of this command
cannot be discharged in due to the good order
and efficiency of the naval service unless the department
shall be oscrvant and exact of other officers strict con-
formity to its military character.
/ am, sir very respectfully, your obedient servant
II. PAULDING,
Flag Officer Com ding Home Squadron.
Hon. ISAAC TouCEy,
Secretary Of the Navy, Washington, ID. G.