Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-01-01

COMMODORE PAULDlNGs ACCOUNT OF THE AR.
REST OF WALKER
WARRINGTON, Dec. 99.-The following il Flag
Officer Paudings letter to the Secretary of the Navy
dsaiing the circumstances under which he arrested
Walker
"FLAG SHIP WABASH. }
OF Aspinwail, December Is. 1861
"Sir: My letter of the 10Th instant. informed rhe
Department that had broken up the camp of Gen
Walker. at Punta Arenas, df.armed hi. luwless fol
lawers and sent them to Norfolk in the Saratoga
The General came here with me-, and will take pass
age Of the steamers for Nav York. where he
will present himself to the Marsbal ot the District.
1.-The Department being in possessau OF all the
facts in relation TO Walkers sscApe, with lis follow
ers from the United States hs we'll the letters OF
Capt. Cbatard and Walker to ms aftau he landed at
Punta Areuaa, the merits of the whole question: Will
presume, be fully compreiended. could not RI
gard Gen. Walker and HE follower. in any other light
than as outlaws who had escaped from the vigilance
of the officers Of the Government; AMI left shores
for the purpose OF rapine and murder; ana saw hi
way to vindeste the law. and redesn the honor
of our country, than by dsarfnng and sending them
home. In doing 20, an sensible of therspousbili,y
have incurred, and confidently look TO the Govern
ment for my justification Regarded in ts trle light
the appears TO be clear one, and the points few
and strong. Gen. Walker came to Point Arenas from
the United States having, in violation OF law, Get on
foot military organiza tiUn to make upon PEG
pie with whom We ara at peace. He }auded there
with armed men and munitions of war in defiance Of
the guns Of ship Of psced there 10 prevent ti,
landing, with nothing to show that be acted by gu
thority. He formed Il camp and hoieted the Sisars
qua fs and called it the head Of the srmy
of Nicaragua and signed himself the Commander
in.Chief With this pretension he claimed the righ
Of lawful Government over all persons and things
within sight Of his hag.
without right Of authority he landed fifty men a
the mouth Of the Colorado and ssized the fort Of Gas
tillo, on the San juan; captured steamers and ths
goods Of merchants in trsnsit 10 the interior; killed
and made prisoners of the peaceful inhabitants
sending to the harbos OF San juan del Eorte som,
thirty orfotty men, women and children in The stsam
er Morgan In dongthese things without the SHOW
Of authority, they guilty Of rapine and murder
and must be regarded a. outlaws and pirates, The,
can have no claim To be regarded in any other lighf
Humanity, as well az law and Justice and nationa
honor, demanded the Dispersion Of these lawess men
The remnant of The miserable beings who
at Rvas were conveyed in this chip last GUNNER Il
New York, and their sufferinss are yet fresh in tb
memory Of all OH board. 80. 49, q.
"3esdes the .ufferings that must necessarily be in
ficted upon an innocent an unufendDg people, thes
lawIess followers Of Gen. Walker. misguided and de
ceved into career Of crime, would dosbtiess hsv
persisted in Central America. or their muilated an
fostering bodies have been brought back to thei
friends at the expense of their country For III
above reasons, which appear &c my mind quite su
cient. have diearmed and sent TO The United State
| Gen. VIM. Wslker and bis outlawed and piratct
followers, for trial or for whatever action the gov
eminent, in ts wisdom. may think proper to pursue