Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-01-06
A Defence of Commodore Paulding.


The Richmond South of Saturday last, pub
fishes communication signed "P.," and dated
Richmond December 81, in defence of Com
,nodore Pauldlng. The writer states that he has
formed his opinions "upon the very theatre Of
these operations" and desires to submit state
ment of what he believes to be incontestable
facts Grant, he says, that Walker was unan-
irnously elected President of Nicaragua-yet 1t
is a notorious fact that not a solitary vote was
polled beyond the range of the rifles at Grenada.
and when he and his followers were taken on
by the steamer Wabash be had not an adherent,
or even covert friend, within the limits OF the
country, outside of his camp. lie was driven
from Nicaragua by the united voice OF the peo-
pie of that country.
The issue, says the writer, may then be pre-
sented thus: $50 men "furtively escape from
,ur shores and make nothing more nor less than
piratieal descent upon feeble people, VIII"
are at peace with Us and whose Government
that of Martinez Is recognized by our own.
would be glad To know, at least, by what ingenu
ity any man, subscribing to the doctrines OF Presi
lent Buchanan's message, can Distinguish TIN.
case from any other case Of bald piracy; and
have vet to hear the first utterauce of dissent
from those doctrines And yet for the suppress
Jon of this piracy, upon the assumption that
technical error has been committed, o public
meeting in New Orleans undertakes to 'execrate
Commodore Paultling, and another crowd loud
~ cheer the pirate at the National Metropolis.
"Immediately ON landing, Walker forms
camp and begins to entrench himself. AT once
he lays violent hands upon the property of Mr.
Scott ian American citizen.) and only relin-
finishes il in consequence oi the deci>veinterven
lion of Capt. Clatard. Next he seizeS the little
river steamers. sends party up To Castillo, and
enters upon regular ho,rilities committing daily
in the very presence of the assembled Home
Sonadrnn,' acts which can he exactly described
both i'm their legal aud moral bearing, rs ROBBERY.
rapine and murder.
IAN this Commodore Paulding should have
contemplated calmly aud with folded hands, lest
he offer deadly insult to the Sovereignty OF
somebody-that same insult, in resentment OF
which the gentlemen in New Orleans SO fercely
CRASHED their teeth"
Point Arenas is strip of sand opposite the
mouth of the river San Juan. and neither Mica
ragua DOR Costa RIGA assert jurisdiction over il.
For long time it has been occupied almost ex-
olusively by Mr.. Scott and his employees OF the
Transit Company, who claim to be American
citizens and disavow every other jurisdiction
The writer proceeds:
1T is very certain that any resident OF the
Point would laugh to sc0rn q warrant OF arrest
issued either by Costa Rica or Nicaragua, it a
| nan were tn exhibit such thing there: and
10 respectfully submit, that it is positively child
,-h to say that Commodore Pauldng should have
gone off in quest of such thing, and permitted
| ne scoundrels to escape while procuring it
| The offenders, sitting down before him, and III
silently a>saling first Americans and then stran
.ers, Selling roperty, threatening Ia shoot "n'
Ulcers, and all with impunty, because protect
ed by the eg~ of an indefinite somebody, MOI
accessible! SAY that comfy to any friendly
nation would justify the breaking up oil such
nand of outlaws, aud it is certain it Commodore
Paulding had not done it. the l5ri i>t ae0udt, ant
hat etfectually. But am occupying TOO mucf
pace.
"In conclusion, allow me to say, what &c
knop, that warmer. drawer, kinder, nobel
lesrt never throbbed beneath our uniform thar
,ests in the breast Of Hiram Paulding. the wor
'hy son ufihe honest and incorruptible captor
Major Andre" +.