The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1858-02-10
ka. PEARCES SPEECH on THE AR
REST OF GEN. WALKER.

medal Tor hs services 10 the arrest OF Gen' walker
having been called up in the Senate Mr. Pearce spoke
in defence Of the Cannolore. The following con.
ensea report Of his remarks copied from the Ma
fional Iateligencer.
Mr.. Pearce, OF Maryland, proceeded to de-
liver an elaborate aud cogent argument upon
the questions Of law and Of fact Involved IN
the expedition Of that military chiettain and
in his arrest within the territorial limits Of
Nicaragua. He commenced his remarks by
abiding to The hardened ineredulity d those
who decay the military and aggressive charac
ter Of Gen. Walker--an incredibly which
reminded him Of that satrized by Archbishop
Whately in his ingenious work entitled
!" Historic Doubts respecting Napoleon Bona
parte." 1t was oaly oy resort to the sane
rules OF evidence employed by that eminent
preate To question the existence OF such
man as Banaparte thar the real character OF
Walker could he involved in doubt. What
thar character was could be read i'll the light
OF facts connected with his late descent on
Nicaragua, in his dishonest evasion oi the
custom house officers of Mobile, and in the
military organization assumed by his So
called emgrants" the moment they had
landed on the soil of Nicaragua. Nor would
il suffice to say that the grand jury Of New
Orleans had refused 10 bring m bill OF IN.
dlctment against him, Of that judge IN
Mobile had quashcd the proceedings lnstltu-
ted against him on his return 10 that city.
Regard must be had 10 the locality iron
which this evidence came, and inquiry should
first be made intn the reliability of the men
who thus gave 10 Walker a clean bill OF
health.
Mr.. Pearce expressed his surprise that
sympathy should be entertained for Walker
in ans quarter of the Uniou. Who and what
was he: A military aiyenturer who had
.gnalized himself chiefly by his repeated
failures in the prosecution Of an isnobIs call
ing. Repulspd from Sonora and defeated in
Nicaragua. he hal marked his career BY none
Of those acts which augur either proves or
ability. How one who used as despot the
power which he had won bv the sword was
entitled to the sympathy of Americans, the
presumed lovers of free aud representative
Institutions, passed his comprehension. Ii
was well known that Walker had conducted
his administration in Ncagulra on the most
arbitrary principles, by issuing decrees.at his
mere will and pleasure. without theinteryen>
iion .of any legislative authority Whatever.
On such grounds it was that he had burnt
churches. confscated property, and CON-
United all acts Of repine in that Territory.
Nor were his designs friendly 10 this cuun.
try. What were those designs as ayowed by
himselfi The establishment Of military
desputism 10 Nicaragua. with view 10 it,
allsgonism against the Z. States. This APP
peared fran a letter addressed By Walker TO
Gen. Goicuria, under date Of Augustl2, 1856,
in which he distinctly declares, as a motive
10 induce the cooperation of Great Britain 10
his ambitious purposes. that the only way
to cut the expansive Democracy OF the North
il IL establish a Snnthern confederation OF
nliitary principles" And Walker had only
recently avawed the sane doctrine in a
speech at Richmond. Virginia.
Il Was evident that the people OF the U.
States could not sympatliiLe With such man,
or with such designs, founded on doctrines
90 hnstile 10 the genus Of our institutions
and TO the spirit 81 the sge. Gen. Walker
was born out 81 due time, anil belonged rati.
tr To the dark are IN which the Northern
Hive" poured forth is ssarns TO ravags
Southern Europe, or the still dsrker age
when the vikings spread death aud desOla
ton IN their path.
were contrary to the Law Of nations. Ever
tie right Of peaceful expatriation was no
cleallg absolute aud unlimited. II was capa.
be u qualification by legislative enactment
sml Mi. Madison. during The war OF 1879
had eaused citizen Of the q. States VIII" had
emigrated 10 Canada in 1910, and had par
tcipated as British soldier in th' war o
1872, 70 be tried for treason. But, ailmltiin:
the right u repatriation in all IT. breadth
expatriation must BE- bona fte. The Y
States had aisays marked with especial dis
appreciation the ~hple theory Of private war
Washington. during lis Administration. as
serted this policy un1er the law Of nations
and before we had upheld the same principle
10 the case Of Miranda and his design
sgainst spain. TIE existing stringent laa
81 1918 had been passed On the recommends
tim II 81. Monroe. President Jackson
though sometimes suspected of being hJmsei
sumssh4t Of ii!li59stet,' had denounced
~ sdf.nee tie apprehenJeI Invasion Of MeKi
can territory ia The year 1850. Thus ]
would be seen lhtt 0af Government hs,
been consistent n this jls' and honorable
dealing towards ipfeigs natiDn. with whic
We we're ~ peace.
q Mr. pearce read from Chancellor Kent an
iron fattel 20 illustraiipa aud enforcement
Of the doctrine held BY tie most approve
publieists on this question. u to comm
d.predaiionso 90 the property Of public ene
nv. without authority d a letter Of mirqu'
subjected priyateer t. the penalty d piracl
IL vas tasY 10 infer tie aggravated natuf
u 1 similar offence when cDnlnitteh again,
people with whom We are ~ amit!
Walker. il oaly guilty Of misdemeanor 4
axalns, the IN Inieipallas of'uur own eoantrl
was in every sense u tie term ireebuOts
and pirate a. against the sovereign tsrrltorii
figsi. II Nicaragua.
NJ pearce then proceeded to Une' . luei
~ u - lnNa Il