Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-01-06
Walker and Paulding.

We publish elsewhere the particulars OF the
capture of the notorious Fillibuster Walker -
Quite fever OF excitement has arisen through
out the country, and particularly in the South
ern cities, on account of this affair. Walker has
suddenly doomed up hero of the first msgni-
tude, and Commodore Paulding, an honest and
efficient officer is virulently denounced, and
even the Administration is freely cenSured by
some persons who are wont to express the pro-
foundest reverence for Democratic Presidents
We confess that we can find nothing in the re
cent events to change our previous opinion oil
Walker and his enterprise. He still appears to
rs to be very commonplace pirate, who dc
serves neither sympathy nor respect. The Com
modore may have committed an error IN selzing
him after he had landed upon foreign soil, but So
far A. that is concerned Nicaragua is the only
party that has any right to complain, and she Is
mn doubt clad enough to be rid of the invaders
on any terms. The National lntellgencer per
tinently SAYS that Iii there has been any violation
OF Nicaraaua's territorial sovereignty, 1t VIII
remain for that Government to make snch re-
CARNATIONS on ours as may be deemed approprl-
ste in the premises. Such was the reponSe %
Mr.. Marcy when called, in his letter to Mr.. hui
senann, in the case of Kostza, TO consider sun
liar complaint dsinterestedly made by the Aus
TRAN Government in behalf of Turkey, the SOW
ereignty of whose waters Capt. lngraham was
charged with having violated by his dernonstra
ton in favor of that 'seni-naturalized NAV 10
nal. And if this was held to be sufficient re
ply as against the objections OF respectable Ill
plomatisr. the same, we doubt not, will be deem
ed equally conclusive against the cavils OF an!
who may assume to be more Jealous OF N'cara
uua's right than that Government itself is likely
to prove in the present instance"
The idea that Walker has been wronged, and
should receive PREPARATION, seems to US utterly
preposterous. He has violated our laws in hit
ting out military expedition to invade neigh
boring State, and now that he has been brought
home he ought to be punished. His claim for
damages is piece of consummate impotence.
The position of our Naval officers on distant
stations is one of great delicacy and difficulty
Remote from the seat of Government-unablet o
obtain instructions applicable to every emergen-
cy-they must act according to their best judg
ment under heavy responsibility. Their embar-
easements are fully illustrated in the present case.
Capt. Chatard was censured and recalled for
permitting Walker to land, and Paulding is dealt
with still more severely for capturing the Fill
buster and sending him home. Pauldings error
Is venial one 1t resulted from an earnest de
sire to discharge his duty. and maintain the hon
or Of the country. The national reputation ha>
suffered in consequence of these lswless expedi
tions, and little overhead in suppressng them Is
pardonable. The worst that can be charged o,
eainst the Commodore is that he took step to-"
far in the right direction. For this he is, accord
ing to rumor, to be treated as culprit, while
the Fillibuster is lauded as a hero or condoled
with as martyr.
We learn from an exchange that Commodore
PauldiDg is son OF the celebrated John PauId
ing. who was one of the three captors OF Major
Andre. He was born in Westminster county,
N. Y, and 10 early life entered the Navy, where
be has gradually worked his way up through the
grades of MdShipmap, Lieutenant, Commander,
and Captain. He has ever been one of the most
efficient and valued officers in the service; and
government a short time since showed its aPpre-
citation of the tact. by appointing bin to the
command OF the Home Squadron, which he no"
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