Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-26
Gen. walkers Reply TO the WASH
inUton Union.


iagton Union.
Not long since the Washington Union fatty
contradicted a stateaent which Gen. WALKER
has often made In his speeches TO the public.
to the effect that certain communications and
overtures were made to him by member Of
the Cabinet, with the authority of the Presi-
dent, proposing that if he would turn his
by this government. The subjoined is the re-
ply of Gen. WALKER, giving the facts on
which he based his statement:
MOBILE, July 10Th, 1858.
El1ors Mobile Register:
SIR: On returning to this city day or two
ago read in your journal an extract from
the Washington Union denying certain state
ments which, it was reported, | had lately
made in a speech delivered at New Orleans.
The writer in the Union has been msinfOrmcd
as to the fact of the speech said TO have been
made by NE at New Orleans: but long ago
as the month of January last publicly made
here. and since then elsewhere, statements
which are analogous in nature, though not
entirely IDENTICAL with those attributed to me
by the Washington newspaper. As you sug-
gest the propriety of publishing the evidence
on which these statements were made, hope
you with the facts of the case.
In the month Of October last | was in New
Orleans preparing to return to Ncaragua.-
About the middle of the month Gen. Hen
ningsen arrived from Washington, and soon
after we met he informed me that he had i'm
p ,rtant news to communicate. He then pro
c .eded to state that while in Washington hc
had held several conversations with the Sec
rotary of War; that in the course Of one of
ha ipta no ~ I'M m
of the determination on the part OF the Presi-
dent to arrest the expedition to Nicaragua
adding at the same time, that the acquisition
of Cuba during his administration was an OBJ
iect dear TO the heart Of Mr. Buchanan. The
Secretary further proceeded to say, according
to Gen. Henningsen's report, that if we would
turn our attention TO Mexico and enter into
the service of Comonfort, we should have the
support of the U. S. Government; that while
in the Mexican service we might hy some act,
such as tearing down the flag of Spain, bring
about a war between Mexico and Spain, and
Cuba might then be seized by the former
ToHer. The Secretary according to the re-
post | received, Informed Gen. Henningsen
ut means would not he lacking for such an
enterprise, and when pressed by the General
t. state how the means could be had he
piled, Il have gone the length of my trther;
Def ire / can say more il will be necessary for
me to see person above me-" In the next
Interview the Secretary Informed the General
that he was not authorized To go further, but
that he might rely implicitly on the means
being provided if the enterprise under
taken. When Gen. Henningsen made this
communication to me | was shocked at its
nature, and remarked that the Government
could hardly he in earnest He said that he
had been authorized to place before me the
character of the conversations held with the
Secretary of War. and to communicate them
also to a friend of the Nicaraguan cause re-
siding in New Orleans.
The foregoing are facts which have sub
atantally detailed in speeches made h re and
elsewhere. | have been careful always to
state the source of my information, and |
need hardly say that | am firmly convinced
of the truth and accuracy of the report made
to me by Gen. Henningsen. | have ever
found the General to be IA man not only of
strict truth and honor. but also careful in his
use of language, and particularly accurate in
the reports he makes about public matters
In controversies of such moment these |
have narrated. | would rely on his state
ments as implicitly IA if | had heard myself
what passed between the Secretary and him
self
In the recent trial in New Orleans | en-
deavored to place these facts in the shape of
legal evidence. General Hcnningsen was
summoned by me a witness for this pur
pose. But Wnen the question was put Nltn
the view of eliciting these facts. the District
Attorney Immediately object, d, aud the pre-
siding Justice ruled out the question with Jut
waiting to hear the object had in trying to
elicit the testimony.
Permit me to add that have been driven
to speak of these matters by the course the
government has pursued towards me. Not
satisfied with taking from me the rights and
the property L held in Nicaragua, high Fed
eral officers have attempted to deprive me of
my honor also. The good name | have in
heritcd from my fathers has been the object
of attack by those whose positions should
have raised them above the indulgence of
personal abuse. As the advocate of a cause. |
/ know that the consequences of the enterprise
which |, an humble instrument in the hands |
of Higher Power, have inaugurated, will |
he felt and appreciated when the names of the |
most illusirious of my traducers shall have
passed into Obscurity. if not into shame and |
ignominy. As a man, even though | had !
none of the charity which suflereth long and |
is kind" would not so far stoop as 10 cherish
any feeling of personal enmity towards those |
who, forgetful of their stations. do not hesi-
tate To malign me and my motives. But when |
through me high functionaries aim blow at |
mighty movement. justice to ihe cause | |
have espoused requires me To repel the at |
tack. Under such circumstances scorn the |
counsel OF those who advise submission To |
wrong because the arms raised To smite are |
strong and belong to powers high in authori- |
e.; and wo be to that Individual or to that peo- |
pie with whom such slavish counscls prevail. |
Your old't serv't,
WN WALKER.