The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-01-07
THE ADMINISTRATION AND COMMODORE
PAULDING.

General Walker having been taken as
prisoner to the State Department by Marshal
Rynders, to whose custody he had been commit
ted by Commodore Paulding, the Secretary of
State said to him
"The Executive department of the Govern
ment does not recognise General Walker as
prisoner. 1t has no directions to give concern
ing him. 1t is only through the action of the
Judiciary that he can be lawfully held in Gus
tody to answer any charges that may be made
against him. This (said the Secretary is all
have to say upon this subject"
Since his release from restraint, the General
has remained in Washington, for the purpose,
it is said, of obtaining indemnity from the Gov
eminent. He has been waited upon by South
ern members of Congress-, fattered, sympa-
thized with, and encouraged. He and his
friends demand that be shall be returned to
Nicaragua by the United States, and reinstated
in the position he held when captured. 1t is
also insisted upon that Commodore Paulding
be reprimanded, and that the neutrality laws be
repealed or modified, for the purpose, clearly,
of allowing free course to the iilibusters of the
South. Great excitement prevails among the
Slavery Extensionists, who look to Central Amer
lea as a field for slave labor, and regard Gener-
al Walker as the great agent for the American.
ization of that region and the reinstitution of
the system of Slavery. The act of Commodore
Psulding is denounced as an outrage, and the
Administration is condemned az an enemy of
Progress. A telegraphic despatch from Mobile
January I'd, announces great Indignation
meeting, at which a resolution of censure
against the Administration was unani mously
carried; Walkers restoration was demanded,
and the repeal of the neutrality laws required.
1t is added that the prominent Democrats there
denounce the Intervention of the Government.
The subject will doubtless be brought before
Congress Immediately. A large portion of act
i've politicians at the South are bent on the
"Americanization," that is, the Attenuation
of Central America. They are not content to
await the remote results of the peaceful but
slow processes of commerce and commercial
settlement. Immediate occupation by armed
legions, instant subjugaton by conquest, is their
policy. The repeal of the neutrality laws is the
necessary preliminary to the success of such
policy. They have their representatives in
both Houses of Congress, among the ablest, if
not the ablest, men from the South, who will
seek to bring the Administration to terms, or
array themselves against it. The action Of
Commodore Psulding will furnish them an &C.
casion for powerful demonstration. The fact
that he transcribed the strict letter of his in
structions, and the requirements of law, will be
strenuously insisted upon, and the President
will be called upon, to disclaim or endorse. 1t
is stated that the only instructions sent to the
Commodore we're such as were issued in cir
cular to other United States officers, copy of
which, addressed to him, is as follows:
SIR: From information received at this De.
partment, there is reason to believe that lawless
persons are now engaged within the limits of
| the United States IN setting on foot and pre-.
pairing the means for military expeditions, to be
carried on against the Territories of Mexico,
| Nicaragua, and Costa Rica-Republics with
| whom the United States are at peece-in viola
| ton of the sixth section of the act of Congress
approved 10th April, 1918. And under the
eighth section of the said act it is made lawful
for the President, or such persons as he shall
| empower, "to employ the land and naval forces
/
the purpose of preventing the carrying on Of
any such expedition or enterprise from the Ter
ritores or jurisdiction of the United States"
| am therefore directed by the President tt
call your attention to the subject, and to urge
you to use all due diligence, and to avail your
self of all legitimate means at your command
to enforce these and all other provisions of the
said act of 10th of April, 1918, against thos,
who may be found to be engaged in setting Oh
foot or preparing military expeditions agains
the Territories of Mexico, Costa RIGA, and Mic
aragus, so manifestly prejudicial to the nation
al character, and so injurious to the nationa
interest. And you are also hereby instructed
promptly to communicate to this Department
the earliest information you may receive rela
tive to such expeditions.
/ am, sir, your obedient servant,
| LEWIS CAss.
The Commodore was directed to conside
the Sc instructions as addressed to himself an
to act accordingly.
These instructions authorize interventio
against such expeditions, only within Unite
States Territories or on the high seas-but nc
wi hin the jurisdiction of another Power. NiC
aragua is an independent State. The friend
of Walker claim that he is the rightful Pres
dent, and that Paulding's act was an inexcr
sable outrage upon his rights and the rights {
Nicaragua. But, even admitting that he is
usurper, Nicaragua is still Sovereign State
and it is for her Government and people, nc
for a foreign State or its agents, to invade ne
soil for the purpose of expelling him. Such
their argument.
Commodore Paulding's brief letter to tn
Secretary of Navy, December 10Th, contains
plain, manly statement Of his own case, whicl