The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1858-01-09
For the DQu Book.

only endorse the outrageous, unwarranted
and unauthorized conduct of Commodore
Paulding, in arresting Gen. Walker and his
followers, upon the soil OF their adoption, and
sending them to the United States, but reit-
crate his false charge of piracy 1t does ap-
pear to me, that no man in his sober senses,
unbiased by prejudice and not Ignorant OF
the facts, can consistently endorse the one,
or reiterate the other. The first is as unjust
as the latter is untrue.
In the first place, it is q we'll established
fact, that General Walker was invited to
Nicaragua; that he was to introduce into
that country five hundred emigrants from the
United States; that they were to be entitled
to fifty thousand acres of land, and all the
rights of citizenship. That Gen Walker,
and those who went with him, had right to
accept this invitation, and become citizens OF
Nicaragua, will not be denied by any one
making pretensions to common sense, and
knowledge of the principles ot the govern
rnent of the United States To do so, would
be denying the right ofexpatriation-a right
established by the war of 1872. The mere
right claimed BY the British, to search Anne
rican vessels was not the main cause of that
war, but it was the right claimed by England
to take from American decks whom might be
claimed as British subjects. England denied
the right of her subjects to eApatriate them
selves, and become citizens Of another coun-
llN WlluUut uGE CULSeHts lie Ouiltu koldleS
contended that the citizens of one country
had right to expatriate themselves and be-
come citizens of another, without the consent
of the government ofthe country which they
left. To maintain this right, the American
people engaged in the war Of 1912. Surely
right so dearly bought is not to be sacri-
feed to sectional prejudice, petty Jealousy, or
personal dislike. With the fncts before him,
no sensible or unprecedented mind will saction
or JUSTIFY the course of Commodore Pauld-
ing.
If then, Gen. W alker had right to expa-
triate himself and become citizen of Mica
ragua, the charge of piracy made against
him and his followers is gratuitous and un-
founded. II he had a right to go to that
country in the first place, without becoming
amenable to the charge Of piracy, with what
consistency can this charge be preferred against
him now, when he was only returning to
country in which he had Justly acquired
rights and privileges.
While in that country, Gen. W alker was
placed in Office by the people. He was first
made Colonel in the Democratic ranks, and
after the death of President Costillion, and
Manos, COMMANDMENT Chief. he was made
General-in Chief Of the Democratic forces
In this capacity he captured the city of
Granada, the strong hold of the opposition
after which he entered into treaty with the
leader Of the Chamovista forces, whereby
the Rivas Provisional Government was estab-
lished, and he made Commander in Chief,
with the rank of Major General. After the
abandonment of the government by Rivos,
Gen. Walker was elected President, and as
such continued to preside over the country
until he was finally compelled to abandon it,
by the invasion of the other Central Ameri-
can States, the direct interference and covert
assistance OF England, and lastly by the con-
niyance and direct interference of a United
States Naval Officer This being the true
statement of the causes which led to Gen.
Walkers temporary abandonment of his
government in Nicaragua, his return there
cannot be piracy, neither is it for the purpose
of rapine and plumber. That he has right
to return to that country, of which he is
legally constituted citizen, no fair and candid
man will deny. 1t is equally plain, that
Commodore Paulding has been guilty of
gross outrage, and done a serious wrong in
tearing Gen. Walker and his followers from
the country Of their adoption and sending
them from the genial climate of Central
America to the trigid regions of the North;
and that, too, after forcing them upon gov
eminent vessels with such haste as to prevent
them from bringing with them their person
al effects | know this to be true, by having
suffered i'll consequence of the haste in which
Gen, Walkers officers and men were hurried
on board the Saratoga and Fulton.
There We're with Gen. Walker five or six
Of the original ffty-six, who have an inter
est in the fifty thousand acres grant. And
there We're quite number who went to Nj
caragua under the decreeted invitation of
the Rivos Government, offering each emf
grant two hundred and fifty acres of land, af
ter residence of six months. Now those
men are all sufferers by this outrage and I'M
warranted interference of Commodore Paul
ding. Not only these, but all those who
were brought to the United States after the
surrender brought about b. the interference
and connivance of an officer of the United
States Navy, and the heirs of the hundreds
who fell in that country, are robbed of their
just rights by Commodore Paulding's as
sumption of power, unless Gen. Walker is
permitted to return and resume the control
of that country of which he was rightfully
and properly elected President.
The whole matter is within the power and
control Of the Administration. 1t now re-
mains to be seen whether it will see Justice
done, OF whether it will wait for public opin-
ion to force it, through Congress. Justice
and right demand, that the government
where Com. Paulding found them, with all
their supplies and munitions of war; The
vantage ground they have lost, cannot be
replaced. For had Gen. Walker not been
interfered with, he would by this time have
been in full possession of the country.
Even this, would be a slight recompense
for what Gen Walker, his officers and men
have suffered in consequence of the high
handed outrage of Com. Paulding. The
officers of the Saratoga may have done all
in their power, to render them as comforta-
BILE as they could still, those who went
through the Siege of Rivas, would prefer
another such siege, with nought to eat but
mule meat and plantains, to another such
trip to the United States. For one, know
we did not fare as we did on Punta Arenas,
not withstanding our commissary stores were
brought on board.
CITIZEN OF NICARAGUA.
AN INTERESTING SUIT.-A highly in
teresting suit in regard to the recovery of
nartni1n lnttnrs A,rn,it tnln h,, Con-, ANnnbinrr