Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-01-14
Letter from Gen. Walker to the President
J. D. ASHMORE,
Comptroller General.


Gen. Walker has addressed letter to the Presi-
dent, containing succnct and lucid statement OF
his course. and protesting against the wrong in
ficted upon him and his officers, both by the acts
and falsiications las he asserts of the naval off,
GERS of the Government. The production is from
the pen of a practced writer, and is couchcd in
courteous and manly terms. If Gen. Walker be
the author, she has proved himself powerful
champion with the pen, if not the sword. None of
his numerous advocates among the civilians have
defended their client, with such skill and elo-
ouence as their client has displayed in his own
behalf.
Gen. Walker proceeds in the first place to deny
unenuivocally that he has ever been engaged, any
time or in any measure, with any unlawful expedi-
ton against Nicaragua. In regard 20 the intima-
ton in the Presidents message that Walkers first
departure from San Francisco was illegal, he re-
peats what he had said in previous letter. that he
left California with the sanction and approval of
the Federal officers of the port Of San Francisco,
and that the captain Of the revenue cutter sent his
sailors to bend the sails which carried him from
California to Central America. He also reminds
the President that the United States Government
recognized and legalized the immediate results of
the emigration from California, in the reception of
Padre Vigil rs minister from the Republic of Mica
rarua Referring to his former illegal expulsion
from Nicaragua by an officer Of the United States
Navy, he recalls the fact that the moment he
touched his native soil he protested against the IL
legality and injustice Of the act, and declared his
intention to return to the land from whence he had
been wrongly brought. He thus proceeds:
"After long effort, and much patient endur-
ance, we at length sailed from Mobile for San Juan
dc Nicaragua, on the l4th day Of November last
The vessel in which we sailed was regularly clear
ed by the Collector of the Port, and special In
spector was sent aboard to examine the cargo and
passengers. Our rights, too, as Nlcaraguans were
acknowledged, for the Collector refused to clear
the Fashion with Capt. Fayssoux commanding, on
the ground that he was citizen of the United
States.
With regular register and clearance, We sup
posed wEen once on the high seas We were beyond
the possible interference of any United States au
thority, for even if we were admitted beligerentS
against power with which the United States was
at peace, owners of the neutral vessel had clear
right to carry warlike persons as we'll as contra
band of war, subject only to the risk Of capture
by the enemy's cruisers. We did not for moment
imagine that naval officers would undertake to
place restraints on American commerce in the abb
sence of Federal law and of Congressional author-
ty. The Difference, too, we know your Excellency
has for the Constitution of the United States pre-
cluded the suppositon that any orders had been
issued to detain or capture al American vessel
whose papers showed she was engaged in lawful
voyage.
Satisfied as we were of the entire legality of our
VOYAGE, we did not hesitate to enter the port of
San Juan de Nicaragua, although we knew U.
S. sloop of war was present in the harbor But
we had scarcely landed before we were subjected
to series of illegal and insulting acts by the COM
mander of the Saratoga. These acts have been
detailed in two letters addressed by me 10 Com
modOre Paulding, and now on file, l presume, in
the Navy Department.
While were being embarrassed by the action of
the Saratoga we had not been idle. Col. Anderson,
who had served his native country throughout the
Mexican war, at the head of fifty men had ascend
ed the river and gained possession of the strong
hold, which in the last century had de6ed the ge-
MUS Of tho proudest naval name in British annals.