Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1858-01-04
From the HunssUiHe (AIr) Democrat, Dec Soth
Important from Nicaragua-Cen N. walk.
err and Wen Prisoners,

Der attention was attracted by the above an-
Douncem ut in Memphis exchanges of yester-
day. Our first Impression vas. th@t the Nicsra-
euans Costa Ricans had made Walker and his
prisoners; nut to surprise and modification
we found that thev we're Captured by a Unite
States ofic r, Com Pauliingi We are at loss to
know, from the slim data furnished us, on what
principle Of natural right, international law
Com. Psnlding acted. Nor see how his
course can be justified 10y our neutrslity laws.
We are satisfied and, we believe, that the pub
lie mind of o il country was, generally, Satisfied,
that Gen. Walker legally, elected President
of Nicaragua, and exercised The functions of that
office with the consent OF majority of the p ople
Of Nicaragua. III was, both de i,sre and de facio
President st the time he forced TO leave Mica
ragua, by Capt DaviS's oficiuus interference and
unlawful assumption of authority; for W ich, we
hope, Davis WILL vet be dismissed from the service
of our country. He disgraced our flag and richly
deserv S disgrace,
openly End above board, announced his purpose
to induce emisration TO Nicaragua, and to raise
fun Nv the sale Of Nicaraguan bonds, and the
voluntary contributions of such sympathised
with hi cause. lie declared that he neither desir
Cd nor Intended TO violate our neutrality laws We
have vet to see the evidence Of his violation of
them. He bad never relr pushed his right to the
PFesliency OF Nicaragua and still claimed to be its
Pr-sid nj; and the Nj aIaguaus had ever deposed
him. Ths refOre, in raising emigrant companies
10 20 10 NICARAGUA, be was not organizing lawIess
expeditions against foreign country; but he was
simply inducing emigranta to go there to sustain
the rig' tinl, lawful authorities of that country.
Il will scare y be asserted, that citizens of the
United States cannot leave the country, carry
arms with them, when they leave. The denial of
the right OF expatriation was falacy, which once
existed in great Britain but that has been annihi-
lated, along with other cobweb traditions, by the
superior light OF modern civilization illustrated in
the progress of American Repuhlicanism. Great
Britain has, recently, acknowledged the right,
although she stoutly denied il during our first War
of Independence and would have persisted in
forcing h d. NAL by hanging traitors all British
born per ons in the American service, if
trym'n bad not stuTdily cOntended for the right
and received TO enforce il by reprisais the Bril-
tish. Now, that we have brought bout such q re-
coSnition Of the right, going TO be guilty
Of practical denial of it2 Common sense and
common justice forbid it
If Walkers men had a right to expatriate them
selves, they bad right to bear arms for self-pros
lection. And we hold, they had the right to go
sngiY or IN bodies With arms in their hands, provi-
ded they did not iatend to make upon nation
at peace with the United States. As stated above,
their protested purpose was not to make such
war, but 10 sustain the lawful authorities of Nicara-
qua. hat this was their primary object, We have
every reason 10 believe, and have seen no evidence
TO co1Tovert. We may conjecture that they had
other Interior objects-One OF them, probably, to
punish Costa Rica for her interference with Mica
raguab affairs. But suppose conjecture rightly,
the Uniteo States had no right to interfere
tangle herself with foreign affairs. To do SO, j.
TO invite Interference Of foreign nations with a
fair
But, for the sake o. argument, admit that the
United Ststes might have properly arrested Walk
er ana has men on her own SOIL or within three
marine agues OF her shore, d vessel sailing
unt'r tn protection OF the United States flag, on
the principle that United States bottom any.
here on tue high is United States territory, |
ano, such, der the jurisdiction Of her lawsl-
and vt, we know no principle, other Than that in
which the Dngaud or pirate seeks ustifca-
tlou, VIZ: might makes rght'-to justify Com
modore PauoIng's conduct, as it appears from the
lights bt Tor us. Walk, and his men ha we un-
dt rstano, passed beyond the utmost jurisdiction of
the laws OF the United States. Hehad pass, the |
OF the commander of the Saratoga and |
landed on the soil OF Nicaragua. He was about |
10 relnstate himself the legally ell cted Chief
Of Lis adopted country. An officer OF |
the Stli'd states mtruucs himself into Walkers |
country, and usurps authority to arrest him and |
lis men on their OWE adopted soil, forcoly tear |
them iiCm u, and bring them back prisoners OF
Val. IL seems To Us TO be high-hundeu usurpa- |
ton, most ImpOhtic complication of the United |
States With the concerns OF the Central Amer. |
lean States, which, tru. t, not sane
Toned 10y ar. Buchanan's Instructions; or If so, |
that lie may Dc ALE to justify himself b,fore the
country, 10y showing state OF facts as yet I'M
developed to the public eye, aud reconcilabe with
G. principles OF natural justice anu international
Jaw.