Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-08-06
A NEW TROUBLE FOR THE SECRETA-
RY OF WAR.


in selling old reservations for forts and buy
ing new ones--sccretary Floyd has already
had an unusual quantity Of thorns in his Off
cial bed but here is a new one, and a sharp
one. We give it for what it is worth:
DESIGNS OF THE ADMINISTRATION on
MEXICO.
LETTER FROM GEN. WILLIAM WALKER
From the Mobile Register. July 20h.
We copied a few days since paragraph
from the Washington Ujion. fatty contradict
ing a statement which Gen Walker has on
several occasions made in his speeches to the
public in regard to certain communications
and overturcs made to him by member of
the Cabinet. We ntimatcd at the time that
it would behoovo Gen. Walker, in view Of
this contradiction. TO produce the evidence
upon which he based his statements
This has called forth a letter from the Cen
oral to us on the subject, which, in justice to
him. We lay before the public. In this letter
Gen. Walker alleges facts and circumstances
which, in his opinion, warranted him in max
ing the statement which he did, and which
The Union has contradcted We leave the
matter to be further pursued between the par
ties concerned, as they may deem necessary
for the vindication of the truth, and TO set
themselves right in the premises.
MouirE, July 10, 1858.
Editor Mobile Reqiaer
"SrR: On returning 20 this city, day or
two ago, | read in your journal an extract
from THE Washington lpioa denying certain
statements which it was reported / had lately
made in a speech delivered 40 New Orleans.
The writer in The Union has been misiniorm-
ed as to the fact of the speech said 10 have
been made by me at New Orleans but as
long ago as the month of January last ] pub
licly made here, and since then elsewhere,
statements which are analogous in nature
though not entirely identical, with those at
tributed TO me by the Washington newspaper
As you suggest the proprioty of publishing the
evidence on which these statements were
made, hope you will not deem me intrusive
if | furnish you with the facts of the case.
''ln the month of October last | was in
New Orleans preparing to return to Nicara-
qua. About the middle of the month. Gen.
lIcnningsen arrived from Washington, and
soon after we met he info med me that he had
important ncws TO communicate. He then
proceeded to state that while in Washington
he had held several conversations with the
Secretary of War; that in the course of one
OF the interviews the Secretary had informed
him of the determination on the part Of the
President to arrest the expedition to Nicara-
qua, adding, at the same time, that the acqui-
sition Of Cuba during his administration was
am object dear to the heart of Mr. Buchanan.
The Secretary further proceeded to say,
according to Gen. Hcnniugscn's report, that
il we would turn our attention to Mexico and
enter into the service Of Comonfort we should
have the support of the United States Gov
crnment that while in the Mcxican service
we might by some act, such as tearing down
the flag of Spain, bring about war between
Moxico and Spain, and Cuba might then be
seized by the former Power. The Secretary.
according TO the report l received, informed
Gen. Hcnningscn that means would not be
lacking for such an enterprise. and when
pressed by the General to state how the means
could he had, he replied, Il have gone the
length Of my tether; before can say more
it viii be necessary for me to see persons a.
bovc me-
"ln the next interview the Secretary inform
ed the General that he was not authorized to
go further, but that he might rely implicitly
ON the means being produced if the enterprise
was undertaken When Gen Henningscn
made this communication to me was shock
ed at its nature, and remarked that the Cow
ornment could hardly be in earnest. lie said
that he had been authorized to place before
me the character of the conversations held
/ with the Secretary Of War and to communi-
/ cate them also to a friend of the Nicaraguan
cause residing in New Orleans.
The foregoing are facts which | have sub
stantially detailed in speeches made here 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. lIennngsen. have ever found
the General to be man not only Of strict
truth and honor but also careful in his use OF
language, and particularly accurate in the re-
ports he makes about public matters. In CON
troyersies Of such moment as these have mar
rated, would rely on his statement as i'm
/ pictly as if ! had heard myself what passed
between the Secretary and himself
"ln the recent trial in New Orleans, | en-
deayored to place these facts in the shape of
legal evidence. Gen. lIenningsen was sum
moned by me as a witness for this purpose
But when the question was put with the view
of cliciting these facts, the District Attorney
Immediately objected, and the presiding Jus
tice ruled out the question, waiting to hear
the object had in trying to elicit the testi-
mony.
Permit me to add that have bee1f driven
to speak of these matters by the course the
Government has pursued toward me. mol
satisfied with taking from me the rights and
the property held in Nicaragua. high Fede
raj officers have attempted to deprive me o
my honor also.
The good name have inherited from MI
fathers has been the object of attack by thos,
whose positions should have raised them
bove the indulgence Of personal abuse At
the advocate Of a cause, know that the con
sequences of the enterprise which |, an hum
Bile instrument in the hands of a Higher Pow
er, have inaugurated, will be felt and appre
ciated when the names of the most illustrioui
of my traducers shall have passed into obseu
T rity, if not into shame and gnominy. As
man, even though | had none of the Chart,
which suiiereth long and is kind, would no
so far stoop as to cherish any feeling of per
sonal onmity toward those who, forgetfu o
their stations, do not hesitate to malgn m,
and my motives.
''But when, through me, high functionarie
aim blow at a mighty movement, justice t,
the cause have espoused requires me to re
: pei the attack. Under such circumstances
scorn the counsel OF those who advise sub