American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-01-15
From the Louisville JouraaI.
THE SEIZURE OF GEN. WALKER.

The capture of GEN. WALKER and
the principal portion of his command
on the soil Of Nicaragua, by the United
States naval forces under command of
Commodore PAULDING, can be regard.
ed in no other light than that of a fla
grant and inexcusablo outrage. 1t is
u palpable violation of the rights of
nations for which there is no pallia.
ton whatever. The letter of Commo-
dore Psulding, as reported by the tel
cgraph, discloses no single circum-
stance to detract from the enor,nity Of
his unwarrantable usurpation of power.
Whatever may have been the offence
Of Walker and his followers against
the indistinct and almost undefnablo
neutrality laws Of the United States,
however grave may have been the
charges against him, and whatever
summary process might have been al.
lowablc and proper for his capture
within the waters of the United States
or even upon the high seas, there is no
provision of the law of nations, nor
any principle Of right, or justice, or of
common sense to authorize his capture
upona foreign soil by an officer of the
United States Government, acting
either with or without specific inssruc-
tons from his superiors. They were
beyond the outermost limits of the ju-
risdiction of the United States. Were
Walker the most Infamous pirate that
ever "scuttled ship or cut throat"
were his followers band of outlaws
branded with infamy by the people of
all countries, neither Com. Paulding,
as an officer Of the United States navy,
nor President Buchanan himself, as
the chief executive officer and the COIN
mander-in, chief of the army and navy
Of the United States, has any right to
seize his person or to interfere with
his operations upon the soil of a foreign
independent and sovereign government.
The acknowledged weakness of the
Nlcaraguan Government is no excuse
for this wanton abuse Of power and Vi
olation of national law. 1t is the duty
OF our Government and of our Govern
ment officers to pay the same respect to
the weakest as to the strongest of for
cign powers. Walker and his men, had
of their own free will and accord, as
they undoubtedly had q perfect right
to do, oXpatriatcd themselves as citi-
zens of the United States and had ia
ken an oath Of allegiance to the gov.
eminent Of Nicaragua. If any we're
i'll open rebellion against the govern
menC to whom their freshly assumed
fealty was due, it was the affair of that
government, and not Of ours. But he
claimed to be the President and the
commandcr-in- chief OF the army of the
Republic Of Nicaragua. lie was upon
Nicaraguan soil. lie was, at the mo-
ment Of his capture, as appears from
the report Of Commodore Paulding it.
| self, engaged in prosecuting n war
against the declared enemies Of that
Republic. Whether rightfully Or
wrongfully, whether with o; without
the legal sanction Of that people, he
was actually exercising upon their own
soil the powers properly belonging to
their chief executive officer, and as
well might an officer OF the American
navy or army land his forces at the
mouth of the Thames, upon the shores
Of Great Britain and seize persons
whom Inc might find there, and bring
them captivcs to the United States,
as to make descent upon the shores
of Nicaragua and make prisoners of
the people found at the mouth of the
San Juan. With as much right could
q British officer disembark lis forces
upon the banks OF the Potomac river
and march upon Washington City, aud
carry OF as prisoner to England,
James buchanan claiming to be the
President of tho United States, as
could an officer Of the United States
enter within the territorial jurisdiction
Of Nicaragua and take into captivity
Wm. Walker assuming to exercise the
functions Of President Of that Govern
mcnt and people.
Itappcars from the report of Com.
Paulding that he acted in this matter
without instructions. Buchanan had
permitted Walker and his followers to
leave the United States unmolcstcd,
He had been ridiculcd for the incfli-
cheney of his administration in allowing
the expedition to sail from American
ports under the very noses of Govern.
mcnt officers without let or hindrancc
after all his fierce proclamOtions to the
contrary. lie dispatched Commodore
Paulding to overhaul the cmigrants on
the high seas and bring them back, and
in his instructions profcsscd trcmcn-
douS anxiety to put a stop to all fill
clustering expeditions, and his over
Jealous Commodore took him at his
word, exceeded his instructions, yiolat-
cd the law Of nations, and now not only
yprv conp1accntlv annpnls tn thp Adj