Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-10-03
GEN. WALKER TO COMMANDER SALMON.
TRUxILLo, August 81.
To Capt. NoRvELL SALMON, of II. B. u. steam
sloop Icarus

GEN. WALKER TO COMMANDER SALMON.
TRUxILLo, August 81.
To Capt. NoRvELL SALMON, OF H. B. VI. stean
sloop Icarus:
SIR have the honor to acknowl dye tn
receipt of your letter of this date sent to m
through Lieut.. Coke, of her Britannia Males
tvs navy. a
Some of the facts contained In your com
munication are new to me; and had they beer
known TO me should not have undertaken
TO modify the custom house regulations o
this port
must beg leave to say that l was entirel,
| ignorant of the mortgage to the British gov
eminent of the custom house receipts at thi.
port. AssuredlY l have no intention TO di
vert from their proper course any funds
m )rtgaged to the British crown If any Gus
| tom house receipts have been lost during nv
| presence here it has not been in the interests
OF British subjects, as most of the trade here
| during my occupation has been carried on by
vessels bearing the British flag.
In relation to the money said 10 have been
| lett IN The custom-house, as well as the gov
ernment paper, have to say that have not
seen nor heard of one nor the other Had a
l received such money or paper, they should
| De Immediately delivered to you, on the
statement you make concerning the mort
gage to the British crown
AS to the injury done 10 British trade by
my occupation of this town. must be per-
| mtted tosay that am convinced any trifinp
injury now done, wonld be tenfold repaired
by future benefits to English commerce. This
however. involves questions not necessary to
discuss at present.
Touchng the fulfllment of the treaty. stip-
ulafion between Great Britain and Hondn-
ras, must reply that no one can be more
anxious than myself for the complete carry
of fha traa Al
1902 1t was in expectation of this treaty's
having been fully carried ont, that visited
Ruatan In the month of June last: and ex-
cuse me If, in this connection, refer to what
you call my unauthorized occupation of this
port.
1t weuld be a long story for me to tell YOU
why claim the right to make war on the
existing authorities of Honduras. Suffice il
TO say, that my presence here at this time is
due entirely TO the engagements which
consider / had in honor contracted Sith a
people DESTROYS of living In Central America
under the ancient laws and customs of the
English realm, claiming with them common
interests under the institutions derived from
the code of Alfred. / thought it no wrong
to assist them in maintaining the rights they
had lawfully acquired.
Asking pardon for so long dwelling on the
statements Of your letter. have to reply
that, If you deem it your duty to re-estab-
llsh the former authorities Of this port. 1 shall
do nothing consistent with honor to prevent
your purpose, | cannot, under the circum-
stances. regard it dishonorable to Law down
my arms to an officer of the British crown,
lnasmuch as many of the persons compro-
missed by their adherence to me NAV claim
the guarantees of English subjects. In re-
gard to our embarkiDg, you do not specify on
what vessel or at whose expense such re-em
barkation is 10 take place. Concerning the
money and paper, can only say that as
they never came into my possession, il is i'm
possible for me to deliver them up.
Expecting you will inform me concerning
the matters for which have requested infor.
nation, as well as concerning the manner Ia
WHICH yoa propose 10 arrive at the facts
touching the money said to have been left. I
nave The homer to be, sir. your obedient SER
want, WILLIAM W.Ixrp
COMMANDER SALMON TO GEN. WALKER.
HER MAJESTY STEAM SLooP IoARUs,
TRUxILLO, August 81.
SRI have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter and am much pleased
to find that you do not consider it any dis
honor to lay down your arms at the demand
of British officer.
am perfectly aware that by Offering terms
to any person acting without authority from
any recognized government. / expose myself
to rebuke from my superiors.
have, however, taken upon myself the re-
sponslbiliiy of doing SO, in the hope not only
of preventing any further effusion of blood,
but also with the view of preventing any
further damage to the town and the property
contained In 1t, so much of which is obtained
on credit from British houses in Belize.
The supreme government of Honduras, In
a proclamation received by me this morning,
does not appear to wish the code of Alfred
introduced into the country in the manner
that You propose, and the local government
and Inhabitants of Truxillo appear to be of
the same opinion, judging from the numerous
applications made to me for protection and
assistance, which you must be quite aware
tnat am authorized in giving to any
friendly state that may request il. (See
w heaton's International Law.)
Having also received q petition from the |
authoritles and Inhabitants of Omoa (signed |
among others by the United States consuD |
for protection and assistance, have decided
upon affording protection, &C., therein reuuir- !
ed against any attack made by you upon |
hat town. With regard to your re-embarka-
lion, assume, OF course, that you will pro-
vide freightage to remove yourself and fol-
lowers from the coast of Honduras. Tive |
'chooners now lying in this port are ready
10 treat with you Tor this purpose.
- eiSnSi w y ui AS4uCot Ioi iuiOTuldtlOQ
On the different points contained in your let
ter, L am fully aware that great part of the |
trade of this port is carried under the British |
lag but am also aware that the owners do
not object to pay the small dues fixed by lawi
which dues, l beg to repeat, are secured by
mortgage to the British government putting
{ therefore ont of the power of even the re-
yular government of Honduras to remove
hem.
In relation therefore 10 The sum of money.
&C., lett in the custom house, have reviewed
rom the authorities clear statement of the
lifferent items. the sum OF which correctly
tated in my letter of this morning. Shou d
he money have been appropriated by any f
rour followers, il is no less lost to the gov
rcment, and / conceive you TO be no less
esponsible for the loss.
must further remark that / should not
onsent to receive any compensation from
fou on behalf of the British government; any
on your part must be made to Sc
or Don Martinez, the commandant of Trux-
Ito.
l am perfectly aware that you were anx-
g. H.. Al Il