The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-05

oovrRNuENr To cOMMopoRE HIRAM PAULDINd.
Il viii be remembered that in December, 1857, be-
came necessary Commodore Paulding, while IN COM
mand Of Home Squadron, to assume the RESPONSE
bilty Of landing force. with view TO dsarmns ano
arrssting the notorious libustsr General VIM "aker
with his followers, who had landed at San Juan Dsl
Norts for the purpose Of c0nausring tho rePu0he !"
Nicaragua.
Though this landing Of an armed force BY Commodore
Pauldng, on neutral SOIL not approved by the Blu
chanan administration and was denounced In the halls
OF Congress- yet the Of Nicaragua completely
exoneratsd the Commodore from any blame In the trans
action and conveyed TO him, through General Jaarez
Of prominent citizens her approval OF sno
pursued by him. and decreed 10 him Dy isSsa-
tive act sword and large tract Of land.
Congress- having authorized the acceptance Of the
sword his Excsllency Senior Don Luis Molina, Minister
Penipotsntary from Nicaragua TO the United States,
having enrustsd the Of the sword 70 tho
hands Of Don Jose Rosa Perez, accompanied by
letter from himself that gentleman called upon the Conn
modors 70 learn his convenience for receiving the
sword Tuesday having been dssignated gay party OF
naval officers and other friends Of the Commodore a.
sembled his house about twelve O'Clock when Senior
Perez, in . few appropriate remarks, presented the
sword and letter. which the Commodore made the fol-
lowing reply a9 err
nv FRmxDs-I welcome you here on an occasion Il
vast interest to Some OF you Ill remember, that
few years since while In command Of the Homo Squad
rom became necessary for me TO assume responsible
y demanded by the honor Of country and the high
proclamation and the laws Of the land. William Walker,
aided and abetted by prominent Southern men, left our
shores with pratcal horde Of followers, Y prey upon
sister republic With whom, at The time, had the
most friendly relations Regardless OF the presence q
in the harbor Of San juan dol Aors with reference %
these freebooters, Walker landed his party at Point
Arenas, directly under her guns When in my flagship
arrived there from Aspnwall, he had already COM
msnced his warlike operations, and from the condition
Of affairs found the only thing could do was TO dis
for their crimes / remember, as doubtless do
you, the bitter denuncations which were hurled
a. me oy the Leading ha boma, 81
offending people, and how they deplored with mpotens
the loss Of field for the institution OF slavery
be established the ruins OF free and independents
republic My proceedings approved by every good
citizen yet such the influences thsr controlling tho
administration Of the government. that tho course OF
Justice due to frien dly nation set aside BY lead
ing Southern men, who bad doubtless participated IN the
shameful invasion or Nicaragua and who in
bolton agains, the free Institutions Of country, was
denounced the halls OF Congress for violating the neu-
tray OF Nicaragua, by landing on her shore The 60.
vernmen OF Nicaragua with high sense OF justice at
mos, distinguished citizens General Juarez her appro-
qusnhy she decrsed in her halls Of legislation. 70 pre-
sent . sword and . measure OF her public domain.
His Excsency Don Louis Molina Minister pisnipeion
| OF his country's good win 70 the hands Of
| Mr.. J. r. Perez to whom mos. cordially tender my
thanks for the complimentary and highly nateTng man
ner In which he has discharged this duty. receive
| from you, Mr.. Perez, with my profound acknowledge
ments 70 your government. ts Minister and yourself.
this highly appreciated g For the honor it conveys
| It's possession viii be cherished memorial fv me and
mine and Whenever II shall be my happiness TO display
il TO my friends upon this occasion say with
feeling or honest ds-"Ths sword illustrates the jas
tee and generosity OF the government Of NiearaEua II
relieves me from imputed wrong W her, and tbs I'M
puted comm ssion. on nv part o. grave error whist
in faithful fearless discharge OF duty as pub
lie oic:r" have thus my tr.nss given IA. pre-, m%
though the whole story not told will not further do.
tain you Again Senior Perez permit me TO express
thanks FOR the kindly manner in which you have execus-
cd the conndsd TO you by His Excellency, your
We subjoin copies Of tho Minister'S letter and
| WASHINGTON, MAY 10, 1852.
In compliance with orders from tho government Of Nj
caragua have the honor forward to you the sword
which, expressed 10 the decree have had previ usly
the pleasure to communicate TO you that republic has
desired to present TO you for your noble conduct At
Punta de Castillo on the 8th December, 1857.
On that occasion you not without knowledge OF the
gravity Of the act but with just consciousness OF dis
charging duty toward your own country, and abound.
the naval force Of the United States In those wasrss
decided to seze and did seize and brought back the
torious advsntursr William Walker and the other indvi-
duas Of the expedition he led from the United States
which he landed at Punta dc Castillo In the presence
tholr vessels OF IN OF tne1r
cipa laws and Of their international obligations thus
tempting a second time the invasion Of Nicaragua q
State with which the United States were at peace.
That mcritorious act performed BY instead OF
ceving the appreciation OF your government met with
severe censure from Mr. Buchanan's administration
and subjected you TO undeserved mortihcatioa and
| prejudices.
At the time alluded to Nicaragua had mere de jurs
| not practical dominion over the port Of San Juan,
which really under sort protectorate United
States and Great Britain, and looking upon the mos
action you took with no other object than that
OF preventing the piratcal invasion Of her territory by
citizens OF the United States could consider
conduct offensive to her. be Indifferent at the dis
agreeable consequences II brought upon YOURSELF on the
lated prevent injurious complications well other
evils undeserved the part Of Nicaragua and at least
unrutfu for the United States she has desired to give
you testimony Of her just appreciation OF your noble
conduct and high motives by rendering TO you vote
to forward 10 you by Don Jose Rosa Perez, Nicar
| guam citizen.
Congress should not have given their consent to your
accepting the lands and the sword has reached very
regard TO the resolution Of that body as well as on &C
count of posterior accidental circumstances
Please SIR to the length OF this note to be
sured OF the great pleasure take In comply with the
order from my government this occasion, and 10
cept the high esteem and consideration with which
have the honor to subscribe myself your most obedisn
| servant, LUIS MOLINA.
10 Captain II. PAuLpnc, U.s.N
CoaxASDASrs OFFICE, UNITED STATES NAVY YARD,
L NEw YORK. June a, 1862. }
| SRI have the honor TO acknowledge, by the handi
OF Don Jose Rosa Porez accompanied the letter from
your Excesncy Of the 10th May 1882 the receipt OF the
sword which the government of Nicaragua by decree
directed TO be presented to for the which
deemed my duty to pursue In arresting, at Punta d.
Castillo, the 9Th December, 1857, the notorious li
buster and outlaw, VIM Walker, with his followers who
had landed the shores Of the republic OF Nicaragua
violation Of the laws Of the United States and OF al
| civilized nations
For the generous manifestation Of your Excellency'
government BY the decree presenting this sword and
also the tract OF land (of which latter the policy Of
government does not permit my acceptance) Of the ap
prevail and estimation Of my the occasion
above referred to- only say that It far above my
deserts for the simple performance OF what then
| sidsred and now consider to have been my duty.
or Is tho desire Of every officer receive the
approval OF his government and IL did not then receive
that Of the administration and Of Congress, think the
be directly traced TO political events which
have since eliminated in the present unfortunate
dton OF the country, which no one can more deeply de-
| More than mysalf