Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-03-13
REPUBLIC OF CALIFORNIA.
SOME HISTORY OF INTEREST TO
THE PACIFIC COAST.
Walkers Filibustering Expeditions
to Central America Before
the Civil War.
Icincinnati Commemorate Gazette. /


aged German-American, a quiet, phlegmatic
Teuton, who plods along day by day, popu-
lar and highly respected by all with whom
he has business relations. Barney is
plain and unassuming, never referring to
his past life, and yet many years ago he
unintentionally bore his part in trying to
perpetuate the reign of slavery in the United
States by adding. through revolution and
conquest, the Central American States to
this country.
Leaving " Barney" at his warehouse
duties for while. little retrospec,ion will
give the reader better insight into the OBJ
ject aimed at in this article Through the
war with Mexico and subsequent treaties
with that nation, the United States not only
retained Texas, but in addition thereto
added Arizona, New Mexico, California and
large extent of other territory. About
the same time. or within q year or two
gold was discovered in California, causing
rush to the Pacific slope of great num-
Der of restless, lawless spirits from every
section of the country, and even from Eu-
rope, all bent upon making their fortunes
in the briefest possible period.
After fierce contest and most bitter acri-
monious debates in Congress, California
was admitted to the Union as a free State
Iowa and one or two others just preceding
il under the same status, giving the anti
slavery sentiment great advantage. The
shareholders and their Northern allies now
concluded that their only hope for the re-
tention of power was in being able to add
additional slave States by conquest of ter
ritory from Mexico, Cuba and Central
America. A pretext must be made for the
United States to make war upon one or all
of the countries named, and il this could
not be done, the only recourse was to fit
out fillbustering expeditions, which, under
the himsy guise of liberation, would invade
and make war upon those countries-ard
succeeding even for a short time-applv
for admission into the Union, which appli-
cation would not be in vain. as every de-
partment of the Government was under
the pro-slavery control.
There were thousands of men in Califor-
MIA and other sections out of employment
and ready for any enterprise full of excite
ment and promising plenty of " Doodle"
All needed was daring leader. and that
important parsonage was found in General
William Walker, the " Gray-eyed Man of
Destiny who was selected to head these
enterprises.
A word about this man Walker. In the
year 1920 Scotchman, formerly wealthy
and prominent banker in his native land
emlgrated to America, settling in Nashville
Tenu., where four years later, or in 1924, a
son was born, and that son was William
Walker, the renowned flibuster. Great
care was taken in the education of the son.
be finishing college course in one of the
best institutions of the South When
quite young man he went New Orleans,
where he studied law and medi-
LATER haon-.ip, b, 81;
OF the New Orleans Crescent From
Louisiana he went to San Francisco, as
Stunning editorial control of the Herald of
that city In 1852 he was III the Guaymas
expedition, where his natural love for ex-
element and adventure was further
strengthened. At San Francisco, in july,
1858, he organized an expedition for the
conquest of Sonora and Lower California,
both OF which were provinces of Mexico
Through funds furnished by wealthy slave
holders of the Southern States, Walker
purchased armed and equipped the bark
Caroline, in which he sailed from San Fran
cisco with sixty-six fellow adventures.
tQct2her 10Th Of the same Year,, landing il,
tue time at la Paz, Lower California,
where he at once issued the following fam
ing pronunciamento:
SONORA EXPEDITION.
Lower California Decreed Republic-Co,onel
William Walker Declared President
Proclamation issued on the Sd day OF Noyem-
Der, iS53.-The Republic of California is hereby
declared free, sovereign and independent, and
all allegiance to the Republic of Mexico is for
ever renounced.
Decree, eth install duties. whether exports
or imports, are hereby abolished.
Decree No. ,, 18th 5nst-From and after this
date the Civil Code of Practice of the State of
Louisiana shall be the rule of decision ard the
law OF the land III all the Courts of the Republic
n -vafl Moth 49,
III this decree shall be construed so as to make
i "a organization of the Courts of the Republic.
WILLIAM WALKER
President of Lower California
FREDERIC Emory Secretary of State.
In the meantime the Mexican authori-
ties were not idle, but were rapidly con-
centrating troops TO crush the invaders.
A battle was fought at La Paz, IN which
Walker lost some OF his very best men, and
after this lie marched and countermarched,
continually growing weaker, until when
almost surrounded he took refuge in Cali
fornia, surrendering to the United States
authorities at San Diego, May 6. 1854 Re-.
turning to San Francisco, Walker was the
lion OF the hour, feasted and feted by all
the pro-slayery leaders.
Walkers reyerses had only sharpened
his appetite for further adventures, and
shortly afterwards he commenced organ
izing an expedition for the conquest of Cen
tral America, with enterprise, with those
which followed it, are now known in his
tory as the Walker Nicarauga Filibuster-
ing Schemes The first of these, consist
ing of sixty-two persons under Walkers
leadership, sailed from San Francisco
May 4, 1855, on the bark "Vesta," in
due time reaching the point of
destination. Landing his men and pulling
down the Mexican flag, lie hoisted the
stars and stripes" and declared republic
established. He then made rapid march
against the town of Rivas, where hard
fought battle took place, Walker being
forced to retreat to San Juan del Sur on
the Pacific; passing thence to Virgin Bay,
over the Transit route, which was a cor
poraton principally owned by Commodore
Cornelius Vanderbilt Walkers men had
another and successful engagement with
the SpaSish-Americans. Walker then
seized Transit Company steamer and en-
barked for New Granada town situated
on the western hank of Lake Nicaragua.
which he captured, making treaty with
General Corral, the Mexican commander
Riyas, Mexican. was made President-in
name only-Walker Commander-iD-Chief.
and one Parker H. French Minister OF FL
nance. General Corral, Directing to this
arrangement, was seized by Walker and
executed without even the form of trial
Secretary French was sent as an En-
bassador to the United States, but was re-
fused recognition by Secretary of State
VIM L. Marcy. New recruits were con-
stantly arriving from different parts of the
United States, which, with the natives
who had cast their lot with the invaders,
soon gave Walker force of some twelve
hundred as daring and reckless men as
ever gathered together.
Pierre Soule lat that time distinguished
member of Congress from New Orleans,
and. later on, one of the leaders of the
Confederates in the civil war; now visited
Walker, and, it is believed, made arrange
ments for the United States to acknowledge
the independence of and annex to this
country, as five separate slayeholding
States, the five countries Of Central
America. To make this acceptable to the
pro-slavery party in the United States,