THE FILLIBUSTER WALKER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 573, 1 May 1858, Page 3

THE FILLIBUSTER WALKER.

(From the ' Times,' Dec. 30.) In tlie annals' of insolent and unscrupulous adventure there is nothing to surpass the career of the so-called General Walker, the Fillibuster of Central America. This desperado has for the second time landed on the Nicara^uan coast with a party of invaders, gathered from the streets of the southern cities of the United States. The details of this new enterprise are so scandalous that it is probable hardly a man even of the laxest notions of political morality will venture openly to defend it. It is but a few months since the last shattered remains of the former expedition were rescued from the vengeance of the native troops, and conveyed to a place of safety, many of them in a British ship of war. And now we have the same leaders—Walker, Henningsen, and others— openly organizing another force for the invasion of the same country, a region occupied'by States with which their own Government is at perfect peace, and in whose quiet and prosperity the Union is most deeply interested. It will be remembered that President "Buchanan made in his Message some strong observations on the conduct of the Filibusters, declared his intention to foil their schemes, and regretted that the New Orleans Executive should have allowed Walker to put to sea. And, indeed, the President might well complain of the proceedings which have accompanied this outrage. For months, —indeed, from the time that Walker returned to the States, —it has been no secret that another invasion was intended. Money, it is said, has been furnished by persons of position in New York itself; at any rate, money has been forthcoming to clothe, arm, and transport several hundred men. Some time since it was known that Walker was about to sail from New Orleans. The United States' Government instituted proceedings against him, and the case came before the State tribunals. But what is the use of Executive interference and judicial forms when the community is in a league to screen the offender ? New Orleans is proud of the spirit with which it upholds slavery and the extension of slavery. Walker is a favourite with the democracy of the city, and, consequently, instead of being effectually restrained, he was merely held to bail, which bail he broke, and set off in the steamer Fashion from Mobile with about 200 men. On the 25th of November he landed at Punta Arenas, in Nicaragua, the Fashion having passed close under the stem of the United States' sloop of war Saratoga. About 140 landed with Walker, and 50 had been previously sent up the river by other entrances. After landing the men, the Fashion proceeded to A spin wall, where Commodore Paulding, of the United States' frigate, Wabash, attempted to seize her; but it appeals that, finding her papers correct, the scrupulous Commodore could do nothing. Walker, at the latest advices, was waiting for reinforcements, and a steamer from Savannah and a brig from Galveston were daily expected to arrive with them. On landing he had taken possession of the warehouse of the transit company, but was ordered off by the commander of the Saratoga, and then took possession of some native huts. It is also said, —we know not with what truth, —that Walker had threatened in turn to arrest Lieutenant Cilley, of the Saratoga, if he did not immediately leave the shore. The Fillibuster leader had taken the steamer on the pretence of conveying emigrants to Nicaragua. " I don't know anything about their characters," says the Captain of the Fashion. " I was told I was to land a coupleof hundred coffee planters at Greytown, and I hope I have fulfilled my orders properly." This seems to be the usual tone of those on whose assistance or connivance the expedition depended. Everywhere the Filibusters found men who could be conveniently blind, or ignorant, or simple, in order to interpose no obstacles to the design. We cannot "but think that the American authorities would have acted more creditably had they frustrated this scandalous enterprise, which will now probably result in fresh bloodshed and confusion. Whatever may be the constitutional position of the Federal Government, it is a mere affectation to say that it was unable to prevent a notorious ruffian like Walker fi ora gathering together his band, addressing- them in inflammatory speeches, avowing everywhere his designs on Nicaragua, and finally sailing from an American port with nearly 200 armed men. That the New Orleans mob sympathised with the adventurer, and that the law was not put in force to check him, are ouly what might be expected; but surely the President might have taken care that the vessel which conveyed him and his ' coffee planters' should be si'ezed in spite of so paltry a subterfuge as regular papers. The Saratoga, too, knew nothing of Walker till he landed, and the Wabash respected the steamer which tho horde had just quitted, simply because it had complied' with the usual formalities on leaving port! It is plain to the world that men of all ranks and in all positions have been afraid to incur i

the unpopularity of stopping the adventurer. * A party in the States support him, and au active party is more powerful than an inert public. What is a friend to an enemy? The intelligence and even the numerical majority of Americans would approve the conduct of any man who drove Walker back to port, or siezed his ship and stores j but no official, civil or military, has courage to face the anger of the unscrupulous or vindictive faction which speculates in ' Walker Stock.' | However, we are not without hopes that this man and his companions will meet with speedy discomfiture. We firmly believe the statement of our correspondent, that the great body of Americans, as of English, are against the Filibuster, and look hopefully to his being speedily starved out. Although advices from New Orleans state that his second in command, Henningsen, was about to follow with 5,000 men, it seems likely that precautions will be taken to prevent aay further force from joining. The British ships are on the alert, and the Americans will be equally determined when they find they are supported by popular opinion on the spot The combined naval forces had sailed for Aspinwall and San Juan, and would, it was thought, prevent any reinforcement reaching the Filibusters. But, on the whole, this busC ness is to be extremely regretted, not only on account of the material loss it will cause, not only for the bloodshed which may attend it, but because it must certainly lower the reputation of the American people and Government, If the President and his Cabinet, and Congress, and the American Army and the American Navy, and the community of American merchants in Nicaragua, cannot prevent a settled territory from being ravaged by a gang of adventurers, what is the use of Executives or Legislatures, or international law, or municipal or military law, or, in fact, any human institution whatever ? Here is a country which the highest interests of America, as of England, require should be brought into a state of tranquility. A few years' cessation from internal discord would probably be sufficient to turn it, certainly not into a.community of powerful states, but into a fairly rich and prosperous region. The geographicd situation of" Nicaragua has made its chief settlements places of importance, and a number of traders of all nations are gaining an honest livelihood within its limits. And all the prospects of this country and its settlers are to be marred by an irruption of Southern Rowdies, intent on nothing but plunder and means of idle indulgence. That the combined squadrons of the two nations will be able, with the cooperation of the Nicaraguan troops, to extirpate the whole brood, we most firmly hope. It is time that for such proceedings due retribution should be exacted, and if Walker, Henningsen, Anderson, and the rest should on this occasion be treated as pirates and murderers the world will have little cause to drop a tear of pity.