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PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
persons of being connected with Walker. They only knew them to be Americans for which crime they met this bitter fate, But the circum- stances of this brutal slaughter have been made public heretofore and do not require to be dilated upon by me. The ·affairs of Nicaragua again began to assume a flat- tering character. True it is, the other states of Central America ex- cepting Salvador refused to recognize the Rivas-Walker Administra- tion, but the dreadful consequences which had attended Costa Rica in his late crusade served as a warning; and already a party, small, but gradually increasing, was springing up in favour of Walker throughout the other states. In the mean time ~icaragua had been recognised by the U. S. and emigration was flowing in to the coun- try in a still larger tide. The mortality amon~st the americans had been very great but nevertheless the army was increasing and in the month of .May numbered 1300 men. That this prosperity di_d not continue until the success of the cause had been placed beyond a doubt, it is palpably evident was owing to the extremely injudicious acts of Gen Walker at about this time. It makes me blush to think on that, which I am now to rela:e, that it was an american who had recently stood forth so nobly, Freedom's champion in distressed and benighted Nicaragua, should cloy with his short but brilliant career of honest glory to turn usurper. Such was the paciffic condition of ~icaragua that an elec- tion for President was held in the month of May 18;36, and Don Mariano Salizar became the choice· of the people. Walkers ambition in an evil hour advised him to annul this election and accordingly Rivas (who through fear, had by this time become his most obedient tool) issued a decree annulling the late election and appointing an- other which was to be conducted viva voce. I do not attempt to give even an excuse (nor did Walker) for this tyranical blow at the root of that dearest constitutional right, the elective franchise. Rivas is- sued the decree but immediatly freed himself from Walker's thrall by flying with his Cabinet to Chinell(]aga, when he issued another de- cree annuling the last and makcing good the electing of Salizar. The illegal election was held and Walker caused a false list to be published stating that he had received about fourteen thousand votes, which was much more than a majority of all the votes in the State. It is impos- sible that Walker could have received more than four thousand, as the election was by no means general, half the Republic being at the time in a state of insurrection against him. In his published list however, he gave to himself large majorities in Leon, Chinendaja and other towns where no election was held; and where no vote would have been cast for him had there been. By this despotic and injudicious act Walker . raised up against him in Kicaragua a strong party which would not have existed to this day had he proceeded with justice and discretion; and it is not improbable that the cause so dear to every true american heart was injured more by this than by any or all other acts he committed. Simultaneous with Walkers inauguration in his usurped position his troops were withdrawn from the entire depart- ment of Leon, and Managua became his outpost in that direction. President Rivas instantly sent appeals to the several states that in
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