The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 45, July 1941 - April, 1942 Page: 150
409 p. : ill., maps ; 24 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Southwestern Historical Quarterly
that Walker was an American, and that he had burned their
cities and murdered their citizens. They looked upon every
American as a filibuster in disguise, and while individual Amer-
icans were regarded with a fear akin to terror, the American
government and its agents were frequently treated in a man-
ner little short of contempt. The diplomatic agent who had
preceded Lamar had complained bitterly about this attitude,
and on learning of the appointment of an official minister
had expressed the hope that "Whoever he may be . . . will be
a man of courage and will, and be backed by a steamer of
war constantly on each coast."
In addition to the necessity of combating native animosity
and foreign cupidity, Lamar was to find his every official move
in Central America hampered by selfish, unscrupulous plots
of his own countrymen, the "financiers and filibusters" whose
interests did not coincide with those of their government. Com-
menting on the hopeless financial tangle which awaited Lamar
as President of Texas, Dr. Eugene C. Barker remarks ". . . the
president was no financier, and the situation demanded the
genius of a Hamilton."" One might well paraphrase these words
with regard to the diplomatic tangle facing Minister Lamar,
an inexperienced diplomat in a situation which demanded the
wily shrewdness of a Tallyrand.
Lamar arrived in Nicaragua in January, 1858, and began
almost immediately a series of experiences that are quite
unique even in diplomatic history. He was anxious to reach
the capital as soon as possible, and, therefore made the trip
up the San Juan River in one of the vessels recently taken
from filibusters. The trip was not propitious. When within
cannon shot of Fort Castillo Viejo, half way up the river,
a blank cartridge was discharged across the bow of Lamar's
boat, and a signal given for it to stop. Lamar was somewhat
surprised at this procedure, and on inquiring as to whether
the commandante of the fort knew of his presence on the
vessel, received an affirmative answer, but no explanation as
to why the vessel had been stopped. As it was moving away
from the shore a loud outcry was heard, soldiers rushed to
7Carey Jones to Lewis Cass, January 1, 1858, in W. R. Manning (ed.),
Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States, Inter-American Affairs,
IV, 640.
8Eugene C. Barker, "Mirabeau B. Lamar" in The University of Texas
Record, V, No. 2, 158.150
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 45, July 1941 - April, 1942, periodical, 1942; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146053/m1/164/?rotate=270: accessed June 10, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.