Commandant Newton, United States Navy, to Master Pearson, United States SIR: You will proceed without delay to the southeast end of Horn Island with the United States steamer General Taylor, under your command, where you will find the sloop of war Albany, Commander [699] V. M. *Randolph, to whom you will report. I have requested him to send you back with the General Taylor, at the expiration of one week from the date on which you report, and sooner if your services can be dispensed with. You will take every precaution to prevent accident by fire, or otherwise, and be strictly governed by the rules and regulations which are hung up on board. I am, respectfully, &c., Mr. JOHN PEARSON, JOHN THOMAS NEWTON, Commandant. Master United States Navy, Commanding Steamer General Taylor. Commandant Newton, United States Navy, to Sailing-master Pearson, United States Nary. AUGUST 28, 1849. SIR: You will proceed to sea with the United States steamer General Taylor, under your command, and govern your movements by the instructions which you will find in the accompanying parcel, which you are strictly enjoined not to open until you have crossed the bar and discharged the pilot. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Mr. JOHN PEARSON, Sailing-master United States Navy, Commandant. Commanding United States Steamer General Taylor. [700] *Commandant Newton, United States Navy, to Commander Randolph, United States Navy. COMMANDANT'S OFFICE, Navy Yard, Pensacola, September 6, 1849. SIR: Your letter of the 4th instant, inclosing a copy of your letter to Lieutenant-Commandant E. Farrand, of the Flirt, and his letter to you in reply, has been received. I was glad to be informed of your determination to raise the blockade of Round Island. Indeed, I am of opinion that you ought not to have so proclaimed it without special orders from the Government at Washington. I am glad to hear that there is a prospect of the band of adventurers lispersing, and that their contemplated enterprise will be broken up. I am not definitely informed as to the destination of the steamers Alleghany and Vixen. I saw it stated in the newpapers, several days since, that the former had left Norfolk under sealed orders; the latter vessel, I believe, is still in that port, preparing for sea. I wrote you by the mail of the 31st ultimo, and again on the 3d instant by the Creole, both of which letters I hope you have received. I have forwarded copies of your letter of the 4th, and its inclosures, and a copy of this letter, to the Navy Department. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, Commander VICTOR M. RANDOLPH, Commandant. Commanding United States Sloop Albany, off Horn Island. [701] * Mr. Preston, Secretary of the Navy, to Commander Randolph, United States Navy. NAVY DEPARTMENT, September 20, 1849. SIR: The official reports of your proceedings and movements with a portion of the home squadron under your command, in the neighborhood of Round Island, dated 25th and 28th of August, and 1st and 5th of September, 1849, and the inclosures relating thereto, have been received. The prompt, the decisive, and the satisfactory manner in which you have executed the confidential instructions of the 9th ultimo, addressed to Commodore Foxhall A. Parker, is fully approved by the Department. Very respectfully, yours, &c., Commander VICTOR M. RANDOLPH, WM. BALLARD PRESTON. Commanding U. S. Ship Albany, off Pascagoula, Mississippi. Mr. Meredith, Secretary of the Treasury, to Mr. Peters, collector. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, August 10, 1849. SIR: Information has been received that a military expedition is in preparation within the territory of the United States to be carried [702] on from thence against the territory of Mexico or *Cuba, proba bly the latter. It is believed to be designed that part of the force to be employed in this expedition shall proceed by sea from a point within or near your district. I send you herewith copies of a note which I have received from the Seretary of the Interior, and of confidential orders issued by the Secretary of the Navy to Commodore Parker. These papers contain the information now in possession of the Government so far as relates to preparations in your vicinity. You are requested to communicate with the attorney of the United States, and aid, so far as may be in your power, in detecting and suppressing this attempt to violate the laws of the United States, and if any case should arise in which your official interventionmay be required under the act of 20th April, 1818, entitled "An act in addition to the act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States, and to repeal the acts therein mentioned," you will of course act promptly in pursuance of the provisions of that statute. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. J. PETERS, Esq., WM. M. MEREDITH, Secretary of the Treasury. Collector of the Customs, New Orleans, Louisiana. [703] *Mr. Meredith, Secretary of the Treasury, to collectors. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, May 28, 1850. SIR: It is apprehended that expeditions designed for the invasion of the island of Cuba are preparing within the territories of the United States, in violation of the provisions of the act of 20th April, 1818, entitled "An act in addition to the act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States, and to repeal the acts therein mentioned," and that a part of the force to be so employed may proceed by sea from the waters embraced within your district. Your particular attention is called to the provisions of the act referred to, and you are requested to communicate with the attorney of the United States, and aid so far as may be in your power in detecting and suppressing all attempts to violate the laws of the United States; and if any case should arise in which your official intervention may be required under the provisions of the act of 20th April, 1818, you will of course act promptly in pursuance of the provisions of the statute. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. M. MEREDITH, Secretary of the Treasury. COLLECTORS, Boston, New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Charleston, Savannah, Mobile, Key West, New Orleans. [704] *By the President of the United States. A PROCLAMATION. There is reason to believe that an armed expedition is about to be fitted out in the United States, with an intention to invade the island of Cuba or some of the provinces of Mexico. The best information which the Executive has been able to obtain, points to the island of Cuba as the object of this expedition. It is the duty of this Government to observe the faith of treaties, and to prevent any aggression by our citizens upon the territories of friendly nations. I have therefore thought it necessary and proper to issue this proclamation, to warn all citizens of the United States who shall connect themselves with an enterprise so grossly in violation of our laws and our treaty obligations, that they will thereby subject themselves to the heavy penalties denounced against them by our acts of Congress, and will forfeit their claim to the protection of their country. No such persons must expect the interference of this Government, in any form, on their behalf, no matter to what extremities they may be reduced in consequence of their conduct. An enterprise to invade the territories of a friendly nation, set on foot and prosecuted within the limits of the United States, is in the highest degree criminal, as tending to endanger the peace and compromit the honor of this nation; and therefore I exhort all good citizens, as they regard our national reputation, as they respect their own laws and the law of nations, as they value the blessings of peace and the welfare of their country, to discountenance and prevent, by all lawful means, any such enterprise; and I call upon every officer of this Government, civil or military, to use all efforts in his power to arrest, for trial and punishment, every such offender against the laws providing for the performance of our sacred obligations to friendly powers. Given under my hand the 11th day of August, A. D. 1849, and the seventy-fourth of the Independence of the United States. By the President: Z. TAYLOR. Secretary of State. [705] *By the President of the United States of America. A PROCLAMATION. Whereas there is reason to believe that a military expedition is about to be fitted out in the United States with intention to invade the island of Cuba, a colony of Spain, with which this country is at peace; and whereas it is believed that this expedition is instigated and set on foot chiefly by foreigners, who dare to make our shores the scene of their guilty and hostile preparations against a friendly power, and seek by falsehood and misrepresentation to seduce our own citizens, especially the young and inconsiderate, into their wicked schemes-an ungrateful return for the benefits conferred upon them by this people, in permitting them to make our country an asylum from oppression-and in flagrant abuse of the hospitality thus extended to them; And whereas such expeditions can only be regarded as adventures for plunder and robbery, and must meet the condemnation of the civilized world, while they are derogatory to the character of our country, in violation of the laws of nations, and expressly prohibited by our own: our statutes declare that if any person shall, within the territory or jurisdiction of the United States, begin or set on foot, or provide or pre pare the means for, any military expedition or enterprise, to be [706] carried on from thence against the *territory or dominions of any foreign prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people with whom the United States are at peace, every person so offending shall be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor, and shall be fined not exceeding three thousand dollars, and imprisoned not more than three years: Now, therefore, I have issued this my proclamation warning all persons who shall connect themselves with any such enterprise or expedition in violation of our laws and national obligations, that they will thereby subject themselves to the heavy penalties denounced against such offenses, and will forfeit their claim to the protection of this Government, or any interference in their behalf, no matter to what extremities they may be reduced in consequence of their illegal conduct. And, therefore, I exhort all good citizens, as they regard our national reputa tion, as they respect their own laws and the laws of nations, as they value the blessings of peace and the welfare of their country, to dis countenance and, by all lawful means, prevent any such enterprise; and I call upon every officer of this Government, civil or military, to use all efforts in his power to arrest for trial and punishment every such offender against the laws of the country. Given under my hand the twenty-fifth day of April, in the year [707] of our Lord one thousand *eight hundred and fifty-one, and the seventy-fifth of the Independence of the United States. MILLARD FILLMORE. By the President : Acting Secretary of State." By the President of the United States of America. A PROCLAMATION. Whereas information has been received by me that sundry persons, citizens of the United States, and others residents therein, are preparing, within the jurisdiction of the same, to enlist or enter themselves, or to hire or retain others, to participate in military operations within the state of Nicaragua: Now, therefore, I, Franklin Pierce, President of the United States, do warn all persons against connecting themselves with any such enter prise or undertaking, as being contrary to their duty as good citizens and to the laws of their country, and threatening to the peace of the United States. I do further admonish all persons who may depart from the United States, either singly or in numbers, organized or unorganized, for any such purpose, that they will thereby cease to be entitled to the protec tion of this Government. 1708] *I exhort all good citizens to discountenance and prevent any such disreputable and criminal undertaking as aforesaid, charg ing all officers, civil and military, having lawful power in the premises, to exercise the same for the purpose of maintaining the authority and enforcing the laws of the United States. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed to these presents. Done at the city of Washington the eighth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, and of the Independence of the United States the eightieth. By the President: W. L. MARCY, Secretary of State. FRANKLIN PIERCE. By James Buchanan, President of the United States of America. A PROCLAMATION. Whereas information has reached me, from sources which I cannot disregard, that certain persons, in violation of the neutrality laws of |