Executive relative to the subject of the resolution of the 23d instant, (May.) No information has been received establishing the existence of any revolutionary movement in the island of Cuba among the inhabitants of that island. The correspondence submitted discloses, however, the fact that repeated attempts have been made, under the direction of foreigners enjoying the hospitality of this country, to get up armed expeditions in the United States for the purpose of invading Cuba. It will be seen by that correspondence that this Government has been faithful in the discharge of its treaty obligations with Spain, and in the execu tion of the acts of Congress which have for their object the main[642] tenance, in this regard, of the peace and honor of this country. Z. TAYLOR. WASHINGTON, June 1, 1851. John M. Clayton, Secretary of State, to the President of the United States. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 31, 1850. The Secretary of State, to whom has been referred the resolution of the Senate of the 23d May, requesting the President of the United States "to inform the Senate whether any, and what, information has been received by the Executive Department respecting an alleged revolutionary movement in the island of Cuba, and to communicate to the Senate copies of all correspondence and orders relative thereto," has the honor to report to the President the accompanying copies of papers, which contain all the information filed in this Department relating to the subject of that resolution, and the armed expeditions which have, from time to time, been set on foot in the United States for the invasion of Cuba. Respectfully submitted. JOHN M. CLAYTON. Mr. Clayton, Secretary of State, to Logan Hunton, esq., United States attorney for east district of Louisiana, New Orleans. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 8, 1849. [643] *SIR: Information has been received at this Department that an armed expedition is about to be fitted out at New Orleans, but I have as yet no means of learning with certainty the destination of this expedition. It is believed that certain persons are, at this time, engaged in enlisting and drilling soldiers, at or near New Orleans. The soldiers appear not to have been intrusted with the secret so far as to disclose the place to which they are going, though they say they are to receive high pay, and are to be engaged in active hostilities with some foreign power. Rumors are afloat that their destination is Yucatan, to engage in the contest between the Yucatenos and the Indians; and Colonel White, who was formerly engaged in a similar expedition to Yucatan, is pointed out as one of the leaders. Other rumors are, that their object is either San Domingo or San Francisco. I do not myself, as yet, credit these rumors, but fear there is reason to suspect that their real destination is Cuba. It is said that eight hundred men are to embark from Cat Island, or some other point near New Orleans, on board the steamer Fanny, between the 20th and 25th of this month; that [644] *Colonel Biscoe, of New Orleans, is concerned in the enterprise: and that Whitney & Co., of New Orleans, have on hand $250,000 to aid in fitting out the expedition. It is also said that Charles C. Campbell, of New Orleans, (who, if my informant be right, is in some way connected with that firm,) is to be one of the officers. I give these statements to you as I have received them, and have no means of knowing their truth. By examining our law of the 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 see that it is provided in the sixth section "that, if any person shall, within the territory or jurisdiction of the United States, begin or set on foot, or provide or prepare the means for, any military expedition or enterprise, to be 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 [645] *not more than three years.” The President is anxious to maintain, with fidelity, the treaties of the United States with all foreign powers; and he will not, for any consideration, consent to disregard our obligations, on the faithful discharge of which depends the honor as well as the peace of the country. He is now desirous to ascertain through your instrumentality, if pos sible, how far the above-stated rumors, or any of them, may be entitled to credit, and what evidence you can adduce to justify him in interfering to prevent a violation of our laws. Should you find the statements herein referred to, as to the fitting out of an expedition against Cuba, substantiated by credible testimony, he wishes you to proceed, by every means in your power, to enforce the laws and to prevent the violation of our treaty with Spain. At your earliest convenience, report the result of your proceedings and investigations to this Department. Your telegraphic dispatch of the 3d of August was received here on the 6th. Accept my thanks for your prompt attention. I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, JOHN M. CLAYTON. [646] Mr. Clayton, Secretary of State, to Don A. C. de la Barca. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, MY DEAR SIR: Business of great importance to the interests of your government requires your immediate presence here; and I hope to see you at Washington as soon after the receipt of this note as your convenience will possibly allow you to repair hither. Very respectfully, &c., &c., JOHN M. CLAYTON. Glenn Cove, Long Island. Don A. CALDERON DE LA BARCA, &c., &c., &c., Mr. Clayton, Secretary of State, to Mr. Hall, district attorney, [Confidential.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: Information has been received at this Department that an armed expedition is about to be fitted out in the United States with an intention to invade the island of Cuba, and that certain persons are at this time engaged in enlisting and drilling soldiers at several points on our Atlantic coast, one of which is the city of New York, to be employed in this hostile enterprise, in violation of our laws and our conventional obligations. The President, anxious to maintain the honor and [647] peace of the country by the faithful discharge of his *duties toward a friendly nation, directs me to call your attention to this apprehended infraction of our laws, and to invite you to institute an inquiry with the view of ascertaining whether any act in violation of those laws has been committed or is designed, and the number and names of any individuals in your city who may be found to be implicated in this undertaking. The collector of the customs, the mayor and other local authorities of the city, will doubtless cheerfully aid you in investigating this affair. Should you find the statement above referred to, as to the organization of an expedition against Cuba, substantiated by credible testimony, you will proceed by every means in your power to enforce the laws, and prevent the violation of our treaty with Spain. At your earliest convenience you will report the result of your proceedings and investigations to this Department. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, sir, yours, &c., JOHN M. CLAYTON. [Same to J. W. Ashmead, esq., United States district attorney, Philadelphia; W. L. Marshall, esq., United States district attorney, Baltimore; George Lunt, esq., United States district attorney, Boston. [648] *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 interfer ence of this Government in any form on their behalf, no matter to what extremities they may be reduced in consequence of their conduct. [649] 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 reg urd our national reputation. 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 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 eleventh day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, and the seventyfourth of the Independence of the United States. Z. TAYLOR. [650] *Mr. Clayton, Secretary of State, to Don A. Calderon de la Barca. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 17, 1849. Don A. CALDERON DE LA BARCA, &c., &c., dc.: The undersigned, Secretary of State, having had the satisfaction of a full and unreserved conversation with his excellency the envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of Her Catholic Majesty near this Government, has now the honor to acknowledge the receipt of his excellency's note of the 13th instant, on the subject of the designs of certain persons in this country to aid and abet in an alleged enterprise to disturb the tranquillity of the island of Cuba. That the Government of the United States wholly discountenances and condemns the desigus referred to, and that it will earnestly and in good faith do all that lies within its power to defeat those designs, will not be doubted by the Spanish minister, or by the government which he so zealously and faithfully represents. The President's views upon the subject have been most frankly and sincerely imparted and explained to Mr. Calderon on various occasions. They have been placed in possession, also, of the new minister, now on his way to Madrid, who has been authorized and instructed to omit no proper occasion to represent them to the government of Spain. Mr. Calderon may rest assured that strict watch will be kept over [651] any movements which may be attempted to be made, within the United States, by any of their citizens against the island of Cuba. Active and prompt measures, as Mr. Calderon well knows, have already been adopted by the President; and no further measures that may be come expedient or necessary to prevent the violation of our treaty with Spain will be omitted by him. The proclamation of the Executive of the 11th instant is before the world, and the undersigned takes this occasion to communicate to Mr. Calderon an official copy of that instrument, to be submitted to his government, as an earnest and evidence of this Government's profound respect for Her Catholic Majesty, their solemn purpose to observe the faith of treaties, and their sense of the sacred obligations due to a friendly power. The undersigned avails himself of this opportunity to renew to Mr. Calderon the assurance of his distinguished consideration. JOHN M. CLAYTON. Mr. Clayton, Secretary of State, to the district attorney of Alabama. [Confidential.- Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 23, 1849. The UNITED STATES DISTRICT ATTORNEY, Mobile, Alabama: SIR: The commander of the garrison at the fort has been in[652] structed by the War Department to advise and co-operate with you in regard to the best means of arresting the progress of all persons within your district engaged in the expedition against Cuba. The President's proclamation and the act of 20th April, 1818, contain all the instructions which it is necessary for me to give you. Respectfully, yours, JOHN M. CLAYTON. Mr. Clayton, Secretary of State, to Mr. Hall, district attorney. [Confidential.-Telegram. J J. PRESCOTT HALL, Esq., DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 6, 1849. United States District Attorney, New York: SIR: Your attention is again called to your instructions respecting the expedition against Cuba. Arrest any vessel engaged in it. We learn here that they are about to sail. Yours, respectfully, J. M. CLAYTON. Mr. Clayton, Secretary of State, to Mr. Hall, district attorney. [Confidential.-Telegram.] J. PRESCOTT HALL, Esq., DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 6, 1849. United States District Attorney, New York: [653] DEAR SIR: In answer to yours, just received, I have to say, *arrest any man belonging to the Cuba expedition, against whom you have what you deem to be sufficient or reasonable evidence. J. M. CLAYTON. Mr. Clayton, Secretary of State, to Mr. Hall, district attorney. [Confidential.-Telegram.] J. PRESCOTT HALL, Esq., DEPARTMENT OF STATE, United States District Attorney, New York: SIR: Act according to your own discretion in the case of ; and the vessels also. Break up the enterprise-that is the great object. If |