Mr. Hunter to Sir
F. Bruce
Department of State, Washington,
May 29, 1865.
Sir: Referring to your communication of the
19th instant, relating to a scheme supposed to be on foot in Brooklyn,
N. Y., to annex Canada and Mexico to the United States, I have now the
honor to enclose a copy of a communication of this date, on the subject,
from the Attorney General’s office.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your
obedient servant,
W. HUNTER, Acting
Secretary.
Hon. Sir Frederick W. A. Bruce,
&c., &c., &c.
[Page 164]
Mr. Ashton to Mr. Hunter
Attorney General’s Office,
Washington,
May 29, 1865
Sir: I have the honor to enclose you
herewith a copy of a letter addressed under the in struction of the
attorney general to the United States attorney for the eastern
district of New York, relative to the subject-matter of the
communication of Sir Frederick Bruce to your department, dated the
19th instant.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. HUBLEY ASHTON, Assistant Attorney
General.
Hon. W. Hunter, Acting Secretary of State.
Mr. Ashton to Mr. Silliman
Attorney General’s
Office, Washington,
May 29,
1865.
Sir: I transmit you herewith a copy of
a letter from Sir Frederick Bruce to the Acting Secretary of
State, and by him referred to this office, giving certain
information tending perhaps to show, in the language of the
British minister, “an alleged project which has been set on foot
in Brooklyn, New York, to annex Canada and Mexico to the United
States.”
This information may lead you to make further inquiry on the
subject of the supposed organization; and should you find that
any parties within your district have brought or may bring
themselves within the provisions of the statutes of the United
States for the preservation of our neutrality, the attorney
general confidently expects that you will institute against them
prosecutions under these statutes.
You will please communicate the contents of this letter and the
enclosures to the marshal of your district, and if necessary
also to the attorney of the United States for the southern
district of New York.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. HUBLEY ASHTON, Assistant Attorney
General,
B. P. Silliman, Esq.,United States Attorney, Brooklyn.
