Mr. Cushing, Attorney General, to Mr. Inge, district attorney, California.
January 16, 1854.
Sir: I am directed by the President to call your attention to the several acts of Congress for the preservation of the neutral relations of the United States, more especially to the acts of March 3, 1817, and April 20, 1818, which prohibit the organizing or fitting, within the *United States, of any expedition, military or naval, against the territories of any government with which this Government is at peace, and subject all engaged in such acts to punishment as for a high misdemeanor, besides authorizing the employment of the public force for the prevention and arrest of the same. [175]
The President has regretted to perceive that persons in California are charged with engaging or intending to engage in such unlawful enterprises against the territories of the Mexican republic, with which this republic is in amity, and, justly solicitous to maintain the honor and the good faith of the American Government, as well as to see to the execution of the laws, he expects you to exercise the utmost vigilance in the detection and prosecution of all acts within your official district in violation of the neutral obligations of the United States.
I have the honor to be, &c.,
Hon. S. W. Inge,
United States District Attorney.