[501] *Mr. Cushing, Attorney-General, to Mr. Van Dyke, district attorney
December 12, 1855.
Sir: I had the honor to confer with you personally several weeks since, regarding representations made by the British minister as to alleged combinations on the part of certain persons in the United States to organize an expedition for the military invasion of Ireland, and to [Page 628] request your special attention to the subject, so as to prevent or punish any infringement of our relations of amity with Great Britain.
In consequence of a meeting, purporting to have some such object, which has recently occurred in New York, the President directs me again to invite you to vigilance on the subject. While it is difficult to believe that such intention is entertained by any persons in the United States, or, if entertained, that it will reach the stage of an overt illegal act, nevertheless it seems proper that the subject should have your consideration. The President is, of course, solicitous that no violation of law shall go unrebuked, and especially none-which touches our foreign relations and thus affects the honor and the peace of the whole country. He, therefore, particularly desires you not to fail to institute criminal proceedings against any person who shall be found engaged in illegal acts of the character above referred to, or otherwise, contrary to our obligations of friendship to Great Britain.
[502] *I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
- C. CUSHING.
- James C. Van Dyke,
United States District Attorney.