Mr. Clayton, Secretary of State, to Mr. Hall, district attorney.
Washington, August 10, 1849.
[647] 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 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.,
[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.