[659] *Mr. Clayton, Secretary of State, to Mr. Hunton, district attorney.
Washington, January 22, 1850.
Sir: The minister of Spain residing in this city, under date of the 19th instant, has again invoked the attention of the Executive to probable designs against the island of Cuba, cherished by persons in the United States, of whom and of whose schemes he has received intelligence through channels which he conceives to be worthy of credit. Besides the organization of juntas, and their secret introduction into Cuba of paper inciting the inhabitants to revolt, they are said to have issued bonds payable on the rents of the island, in order to raise money for the purpose of recruiting men; and that bodies of men are actually exercising themselves in the use of arms, holding meetings and clubs in New York, New Orleans, and other places, and that the same are also forming plans for making use of the steamers which touch at Havana on their way to Chagres.
[660] In view of these reports of renewed attempts against Cuba, I am directed by the President to call your special attention to the subject, and to instruct you to keep a vigilant watch upon all movements of the kind indicated, with a view to detect and to bring to punishment *the individuals and combination of individuals who may be found concerned in any overt act, in violation of the act of Congress of April, 1818, intended to disturb the tranquillity of Cuba.
[Page 689]The President, as in duty bound, will exercise all the powers with which he is invested, to prevent aggressions by our own people upon the territories of friendly nations, and he expects you to use every effort to detect, and to arrest, for trial and punishment, all offenders engaged in any armed expedition prohibited by our laws.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Logan Hunton, Esq.,
United States District Attorney for the
Eastern District of Louisiana, New Orleans.
[Like circulars sent to J. Prescott Hall, esq., United States district attorney, southern district of New York, to Philip R. Fendall, esq., United States district attorney, Washington, D.C., each inclosing a copy of Mr. Calderon’s note.]