Mr. Fish,
Secretary of State, to Mr. Davis,
district attorney.
[Telegram.]
Department of
State,
Washington, October 6,
1870.
Noah Davis, United States Attorney, New York:
[195] The Spanish minister alleges that the
steamer Hornet is about to sail from New York on an unlawful and
piratical cruise with intent to make war against Spain, and in
violation of the neutrality laws. You will please take immediate
steps to investigate the case, and will see that no violation of the
neutrality laws of the United States be permitted, and that the
vessel *be not allowed to depart on any unlawful cruise.
Memoranda.
After the receipt of the above telegram, the Hornet was detained
and an examination made of the facts in connection with her
alleged voyage. It was finally decided that the evidence was not
sufficient to hold her, and she was released. She afterward, in
December, 1870, sailed from New York “for Saint Thomas and a
market, then to a port or ports that the captain may direct, and
back to a port of the United States, not exceeding six
months.”
She went to Nassau, afterward to Port au Prince; then to
Aspinwall, where it is alleged that a filibustering expedition
against Cuba went on board of her, which expedition was
afterward landed on the coast of Cuba. She then went to Port au
Prince, where she was, as it were, blockaded by the Spanish
gunboats for several months.
In January last the Government of the United States sent a
man-of-war to Port au Prince to bring her back to the United
States, where, upon her arrival, proceedings were taken for
punishing any violation of the neutrality laws of the United
States.
