January 18 1854 Proclamation

### About this speech Franklin Pierce January 18, 1854 Source National Archives [Presidential Speeches](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches) | Franklin Pierce Presidency ## January 18, 1854: Proclamation ### Transcript Whereas information has been received by me that an unlawful expedition has been fitted out in the State of California with a view to invade Mexico, a nation maintaining friendly relations with the United States, and that other expeditions are organizing within the United States for the same unlawful purpose; and Whereas certain citizens and inhabitants of this country, unmindful of their obligations and duties and of the rights of a friendly power, have participated and are about to participate in these enterprises, so derogatory to our national character and so threatening to our tranquillity, and are thereby incurring the severe penalties imposed by law against such offenders: Now, therefore, I, Franklin Pierce, President of the United States, have issued this my proclamation, warning all persons who shall connect themselves with any such enterprise or expedition that the penalties of the law denounced against such criminal conduct will be rigidly enforced; and I exhort all good citizens, as they regard our national character, as they respect our laws or the law of nations, as they value the blessings of peace and the welfare of their country, to discountenance and by all lawful means prevent such criminal enterprises; and I call upon all officers of this 
Government, civil and military, to use any efforts which may be in their power to arrest for trial and punishment every such offender. Given under my hand and the seal of the United States, at Washington, this 18th day of January, A. D. 1854, and the seventy-eighth of the Independence of the United States. FRANKLIN PIERCE. By the President: W.L. MARCY, Secretary of State . Previous [December 5, 1853: First Annual Message](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/december-5-1853-first-annual-message) Next [February 10, 1854: Message to Senate on Treaty with Mexico](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/february-10-1854-message-senate-treaty-mexico) ### More Franklin Pierce speeches [View all Franklin Pierce speeches](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches?field_president_target_id\[14\]=14) [February 10, 1854: Message to Senate on Treaty with Mexico](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/february-10-1854-message-senate-treaty-mexico) transcript icon [March 14, 1854: Message Regarding Proposed US-Mexican Convention](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/march-14-1854-message-regarding-proposed-us-mexican-convention) transcript icon [May 15, 1854: Message Regarding Transit Across Central America](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/may-15-1854-message-regarding-transit-across-central-america) transcript icon [August 1, 1854: Message Regarding US-Spanish Relations](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/august-1-1854-message-regarding-us-spanish-relations) transcript icon [August 4,
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