Washington telegraph., 1851-05-21
6v the President of the United States.
PROCLAMATION.

,uhsreas there is Jason to believe that a Mill
=, Expedition is about to be fitted out in tho
.r.;ed States with intention to invade the Island
.rCuba, colony of Spain, with which this coun-
NV is at peace; and whereas it is believed that tins
:.,sd;tion is instgated and set on foot chiefly by
;rnsrs. who dare to make our shores the scene
"rtbeir guilty and hostile preparations against a
c';.ndIv power, and seek, by falsebOod aud mis-
l.rsseutation, to seduce our own citizens, espe-
l.r .rr,v the Young and inconsiderate, into their
;,Led scbemes-an ungratsful return for the
ta.s6ts conferred upon them by this people in
Osrmi,ting them to make our country an asylum
P"o,n oppression, and in hagraDt abuse of the bos-
;,,lity thus extended TO them
And whereas such expeditions can only be re-
-.,d.d as adventures for plunder and robbery, and
g., meet the condemnation Of the civilized
I'D whilst they are derogatOry to the character
our country, in violation OF tho laws Of nations,
Nd expressly prohibited by our own. Our statutes
Iaolare "that, If any person shall, within the ter
or Jurisdiction of the United States, begin or
-, on foot or provide or prepare the means for
.nv military expedition or enterprise, to be carried
- from thence against the territory or dominions
0f anv foreign Prince or State, or Of any colony,
district, or people, with whom the United States
are at peace, every person SO offending shall be
dsrmed guilty OF high misdemeanOr, and shall
he fined not exceeding three Thousand dollars, and
;mprisoned not more than three years.
Now, therefore. have issued this, my Procla-
ua,,on, warning all persons who shall connect
themselves with any such enterprise or expedition,
+; v;olation of our laws and national Obligations,
.,bar they will thereby subject themselves to the
bssvy penalties denounced against such offences,
and will forfeit their claim TO the protection o.
this Government, or any interference on their be-
half no matter to what eXtremties they may be
reduced in consequence of their illegal conduct.
And therefore, [ exhort all good citizens, as they
regard our national reputation. as they respect
their own laws and the laws of nations as they
value the blessings of peace and the welfare of
their country, to discountenance, and by all law
IuI means prevent. anY such enterprise; and L
call upon every officer of this Government, civil
or military all efforts in his power to arrest
for trial and punishment every such offender
ayainst the laws Of the country.
Given under my hand. the twenty fifty day OF
April, in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight
hundred and flty-one, and the seventy fifth OF
the Independence OF the United States.
MILLARD FILLMORE.
Blythe President
w. S,DEaRIck, Acting Secretary of State.
The Republic accompanies the proclamation
with following remarks:
The proclamation which appears above explains
itself and requires present commentary. 1t
states the facts, lays down the law, and warns
offenders Of the consequences Of violating it in
plain and explicit language. Cuba is prepared TO
repe aggression. The Government OF The United
States is determined 10 preserve our neutrality,
and TO punish its violation. We apprehehd that,
between the two Governments, pirates and plum
derers will stand but arpoOr chance.