Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1855-12-31

ed, when leaving New York, and some 500
FillibuSters on their way to Nicaragua de-
tanned The following extract of a letter
from the U. S. District Attorney at New
York, addressed to the President of the
Nicaragua Steamship Company lets some
light upon the subject:
U. S. DIsTRIoT ATTORNEYS OFFICE,
New York, Dec, %, 1855 {
Information reached this office that at this
place persons had been engaged to leave in
your steamer, the Northern Light A meeting
of the men engaged was to have been held at
a place in this city late last evening, and a
memorandum of the time and place of meet
ing was delivered to each person. | went last
evening to the rendezvous. There was quite a
number of men attended, as they understood.
for drill. / was informed by some of them
that there had been a collection of men also
had during the day in Brooklyn. A number
of persons, in the early part of the evening,
gathered at the office III Broadway. The name
of MIR. Parker II. French being connected with
this proceeding, | called at once on him, and
gave him notice of hat had heard, and that
| should not permit violation of the law of
the United States. Mr. French disavowed any
connection with any arrangement tending TO
violate the neutrality Of the country, but ad
United that he was anxious to have Nicaragua
settled by colonists. He admitted that he had
procured the publication of what he says is
decree of the Government of Nicaragua, in
the Herald.
You stated to me in reply that you were no
party to any such arrangement; that Mr.. Par
ker FL. French had applied to you to carry
about 800 men to Nicaragua, under an alleged
decree granting to coloniss bounty in land.
That as common carriers you would carry
all who, in good faith, intended to expatriate
themselves. and TO avail themselves of the So
called DEGREES, but that you declined to carry
armed men, or an organized company, or per-
sons who had enlisted, or intended to enlist, on
reaching Nicaragua.
On suggestion to you that | was informed
that the ship bad cannon and other muitions
of war, you stated that you did not know of
any munitions of war on board of your ships,
though you would carry them for the govern
ment of that country. deem it my duty to
state to you the views upon which will con-
slider it incumbent upon me to act in this mat
ter.
You are aware that by the terms of the
convention between the United States and
u -
bound to repress all attempts at colonization
in the Territory of Nicaragua, and that it is
the duty of this government to carry this stip-
ulation into full effect. / also state to you
that the sources from which the alleged de-
cree fOr the encouragement of colonization in
Nicaragua is said TO proceed, is not recognized
by this government as the government of Mic
aragua. Until such recognition by the Pres
dent, am bound to consider the makers OF
that decree as within the Presidents procla-
nation, TO be invaders OF the State of Nicara.
qua, with whom we are at peace, and TO look
upon the transportation of persons intending
70 take possession of lands in Nicaragua under
that pretended Decree TO be one of the acts of
beginning and setting on foot, or providing or
preparing the means for the invasion of that
state forbidden by the Statute, denounced by
the President of the United States, and fla
grant breach of treaty stipulation. The Presi-
dent is determined to avert all these lawless
acts, and he will not hesitate 10 exercise that
direct authority which has so happily prevent
ed the fulfilment of the plans of Henry l.. Kin
ney and his associates | hope my report may
reach him in time TO act as in his Judgment be
may deem necessary. 1t is proper for me to
state that | have bad an occasion heretofore
to call your attention 10 an attempted viola
ton of law by persons transported in your
ships, and that your vigilance and activity
were not sufficient to prevent breach of the
neutrality laws.
Hoping that no act of yours, or of your COM
pany, may tend to leopard the safety of the
persons aud property of our citizens, whom
designing men are alluring by false hopes of
wealth and station, and thus throw discredit
upon the United States as violating our laws
and solemn treaties, | am, sir, very respectful
ly, JoHN MoKRoS, u S. Dist Atty
To ]. L. White, Esq.