Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-11-05
BY JAMES BUCHANAN,
President of the United States Of america.


Whereas information has reached me from sources
which cannot disregard that certain persons in viola
ton of the neutrality laws of the United States ma
king third attempt to set foot military expedition
within their territory against Nicaragua foreign State
with which they at peace. In order to raise money
for cquippng and maintaining this expedition persons
connected Herewith, have reason to believe, have
issued and sold bonds and other contracts pedgng the
public lands of Nicaragua and the transit route through
its territory security for their redemption and fulfil
ment.
The hostile design of this expedition is rendered mani
fest by the fact that these bonds and contracts can be of
no possible value to their holders unless the present gov
ernnent of Nicaragua shall be overthrown by force
Besides the envoy extraordinary and minister plenpo-
tertiary of that government In the United States has Is
sued notice. in pursuance of his Instructions dated
the 9th inst forbdding the citizens subjects of any
nation except passengers intending to proceed
Nicaragua the Transit route from ocean to ocean,
to enter its territory without regular passport signed
by the proper minister consul general of the republic
resident in the country from whence they shall have de-
parted Such persons, with this exception, will be
stopped and compelled to return by the conveyance
that took them to the country" From these crcum
stances the inference is irresistible that persons engaged
in this expedition will leave the United States with hos
tile purposes against Nicaragua They cannot, under
the guse which they have assumed that they peace
full emgrants conceal their real intentions, and especial
y when they know, advance, that their landing will
be resisted, and only be accomplished by an over
powering force. This expedient was successfully re-
sorted to previous to the last expedition and the vessel
in which those composing it conveyed to Nicara-
qua, obtained clearance from the collector of the port
of Mobile. Although after careful examination, no
arms or munitions of discovered on board, yet,
when they arrived in Nicaragua they found to be
armed and equipped and Immediately commenced hosti
| ities
The leaders of former illegal expeditions Of the same
character have openly expressed their intention to renew
hostes against Nicaragua. One of them, who has al
ready been twice expelled from Nicaragua, has invited,
through the public newspapers, American citizens to
emgrate to that republic, and has designated Mobile as
the place of rendezvous and departure, and San Juan
del Norte as the port to which they bound. This
person. who has renowned his allegiance to the United
States and claims to be President of Nicaragua, has
given notice to the collector of the port OF Mobile that
two three hundred of these egrants will be prepared
to embark from that port about the middle OF NoVcm
Der.
For these and other good reasons and for the purpose
of saving American citizens who may have been honest
y deuded into the belief that they about to proceed
to Nicaragua peaceful emigrans, if any such there
be- from the disastrous consequences to which they Will
be exposed l. James Buchanan President of the United
States, have thought it fit to issue this my proclamation
enjoining upon all officers of the government civil and
military in their respective spheres, to be vgant,
tive and faithful in suppressng these illegal enterprises
and in carrying out their standing instructions to that
effect exhorting all good citizens by their respect for
the laws and their regard for the peace and welfare of
the country to aid the efforts of the public authorities
in the discharge of their duties.
In testimony Whereof have hereunto set my hand
and caused the seal of the United Sta to be affixed to
these presents.
Done at the city Of Washington, the thireth day of
L. s. October, one thousand eight hundred and fifty
eight and of the independence of the United
States the eighty-third.
JAMES BUCHANAN.