Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-11-18
BY JAMES BUCHANAN,
Prestdrnt of The United States Of America
A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas information has reached me
frem sources which cannot disregard tbat
eeytais persons, in violation of the Besssal
ity laws of the United States, are making
a third attempt 10 set on foo. q military
expedition within their territory against
Nicaragua, a foreign Sts:e, with which
they are at peace. In order to raise money
for equipping and maintaining this expedi-
tion, persons connected herewith, as have
reason to believe, have issued and sold
bonds and other contracts pledging the
public lands Of Nicaragua and the transit
route through it's territory as a security for
their redemption and fnl6lment.
The hostile design of this expedition is
rendered manifest by the fuct that these
bonds and contracts can be of no poss bic
value to their holders unless the present
Government of Nicaragua shall be over :
thrown BY force. Besides, the Envoy Extra
ordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary o.
tkat Government in the United States has
issued a notice, in pursuance Of bis instruc-
tons, dated on the 9th instant, forbiddins
the citizens or subjects of any nation, ex-
cept passengers intending to proceed
through Nicaragua over the transit ruute
from ocean to ocean. 10 enter its territory
without regular passport, signed by the
proper Minister or Consul-General o: the
Republic resident in the country from
whence they shah have departed. Such
persons, with this exception, "will be stop
ped and compelled to return by the same
conveyance that took them to the country"
From these circumstances :he inference is
irresistible that persons engaged in this
expedition will leave the United States
with hostile purposes against Nicaragua
They cannot, under the guise which they
have assumed that they are peaceful emf
grants, conceal their real intentions, and
especially when they know, 70 advance, that
their landing will be resisted. and can only
be accomplished BY az ererpowerisg force.
This expedient was successfully resorted to
previous to the last expedition, and the
vessel in which those composing II we've
conveyed to Nicaragua obtained clearance
from the Collector Of the port Of Mobile
Although, after careful examination, no
arms or munitions of war were discovered
on board. yet when they arrived in Nicara-
qua, they were found to be armed and
equipped and Immediately commenced hos
tilities.
The leaders of former Illegal expeditions
of the same character have openly express
ed their intention to renew hostilities
against Nicaragua. One Of them, who has
ukeaSy been twice expelled from Nicaragua,
has invited, through the public newspapers,
American citizens TO emigrate to that Re-
psblie, and has designed Mobile as the place
of rendezvous and departure, and San Juan
del Norte az the port to which they are
bound. This person, who has renounced
his allegiance to the United States, and
claims to be President of Nicarsgss, has
given notice 20 the Collector of the port of
Mobile that two or three hundred of these
emigrants will be prepared to embark from
that port about the middle of November.
For these and other good reasons, and
for the purpose Of saving American citizens
who msy have been honestly deluded into
the belief that they are about to proceed to
Nicaragua as peaceful emigrsnts, if any
such there be, from the disastrous conse-
queuces 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, tc be visilant. active,
and faithful in suppressing these Illegal ell
terprises, 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 we llare
Of the country, to aid the eff rts of the pub
lie authorities in the discharge of their
duties.
In testimony whereof, have he reuuto
set my hand ana caused the seal of the
United States to be affixed to these presents.
Done at the city of Washington the
thirtleth day of October, one thou.
sand eight hundred and fifty EIGHT.
tsEAL. and Of the independence of the
United States the eighty third.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
By the PresideHt:
LEWIS CAss, Secretary of State.