True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-11-10
President's Proclamation.

Whereas, information has reached me
from sources which l cannot disregard, /
that certain persons in violation Of the
neutrality Of the United States, are ma.
king third attempt to set on foot mill
tary expedition within their territory
against Nicaragua, foreign State, with
which they are at peace. In order to
raise money for equipping and maintain,
ing this expedition, persons connected
herewith, as | have reason TO believe,
have issued and sold bonds and other
contracts pledging the public lands in
Nicaragua and transit route through its
territory as security of their redemption
and fufllment. The hostile design Of
this expedition is rendered manifest by
the fact that these bonds and contracts
can be Of no possible value to their holders
unless the present Government of Nicara-
qua shall be overthrown by force; besides
The envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary Of that government in the
United Sta!es, has issued notice in pur-
suance of his instructions, dated The 9Th,
forbidding the citizens or subjects of any
nation, except passengers intending to
proceed TO Nicaragua over the transit
route from ocean to ocean, to enter its
territory without the regular passport
signed by the proper Minister or Consul
General of the Republic, resident in the
country from whence they shall have
departed. Such persons, with this ex-
ceplion, will be stopped and compelled to
return by the same conveyance that took
them to The country. From these facts
the 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 emigrants, conceal Their
real intentions, and especially when they
know in advance that their landing will
be resisted and can only be accomplished
by an overpowering force. This expedient
was unsuccess(ully resorted to previous
to The last expedition, and the vessel in
which those composing it were conveyed
to Nicaragua obtained a clearance from
the collector of the port of Mobile, altho'
after q careful examination, no arms or
munitions of war were discovered on
board yet when they arrived in Ncara'
qua they were found 10 be armed and
equipped and Immediately commenced
hostilliies. The leaders of former illega
expeditions Of the same character, have
openly expressed their intention to renew
hostilites against Nicaragua. One oI
them, who has already been twice expell'
ed from Nicaragua, has invited, through
the newspapers, American citizens te
emigrate to that Republic, and designated
Mobile as the place of rendezvous and
departure, and San Juan del Norte as the
port to which they are bound. This per
son, who has renounced his allegiance tc
the United States and claims TO be Presi'
dent of Nicaragua, has given notice tc
the collector at the port of Mobile tha
two or three hundred of these emigrant'
will be prepared to embark from that por
about the middle of November. Fo
| these and other good reasons, and for thu
/ purpose Of saving American citizens VIII
may have been honestly deluded int
t the belief that they were about to pro
n ceed to Nicaragua as peaceful emigrants
if any such there be, from disastrous con
, sequences to which they will be exposed
t. |. James Buchanan, President of tn
United States have thought it fit to issu
E this, my proclamation, epjoining upo'
all officers Of the government, civil an
! military, in their respecllve---to b
! vigilant, active and faithful in suppressin
;, these illegal enterprises and in carryin
;; out their standing instructions to tina
effect; all good citizens, by their respec
. for the laws, and their regard for tn
= peace and welfare of the country, to al
. the efforts Of The public authorities in di'
y charging their duties. In testimon
" whereof, have hereunto sci my ham
and caused the seal of the United Stat'
IN 10 be affixed to these presents. Done
/. the City of Washington, this, the DOT
r. day Of October, 1858, and of the IndepeI
dence of the United States the s3d.
u ,auq JAMES, BUCHANAN.
y By the President,
II.