Office of the Historian

[58] *Mr. Hoar, Attorney-General, to Mr. Fish, Secretary of State.

Attorney-General’s Office,
Washington, D. C., May 18, 1869.

Sir: I have the honor to send inclosed herewith a copy of a letter this day received by me from the United States attorney for the southern district of New York, relating to the steamers Memphis and Santiago de Cuba.

The several district attorneys are instructed that, whenever sufficient evidence is made known to them to establish before a court of justice probable cause to believe that any vessel is forfeitable for a violation of the neutrality laws, they are to file a libel and arrest the vessel.

[Page 787]

The expediency of your informing the minister of Spain that the United States attorneys of the several districts will receive directly from the Spanish consuls any facts they may be pleased to communicate respecting any violation of the neutrality laws of the United States, is submitted to your consideration.

I have the honor to be, &c.,

E. R. HOAR,
Attorney-General.

Hon. Hamilton Fish,
Secretary of State.

[59] *[Inclosure.]

Mr. Pierrepont, district attorney, to Mr. Hoar, Attorney-General.

Office of the Attorney of the United States for the Southern District of New York,
No. 41 Chambers street, May 17, 1869.

Dear Sir: Yours of the 14th instant, relating to the Memphis and Santiago, came duly, and received prompt attention. There is no evidence as yet on which to detain them.

I would suggest that, if the Spanish minister would instruct the Spanish consul here to take some pains and collect some evidence relating to these matters, and bring it to my notice, I shall act with the greatest promptness. Up to this date I have never seen or heard from the Spanish consul.

Very respectfully, yours,

EDWARDS PIERREPONT,
United States Attorney.

Hon. E. R. Hoar,
Attorney-General,