purpose of preventing the carrying on of the
unlawful expedition and enterprise aforesaid from the territory and
jurisdiction of the United States, and to maintain the public peace,
as well as the national honor, and enforce obedience and respect to the
laws of the United States;

I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, do admonish and warn
all good citizens of the United States against taking part in or in
anywise aiding, countenancing or abetting such unlawful proceedings;
and I do exhort all judges, magistrates, marshals and officers in the
service of the United States to employ all their lawful authority and
power to prevent and defeat the aforesaid unlawful proceedings, and to
arrest and bring to justice all persons who may be engaged therein, and
in pursuance to the Act of Congress in such cases made and provided.

I do further authorize and empower Major-General G. G. Meade, Commander
of the Military Division of the Atlantic, to employ the land and naval
forces of the United States, and militia thereof, to arrest and pre
vent the setting on foot and carrying on the expedition and enterprise
aforesaid.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of
the United States to be affixed.

Done in the City of Washington the sixth day of June, in the year of our
Lord 1866, and in the independence of the United States the 90th.

ANDREW JOHNSON.

By the President, WM. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.

Although President Johnson did not issue his neutrality proclamation
until the 6th of June, orders had previously been issued to United
States officers to stop further invasions, and Gen. Meade exhibited
great energy and promptness in carrying out instructions so far as his
Department was concerned. Fenians were gathering in thousands, with
the understanding that their equipment would be at the border on their
arrival, but the bulk of the coveted armament was prevented from falling
into their hands owing to the watchfulness of Gen. Meade's staff of
officials. This action on the part of the United States authorities
deeply incensed the Fenian leaders, and they were disposed to resent any
interference with their plans. During an interview between Gen. Meade
and the Fenian Generals Heffernan and Murphy, at Malone, the former
complained of the interference of the United States Government, and
bitterly remarked: "We have been lured on by the Cabinet, and used
for the purpose of Mr. Sewa