Letter from Secretary of State John Forsyth to the United States Attorney at Rockingham, Vermont and to the District Attorneys for the Northern District of New York and the Michigan district

Department of State,     
Washington, December 7, 1837.

Sir: In the course of the contest which has commenced in a portion of the territory of Great Britain between portions of the population and the Government some of our citizens may, from their connection with the settlers and from their love of enterprise and desire of change, be induced to forget their duty to their own Government and its obligations to foreign powers. It is the fixed determination of the President faithfully to discharge, so far as his power extends, all the obligations of this Government, and that obligation especially which requires that we shall abstain under every temptation from intermeddling with the domestic disputes of other nations. You are therefore earnestly enjoined to be attentive to all movements of a hostile character contemplated or attempted within your district, and to prosecute without discrimination all violators of those laws of the United States which have been enacted to presence peace with foreign powers and to fulfill all the obligations of our treaties with them.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

JOHN FORSYTH