Hon. John M. Clayton
Secretary of State
Washington City

Sir,

In pursuance of instructions received by telegraph from you on the afternoon of Saturday May 25th, I immediately caused proceedings to be instituted for the arrest of Genl Lopez for a violation of the Act of Congress of April 20th 1818. The affidavit was made by John G. Doon, Spanish Vice Consul and the warrant was issued by Hon: John C. Nicoll, District Judge of the United States for Georgia. The affidavit and warrant charged a violation of the sixth section (6th) of the Act-- the deponent not being able to show (according to the opinion of the District Judge) sufficient probable cause for a warrant under any other section; -- Gen. Lopez was arrested about 1/2 past eight o'clock on Saturday evening 25th instant once upon his arrest demanded an instant examination. The District Judge fixed (10) o'clock on the same evening as the hour for examination and during the intervening time I used every exertion (in which I was assisted by the Spanish Vice-Consul, and the officers of the U.S. Courts) to obtain testimony on the part of the prosecution. When the hour of examination arrived I urged a motion for the postponement of the examination until Monday morning in order that I might have proper and ample time to collect and discover testimony. The motion was overruled. The only class of witnesses I had been able to procure was that composed of individuals with whom General Lopez had conversed while in Savannah and to some of whom I presumed he might have made admissions of his agency in setting on foot the expedition. Upon their examination however it appeared that no such admission had been made. All the conversation having been directed exclusively to the acts performed after the landing at Cardenas. Genl. Lopez was discharged by the District Judge upon the ground that no sufficient evidence had been shown to justify his commitment. I am not prepared to say that the postponement of the examination until Monday would have enabled me to discover any important testimony for the prosecution. My impression is that no one could have been found at such a distance from the scene of the early operations of the organizers of this expedition able to testify to any overt act of Genl. Lopez in connexion with it. Genl. Lopez left Savannah yesterday morning in the Central Rail Road Cars for Mobile on his way to New Orleans. I sent to you yesterday a despatch by telegraph and by this days mail I send a copy of the "Daily Morning News" to which I beg leave to refer you for a proper statement of the occurrences of Saturday Evening.

                                                                                    I have the honor to be
                                                                                    Very respectfully, your obedient Servant,

                                                                                    Henry Williams
                                                                                    U.S. District Attorney