New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-05-11
Recognition OF the War.

The Congress at Montgomery on the Gth inst
passed act recognizing She existence Of the
war; and providing in detail the rules in relation to
letters of marque and repFsal We subjoin the
preamble and the first section of the act
Whereas, the earnest efforts made by this Gov
erument to establish friendly relations between the
Government Of the United States and the Gonfede-
rate States and to settle ali questions of disagree
ment between the two Governments upon prin-
cpes of right, justice, equity and good faith have
proved unavaiing, by reason of the refusal OF the
Government of the United States to hold any inter-
course with the Commissioners appointed by this
Government for the purposes aforesaid or to listen
to any proposal they had to make for the peaeefRi
solution of all causes of difficulty between the Two
Governments; and, whereas, the President OF the
United States of America has issued his PTOclama-
tion making requistion upon the States Of the
American Union for Is 900 men, for the purpose az
therein indicated, OF capturing forts and other
strongholds within the jurisdiction Of and belong
ing to the Confederate States OF America, and has
detailed naval armaments upon the coasts OF the
| Confederate States of America, and raised, Or-5
| ganized and equipped large military force to
| execute the purpose aforesaid, and has issued his
| other Proclamation announcing his purpose to set
on foot blockade Of the ports otthe Confederate
States: and, whereas, the State of Virginia has
seeded from the Federal Union and entered into
convention of alliance, offensive and defensive,
with the Confederate States and has adopted the
Provisional Constitution Of the said States, aud the
States of Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee
Kentucky, Arkansas and Missouri have refused,
and it is believed that the State of Delaware and
the Inhabitants of the Territories of Arizona and
New Mexico, aud the Iudian Territory South Of
Kansas will refuse to cooperate with the GoFern-
ment of the United States in these acts OF h0stili
ties and wanton aggression, which are plainly in
tended to overawe, .oppress, aud finally subjugate
the people of the Confederate States; and, where
as by the acts and means atoresald, war exists
between the Confederate States aud the Govern
ment of the United States, aud the States and Ter
ritories thereof, except the States of Maryland,
| North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky Arkansas,
| Missouri and Delaware. and the Territories OF
Arizona and New Mexico aud the Indian Territory
| South of Kansas therefore,
SEC. l. The Congress OF The Confederate States
America do enact, that the President of the Com
federate States is hereby authorized to use the
| whole land and naval force of the Confederate
States to meet the war thus commenced, and to
| issue to private armed vessels commissions let
| ters of marque and general reprsal in such forms
as he shall think proper, under the seal of the Con-
| federate State. against the vessels goods and
| effects of the Government of the United States,
and of the citizens inhabitants of the States and
Territories thereof except the States and Terrific
ries herein before named provided, however, that
property of the enemy (unless it be contraband Of
4 war) laden on board neutral vessel, shall not be
| subject to seizure under this act and provided
further that vessels of the eizens inhabitants Of
the United States now in the ports OF the Gonted-
| crate States, except such as have been since the
9TH of April last or may hereafter be in the SER
vice of the Government OF the United States, shall
| be allowed thirty days after the publication OF this
act, to leave said ports and reach their Gestina~
tion and such vessels and their cargees, except
ing articles contraband of war; shall not be subject
TO capture under this act daring said period nnless
they shall have previously reached the destination
| for which they were bound on leaving said ports.
| The remaining sections relate to the miner rules
| and conditions of privateering.