Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-05-17
The Southern Rebels Declaration Of Wal
Against the United States.

The Montgomery Gala papers contain the
Secession Declaration of War against the United
States, occupying column and three quarters;
but annexed is the only portion of general in
terest
An act recognizing The existence of ioar betiDeen
the United. States and The Confederate States,
and concerning letters Of maTque, prizes and
prize goods
WHEREAS, The earnest efforts made by this
Government to establish friendly relations be-
tween the Government of the United States and
the Confederate States, and to settle all ques-
tions of disagreement between the two Govern.
ments upon principles Of right, justice, equality
and good faith, have proved unavailing, by rea.
son Of the refusal of the Government of the
United States to hold any intercourse with the
Commissioners appointed by this Government
for the purpose aforesaid, or TO listen to any pro-
posal they had to make for the peaceful solu-
ton Of all causes Of difficulty between the two
Governments; and whereas the President of the
United States of America has issued his procla.
nation making requisition upon the States of
the American Union for $4,000 men, for the
purpose, as therein indicated, Of capturing forts
and other stroDgholds within the Jurisdiction of
and belonging to the Confederate States of
America, and has detailed naval armaments
upou tuO CVabtb vi Tue OOuleueThLb DlAteb OI
America, and raised, organized, and equipped a
large military force to execute the purpose afore-
said, and has issued his other proclamation an
nouncing bis purpose to set on foot blockade of
the ports of the Confederate States; and whereas
the State of Virginia has seeded from the FEEDER.
| al Union, and entered into Convention of alli-
ance, offensive and defensive, with the Confed.
crate States, and has adopted the Provisional
Constitution Of the said States, and the States
OF Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Ken
tucky, Arkansas, and Missouri, have refused,
and IL Is believed that the State of Delaware,
and the inhabitants OF the Territories Of Arizona
and New Mexico, and the Indian Territory,
South Of Kansas, will refuse to cooperate with
the Government of the United States in these
acts OF hostilities and wanton aggression, which
are plainly intended to overawe, oppress aud
finally subjugste the people of the Confeder ate
States; and whereas by the acts and means afore
said war exists between the Confederate States
and the Government of the United States, and
the States and Territories thereof, except the
States Of Maryland, North Carolina, Tennes-
see, Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri and Della
ware, and the Territories of Arizona and New
Mexico, and the Indian Territories South ol
Kansas; therefore
SIC. l. The Congress OF the Confederate
Dtateo VI hmerlca 90 enact tnab tue rrebluenl
of the Confederate States is hereby authorized
to use the whole land and naval force of the
Confederate States to meet the war thus com.
menced, and to issue to private armed vessels
commissions or letters Of marque and general
reprisal, In such form as he shall think proper,
under the seal of the Confederate States, against
the vessels, goods, and effects of the Govern
ment Of the United States, and OF the citizens OF
Inhabitants Of the States and Territories there
Of, except the States and Territories herein be.
fore named. Pyopided, however, that property
OF the enemy (unless it be contraband of war;
laden on board neutral vessel, shall not be
subject to seizure under this act: And provided
further, that vessels of the citizens or inhabit-
ants of the United States now in the ports OF
the Confederate States, except such as have been
since the 9Th Of April last, or may hereafter be,
in the service Of the Government Of the United
States, shall be allowed thirty days after the
publication Of this act to leave said ports ami
reach their destination; and vessels and theii
cargoes, excepting articles contraband OF war,
shall not be subject to capture under this ACT
during said period, unless they shall have pre-
yiousIy reached the destination for which they
were bound on leaving said ports.