Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-05-11
THE RICHMOND WHIG.
LincOln's Declaration of War Ac-
ceptcd.
CT OF CONGRESS In FULL.
MONrGOuyRY AIA MavG ISG


OF secrecy has been removed therefrom
AN RECOGNIZING The FxIsrkNCE OF WAR BETWEEN THE
UNITED sTArIS AND THE CONFEDERATE sTATEs, coz
cEKNISG LLTrERs OF MARQUE, PRIZES AND GOODS.
WHEREAS, The earnest efur,s made by this Govern
ment to establish friendly relations between the Govern
ueut Of the United States and the Confederate States and
to set le all questions of disagreement between the
two Governments npon principles Of right, jus ice equity
and good faith have proved unavang by of the
refusal OF the Government OF the United Stats to hold
any intercourse with the Commissioners appointed By
this Government for the purposes aforesaid listen
any proposal they bad TO make for the peaceful sou.
ton Of all causes OF difficulties between the govern
ments and VII reas the President OF the United Sats
of America has issued his Proclamation making requisi
ton upon the States OF the American Union for 70 900
men, for the purpose as therein indicated OF capturing
forts and other s,ronghods within the Jurisdiction o. and
belonging to- the Confederate States og America and
has detailed naval armaments upon the coasts OF tn Con-
fcderae States OF America and raised Organized and
equipped l. rye military force to the purpose
aiOressl and has issued his other PrOcl.m an
nOunciDg his purpose to set on foot blockade OF the
Lors OF the Conf derae States and pbSTCdS, the State
of Virginia has seeded from the Federal Union and
tered into convention Of alliance offensive and deen-
sye with the Confederate States and has adop ed the
Provisional Constitution OF the said States and the States
Of Maryland North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky Ar
kansas and Missouri have refused aud il il believed that
the State of Delaware and the inhabitants of The Tori
tories Of Arizona and New Mexico and the Indian Ter
ritory south of Kansas, will refuse to cooperate with
The Government Of the United States in these acts OF
hosiiies aud wantOn aggression, which painly in.
tended ovcrawc oprress and finally suhIgltc The pco
PIE of the Confederate States and where1S by the acts
aud means aforesaid exss between the Confederate
States aud the Government Of the United States and the
States aad Territories thereof except the States OF Mary
land North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky Arkansas
Missouri and D,awaFc and the Territories OF Arizona
and New Mexico aud the Indian Territory south OF Kin
| as: Therefore
SECTION |. The Congress of the Confederate States Of
A,a,ca do enact That the President of the Confederate
States is hereby authorized TO the whole land and
naval force OF the Confederate States meet the
thus commenced and to issue private armed vessels
commissions letters Of marque ard general reprisa
in such form he shall think proper, u.der the seal of
the Conf deTGe Stats against the vesses, goods and
ffects Of the Government of the United States aud OF
ne czr or iuhabtans Of the States and Territories
hereof except the States and Territories he.eabeforc
named Progidd however, that property Of the enemy
(unless il be ooutrabsnd Of war; laden board
Iral vessel, shl not be sui ct to seizure under tbs
Act hpd prouid9 frher That vessels Of the ci,izcrs
inha5ians OF the United States, in tie ports of
the Confederate States except such have been since
the oh Of April last, may hereafter be, in the
vice Of the Government OF the United States shall be
allowed thirty days after the publication Of this Aci 10
leave said ports and reach her des esination and such
vessels and their cargoes excepting articles oontrabaud
OF war; shall not BE- sub ect 10 capture under this Act
during said period, unless they shall have previously
reached the destination for which they were bouui on
| leaving said ports
Sic 2 That the President of the Confederate States
shall be- and he is hereby authorize and empowered 10
revoke and onnul pleasure all letters OF maique and
repsa which h. may at any time grant pursuant 10 this
| Act.
SIC B. That all persons applying for letters Of ,narque
and rcprsal pursuant 10 this Act shall state in writing
the name and a suitable description of the tonnage and
force Of the vessel and tie and place Of residence
Of each concerned therein and the n't ndcd
Der Of the crew; which statement shall be signed by he
person or persons making such application and fl.d
with the Secretary Of State shall be delivered to any
officer or person who shall be employed to deliver out
slch COMMISSIONS 10 be 10y hi transmitted TO The Sec
re.ar7 Of State
Sec I That before any commission CT letters Of
mar0ue ard repsl shll be issued aforesaid the
or or owners of the ship vessel for which the
shall be requested and The commander thereof for the
time being shall give boud 10 the Confederate States
with at least responsible surees interested in
such vessel in the penal Of FIVE thous nd dollar.
or if such vessel be provided With than huude
and fifty men, then in the penal Of ten thousand
lolar.; with conditions that the owners, officers and
crew. who shall be- employed on board fucl commission
ed vess H. shall and S Observe the aGs OF hr Coulri-
| crate States AID the Instructions hch shall be given
them according law, for the regulation OF th.ir
| duet; and will satisfy al damages and uju les which
hall be done committed contrary the there
Of by such vessel during her commission and deliver
up the when revoked by the President Of the Con-
| ederlte States.
SEC s. That all captures anl prizes Of vessels and pro-
perty shall be forfeited and shall TO the OeIe
officers and crews Of The vessels by whom srcn capur
and prizes shall be made; aud due condemnation bad
shall be distributed according any written agreement
which shall BE- made between them; and if there be
such written agreement then moety 10 the owners
and the other moiety TO the officers aud crew, nearly
as may be according the rules prescibed Tor the dis
ri5uon of prize money, by the laws Of the Confederate
| States
SIC That all vessels goods and effects, the property
of any citizen Of the Confederate States Ol pGrsOns
resident within aud under the protection Of the Uouied-
crate States Of p-rsons permanently within the terri
tos and under the protection Of any foreign prince,
| government or Safe in amity with The Confederate
states which shall have been cap ured by the Uni ed
at,s aud Which shall be recap,urCd by ves.cls
| missoncd as afor said, shall be restored the
lawful owners, upon payment by them of a just
and reasonable sivsge, TO be determined hy the
mutual agreement Of the parties concerned by the
decree of any court having ursd;cOn according TO the
nature OF each casc gsroeabIy to the pTOyoUs estb
lsbod hy law Aud such salvage shall be distributed
among the owners officers and of the vessels
ms.ioned as aforesaid, aud making such captures
cording to any written agreement which shall be made
betgeen them and in case Of 10 such agreement then
the same uaBncT and upon the principles heTenbCIoTe
| urovidc d in case of capture.i
Syc T. That before breaking bulk OF any vessel which
sha be captured as aforesaid other disposal
version thereof of any articles which shall he found
on beard the same, such capturcd vessel goods ,l
Gets shall he brought into port Of the CoHcd rate
Staes or Of a ma ion State in ami.y with tho Con-
eje,ae States aud shall be proceeded against before
competcnt tribunal; and after condemnation and for
eure thereof shall belong TO ihe ownors officers and
crew Of the vessel cspurig tic same and BE- dsri-
bu,ed MS b. icre provided; aud IN the ca'c OF all
red Y ssels goods and iltcts which al be brought
within the jurisdiction Of the Co iedeiaie States, the
D trict C0u Of the Confederate States email have
clnsve orrna coglzance thereof, il civil Of
admiralty aud maritime urisdicton and the said courts
Or the courts being OF the COuie deale Stes into
h;ch sueh causes sha be renovcd ard ia which they
. I'D eltalfs nd a ttf,tin
in whole or in part when the capture shal have been
made without lust cause. And il made without probl-
tle cause may order and decree damages and
the marty l. Iured for which the and commanders
of the vessels making such capture and also the vessels
hall be liable
SIC That all persons found on board any captured
vessel or on beard AIRY recapurd vessel, shall be
ported TO the Collector Of the por in the Confederate
States in Which they Sh4 fast arrive, and shall lie de-
vered into tie custody of the NaIshal Of the District,
or some court or military officer OF the Confederate
States or of any State in such port who shall
ake charge of th safe keeping and support at the
| pepse of the Confederate States.
SIC 0 That the President Of the Confederate States
hereby authorized to establish and order suitable
tructons for Tic better governing and direct ng the
conduct of the vessels commissioned, their cicers
and crews copies OF which shall be delivered, by the
collector Of the customs the commanders, when they
shall give bond as before provided.
SIC 10 Thata bounty shall be paid by the Confederate
States of $40 for each person board any armed slip
or v,sse teorgng to the United States, at the com.
mencement Of an engagement, which shall be burnt,
sunk or destroyed By any vessel commissioned as afore
siau ha or snu,l or inferior force tho same