The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-05-28
THE SOUTHERN PIRATES.
THE REBEL DECLARATION OF WAN.
fhSatcering Legaiized, and n Price set on
Freenen's Heads.

rhSatcering iegaiized, and n Price set or
Freemeu's Heads.
10 the Montgomery Concre,s, on the 9 /
inst, the following act, declaring war sraips
the Government and lsgsli.ing piracy, wa
passed In secret session, but the injunction
OF secrecy WAS immediately rsmoyed anc
the Infamous document ordered to be pub
ished.
1t will be socn that the tenth section offer
premium of twenty dollars for each person
killed on board an American vessel, and
snother reward of twenty five dollars per head
Tor all prisoners taken uto port.
The act is so curious chapter in the his
tory OF tins rebellion that We give it entire !:
An Act Recognizing The Eristeace of War
betreen The Cn'ted States aud the Coatcd.
crate States, and Coaceraiag Letters OF
Ndrquc, Prizes aud Prize Goods.
ithereas, the earnest eff IT'S made by
thls Government to establish friendly re-, ,tion.
between ih- Government Of the United Stale.
ana the Coufedrrsle STATES, and 10 settle all
questions Of disagreement between the two
Go'ernmenis upon the principles Of right,
justice, equity and COOL faith, have proved
uuaNa'Iug, y reason Of the refusal OF tho
''"'"inm.pI OF tn United S.irs 10 bold
shl Intercourse nrh the Commissioners AZ
l"in ed b! Ills Government for the purpo.e
aiui' 49,. ~ w il.t,u 10 ANY propJsal the,
bad 10 nak" for the pcsc fuI solution &C all
cause, It d.ihcGIy hc,~ec" the teo Govern
"ruts. aH,, wI-r,Gs, TIA President oe Tn.
United S,atot has I,-uci his r,nc,siustion,
making requisi Ion upon the States Of the
\ I,t E,ya Al nd
men, tor the purpcs" ~ therein 'roica,ed of
cap urug torls aud o.h-r stronghold within
ths jurlsdIcIion OF, and heiUrgitr 10 the Con.
iedeiale States OF America. and Las detailed
naval armsments upon The coasts Of the Con
icderate States Of a erica, aud raispd. orga
nz"d "a d equipped large military force To
execute the lu1p"se Aforesaid ahI has iSsSci
his other rruclanaton announcing h,S pur
pose to set on foot bioc6adr OF ihc patts of
the Confederate Sts'cs; aud, whereas. tue
Stste Of Virginia has seeded from tue Fode.
Iai UnIon and entered in'o "A convention Of
alliance, offensive and defensive, with the
Confederate States, aud has adopted The pro.
vlslousl constitution uf the said Ststss oi
Maryland, North Caro- ina, Tennessee, ke,-
tucky, Arkansas aud Missouri have refused
and the Inhabitants of tic territories Arizona
aud New Mexico, and the Indian territory
south o. Kansas will refuse 10 Cooperate With
the Cover mont OF the United States in these
acts of hostillies aud wanton aggression,
which are plainly intended to overawe, sup
press and finally subjuga,s the people Of the
Confederate States; and, whereas, hy the acts
and means aforesaid, war exists between the
Confederate States aud the government Of
the United States aud the States and Terri
tories thereof, except tho States Of Maryland,
North Carolina, Tennessee, kentucky, Ar
kansas, Missouri and Delaware, and the Ter
rtories Of Arizona and New Mexico, and
the Indian territories south Of Kansas; there
fore,
SEC. !. The Congress Of the Confederate
States Of America do enact that the Presi-
dent of the Confederate States is hereby AL.
thorlzod to use the whole land and naval
forces Of the Confederate States TO meet the
war thus commenced, and TO issue to private
armed vessels commissions or letters of mar
que and general rep'isa in such form as he
shall think proper under the seal Of the Cot
federate States, against the vessels, goods and
effects OF the government Of TIE Uulted
States, and Of tue citizens or inhabitants Of
The states and territories thereof, except tie
states AMI territories hcicinbcfore named:
Provided, however, that property Of the
Enemy (InIcss i be coulrsbaud Of war; den
pa bOatd a ncutal vessel sha nor be subject
10 seizure uud this act, aud provided turth-
n, that vessel, Of The ctizcGs ur inhabitants
D. Ne United States now in he ports Of TIA"
Confederate States, rxc"pi such ss have been
inc the 5,h OF Aptl last, ur may hereafter
Sc IN the service Of the United States, shall
20 allowed thirty days after the publication
If this net, t. Leave said ports and reach the:r
destinations, a such vessels and their car
goes, exccpt articles c"utrabaud OF war, shall
lot be sutj ct to capture under this act dur
rg said period, Unl IS they shall have pre-
'iously reached rhc destination for which they
were bound on IeaSi;- sad ports.
SEC 2. That the President OF the Confed-
'raIe States shall he and be is hereby au
.horz"d and cnpowetedto revoke and aunul,
At pleasure, all letters Of marque and reprissl
v h'ch he may at any tme grant pursuant to
his act.
SEC. 3. That al persons applying for let.
ers OF marque and reprissl, pursuant 10 this
= ct, shall state in writing. the name aud
suitable description of the tornars and force
OF the vessel, anl tho name Of tho place of
residence OF each owner concerned therein,
and the Intended number Of The crew. which
statement shall be signed By the person or
persons m'kIog such application, and filej