Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-08-29


 probation of the President, be authorized during the existence of the present war, to make advances upon any contract, not to exceed thirty-three and One-thlrd per cent, tor arms and munitions Of war; PrOuded, That security be first taken, to be ap- proved by the Secretary of War, for the perform ance of the contract, for proper accounting for | said money.
 Approved Aug. ?, 1861. Aug. 29 I'm ACTS AND RESOLUTIONS
 tCongress or the Confederate States,
 BY AUTHORITY.
 Mo- 1O6
 AN ACT recognizing the existence of War be- tween the United States and the Confederate
 States; and concerning Letters of Marque, Prizes
 and Prize Goods
 | WHEREAS, The earnest efforts made by this gO vernment to establish friendly relations between the government of the United States and the Con- federate States, and settle all questions of dis agreement between the two governments upon principles of right, justice, equity and good faith, have proved unavaing by reason of the refusal of the gov ernment of the United States to hold any intercourse with the commissioners appointed by | this government for the purpose aforesaid, or to listen to any proposals they had to make for the peaceful solution of all causes of difficulty between the two governments; and whereas the President of
 
 clamation making requsiton upon the states of the American Union for seventy-fve thousand men for the purpose, therein indicated, of cap turing forts and other strongholds within the urls dicton of and belonging to the Confederate States of America, and has detailed naval ornaments upon the coasts of the Confederate States of Ame rica, and raised, organizei and equipped large military force to execute the purpose aforesaid ond has issued his other proclamation announcing his purpose to set on foot blockade of the ports of the Confederate States; and whereas, the State of 1 Virginia has seeded from the Federal Union and entered into convention of alliance offensive and 1 defensive with the Confederate States, and has adopted the Provisional Constitution of the said states and 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, and the Indian territory south of Kansas, will refuse to cooperate with the government of the United States in the acts of hos tities and wanton aggression, which are plainly intended to Overawe, opprcss and finally subjugate the people of the Confederate States; and whereas bv the acts and means aforesaid, exists be- tween the Confederate States and the government of the United States, and the states and territories thereof, except the States of Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky. Arkansas, Mis- sOur and Delaware, and the territories of Arizona and New Mexico, and the Indian territory south of 1 Kansas: Therefore,
 SECTION l. The Congress of the Confederate States Of AneriCa do enact That the President of the Con- federate States is hereby authorized to use the whole land and naval force of the Confederate States to meet the thus commenced and to 1 issue to private armed vessels commissions, or let ters of marque and general reprsai, in such form he shall think proper, under the seal o the Con- federate States, against the vessels, goods and 1 effects of the government of the United States and of the citizens or inhabitants of the states and territories thereof: PrOcided, ho,ceuer, That pro- perty of the enemy (unle6s 1t be contraband ot war; laden on board a neutral vessel. shall not be subject to seizure under this act And prOrtded further That vessels of the citizens inhabitants of the United States now in the ports of the Con federate 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 leave said ports and reach their destination; and such vessels and their cargoes excepting art cles contrab and of war; shall not be subject to cap turc under this act during said period, unless they shall have previous y reached the destination tor which they were bound on leaving said ports.
 SEC 9 That the President of the Confederate States shall be and he is hereby authorized and em- powered to revoke and annu, at pleasure, all let terS of marque and reprisal which he may at any time grant, pursuant to this act.
 SEC 5. That all persons applying for letters ot marque and reprsal, pursuant to this act, shall state in writing the name and suitable description of the tonnage and force of the vessel, and the name and place of residence of each owner con cerned therein, and the intended number of the crew; which statement shall be signed by the per. son or persons making such application, and filed with the Secretary of State, shall be delivered to any other officer person who shall be employed to deliver out such commissions, to be by him transmitted to the Secretary of State.
 SEC. 4. That before any commission or letters of marQue and reprisal shall be issued aforesaid, tn Or Of the shin IF vessel for which the same shall be requested. and the commander thereof for the time being, shall give bond to the Confederate States, with at least two responsible suretes not interested in such vessel, in the penal sum of five thousand dollars, or if such vessel be provided with more than one hundred and fifty snen then in the penal sum of ten thousand dol lars, with condition that the owners, officers anC crew who shall be employed on board such com missoned vessel, shall and will observe the laws o the Confederate States and the instructions which shall be given them according to law for the regu lation of their conduct, and will satisfy all dam- ages and injuries which shall be done committed contrary to the tenor thereof, by such vessel dur ing her commission, and to deliver up the same when revoked by the President of the Confederate States.
 SEC. 5. That all captures and prizes of vessels and property shall be forfeited and shall accrue tc owners, officers and crews of the vessels by whom such captures and prizes shall be made, and on due condemnation had shall be distributed according t( any written agreement which shall be made be tween them and if there be no such written agree l ment then one moiety to the owners and the othe to the officers and crew, nearly as may be accord ing to the rules prescribed for the distribution prize money by the laws of the Confederate States : SEC $. That all vessels, goods and effects, thu property of any citizen of the Confederate States :, or of persons resident within and under the pro f tection of the Confederate States, or of person - permanently within the territories and under tn c protection of any foreign prince, government c state in amity with the Confederate States, whic shall have been captured by the United States, an s which shall be e-captured by vessels commission IT ed as aforesaid shall be restored to the lawful ow d ners, upon payment by them of just and reasons y ble salvage, to be determined by the mutual agre o ment of the parties concerned, or by the decree any court having jurisdiction according to the n l, ture of each case, agreeaby to the provisions e o tabshed by law. And such salvage shall be di 5; tributed among the owners, officers and crews e the vessels commissioned as aforesaid, and maki1 le such captures according to any written agreeme | which shall be made between them; and in case