The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-05-22


orerawe, oppress, aud finally subjugate
the people of the Confederate States {;
and whereas, by the acts and means
aforesaid war exists between the Confed'
crate States and the Government of the
United St"tes, and the States, and Terri.
tories thereof, except The States Of Mary.
land, North Carolina, Teunessee, Ken.
tueky, Arkansas, Missouri, and Delaware,
and the Territories Of Arizona, and New
Mexico, and the Indian Territory south
OF Kansas Therefore,
SECTION /. The Congress of the Con-
federdte States Of america do enact, That
the President Of the Confederate States ia
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 commits
sions, or letters Of marque and general
reprlsaI, in such form as he shall think
proper, under the seal Of the Confederate
States, against The vessels, goods and ef
fects of the Government of the United
States. and OF the citizens or Inhabitants
OF the States and Territories thereof, ex.
cept the States and Territories hereinbe.
fore named. Provided, however, that
property Of the enemy (nnless il be con-
traband OF waI) laden on board a neutral
vessel, shall not be subject TO seizure un
der tins Act; dnd proOided futher, that
vessels ol the cit zens or inhabitants of the
C"i,ed States now in the porte of the
Confederate States, except such as have
been since the 5th of April last, or NAV
hereafter be, N The service Of the Govern
ment of tho United States, shall be allow
Ell thirty days after the publication Of this
Act 10 leave said ports and reach their
destination and such vessels and their
cargos, excepting articles cou,raband of
war, sha'! not be subject to capture under
this Act, during said period, unless they
shall have previously reached the desti.
nation !or which they were bound on
leaving said ports.
SEC 2. That the President Of the Con,
'edeialc States shal, be, and he is hereby
authorized anl empowered to revoke and
annu, at pleasure, all letters OF maraue
and rePrisal which he may at any time
grant pursuant to this Act.
SEC. 3. That all persons applying for
letters Of marque and reprisal, pursuant
TO this Act, shall state in writing ;he
name, and suitable description of the
Tonnage and force Of the vessel, and the
name and place ofiesidence Of each owner
concerned therein, and the intended num-
Der of the crew; which statement shall
be slgued by the person or persons max
ing such application, and fled with the
Secretary Of State, or shall be delivered
to any other officer ~ person who shall
he employed to deliver out such commits,
SONS, to be by him transmitted to the
Secretary of State.
SEC. 4. That before any commission or
letters OF marqne and reprisal shall be
issued as aforesaid, the owner or owners
Of the ship or vessel for which the same
shall be requested, and the commander
thereof foI The time being, shall give bond
to the Confederate States, with AT least
two responsible sureties, not interested in
such vessel, III the pena! sum of five thou
sand dollars or If such vessel be provi
dsd With mole than one hundred and fif
ty men. then in the penal sum of ten
thousand dollars with condition that
the owners, officers and crew, who shall
be employed on board such commission
ell vessel, shall and will observe the laws
of the Confederate States, and tho instruc
tons which shall be given them according
to law, for the regulation OF their conduci:
and will satisfy all damages and injuries
which shall be- done or committed contra,
~ TO the teuor thereof, by such vessel
during hrr com mission, and to deliver up
the same when revoked by the President
Of the Confederate States.
SEC. s. That Sll car lures and prizes Of
vessels aud property shall be forfeited,
and shall accrue 10 the owners, officers
and crews Of the vessels by whom such
Captures and prizes shall be made ard
on due condemnation had, shall be dis
tnbuted according TO any written agree
inent which shall be made between them:
and il there be no such written agree
meni, then one mOiety to the owners, and
crew, rs nearly as may be according to
the rules prescribed for the distribution
OF prize money, by the laws of the Con.
federste States.
SsGa6-s That all vessels, goods and ef.
fec's, theproperty Of any cilizen Of the
Confederate States, or Of persons resident
within and under the protection Of the
Confederate States, or Of persons perma
nertly within the territories, and under
the protection OF any foreign prince, gov.
eminent, or State amity with tho Confed
crate States, which shall have been cap
tured by the United States, and which
shall be recaptured by vessels commits
stoned as aforesaid, shall be restored to
the lawful owners, upon psymsn, by them
OF a just and reasonable salvage, to be
determined by the mutual agreement Of
The parties concerned, or by the decree OF
any court having jurisdiction, according
to the nature Of each case, agreeably to
tbe provisions established by Law. And
such salvage shall be distributed among
the owners, officers, and crews Of The yes
sels commissioned as aforesaid, and max
in o. aucb eanturaa oeonvd;ro "a 60.