The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-05-24

The following important circular has been
issued by Secretary CHASE. 1t will be seen
that the expectation of provisions to any of
the Southern Slave States, except Missouri
and Kentucky, is forbidden by the terms of
the document. We presume this will have
the effect of stopping all shipments of grain,
potatoes, etc., from Minnesota to st. Louis,
as the latter point was merely stopping
place for our produce, it being nearly all re-
shipped thence to more southern ports:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, May 3, 1861.
On the 10th of April, 1861, the President of
the United States by proclamation declared the
ports of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Ala.
bama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas under
by another proclamation declared the ports of
Virginia and North Carolina also under block
ade, since which proclamation this Department
has received reliable information that attempts
are frequently made to furnish arms, munitions
of war, provisions and other supplies to per-
sons and parties in those States in open insur-
recti0n against the constitutional authorities of
the Union.
1t becomes my duty, therefore, to instruct
you to cause q careful examination to be made
of the manifests of all steam and other vessels
departing from your port with cargoes whose
ultimate destination you haue satisfactory rea-
son to believe is under the control of such in
surrectiOnary parties, and to compare the same
with the cargo on board; and if any such man.
ifest be found to embrace any articles of the
description before mentioned, or any such ar.
tices be found to constitute part of the cargo,
you will take all necessary and proper mea.
sures to prevent the departure OF the vessel.
and to detain the same in your custody until
all such articles be removed therefrom, and
for further proceedings according to law.
You will also make a careful examination of
all aat-bOats and other water craft without
manifest; and of railway cars and other vehi-
cles arriving at or leaving your port laden
with merchandise. the ultimate destination of
which you have reason to believe is for any
port or place under insurrectionary control;
and il arms, munitions of war, provisions or
other supplies are found, having such destina.
ton, you will seize and detain the same to
await the proper legal proceedings for confs-
cation or forfeiture.
In carrying out these instructions, you will
bear in mind that all persons or parties in arm.
ed instruction against the Union, however
such persons may be organized of named, are
engaged in levying war against the United
States, and that all persons furnishing to such
insurgents arms, munitions of war, provisions,
or other supplies. are giving them aid and COM
fort, and so guilty of treason within the terms
of the second section of the third article of the
Constitution and you will therefore use your
utmost vigilance and endeavors to prevent the
prohibited shipments, and to detect and bring
to punishment all who are in any way concern
ed in furnishing such insurgents any of the ar
tices above described.
You will, however, on the other hand, be
| careful not to interrupt, vexatiously or beyond
necessity, by unwarranted or protracted de-
tentions and examinations, the regular and
lawful commerce of your port.
You will report forthwith whether any, and
if any, what additional measures may be ne.
| cessary in your judgment to carry into full
effect the foregoing directions and you will
report to this department from time to time
your action under these instructions.
S. P. CHASE,
Secretary of the Treasury.
SURVEYOR OF CUSTOMS. Cincinnati, 0.