Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-05-14
An Act

the United States and the Confederate
States; and concerning letters ofm'arque,
prize, and prize goods.
Whereas the earnest efforts made by this
Government to establish friendly relations
between the Government Of the United
States and the Confederate States, and to
settle all questions of disagreement between
the two Governments upon principles of
right, justice, equality and good faith,
have proved unavailing, by reason of the re.
fusal of the Government of the U. States to
hold any intercourse with the Commission
ers appointed by this Government for the
purposes aforesaid, or to listen to any pro.
posal they had to make for the peaceful So
luton of all causes of difficulty between the
two Governments and whereas the Presi-
dent of the United States of America has
issued his proclamation making requisition
upon the States of the American Union for
$4,000 men, for the purpose, as therein in
dicated, of capturing forts and other strong
holds within the jurisdiction Of and belong
ing to the Confederate States of America,
and has detailed naval ornaments upon the
coast of the Confederate States of America,
and raised, organized and equipped large
military force to execute the purpose afore-
said, and has issued bis other proclamation
announcing his purpose to set on foot
blockade of the ports of the Confederate
States and whereas the State of Virginia
has seeded from the Federal Union and
entered into convention of alliance, Of
fensive and defensive, with the Confeder-
ate States, and has adopted the Provision
al Constitution of the said States, and the
States of Maryland, North Carolina, Ten
nessee, 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 Govern
ment of the United States in these acts Of
hostilities and wanton aggression, which
are plainly intended to overawe, Cypress,
and finally subjugate the people of the Con-
federate States and whereas, by the acts
and means aforesaid, war exists between
the Confederate States and the Government
of the United States, and the States and
Territories thereof, except the States Of
Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Ken
lucky, Arkansas, Missouri and Delaware,
and the Territories Of Arizona and New
Mexico, and the Indian Territory south Of
Kansas 4: therefore,
SEC. l. Tile Congress Of the Conteder-
ate States Of America do enact, That the
President of the Confederate States is here
by 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 commissions or let.
ters of marque and general reprisal in such
forms as he shall think proper, under the
seal of the Confederate States, against the
vessels, goods, and effects of the govern
ment of the States and Territories thereof,
except the States aud Territories herein be-
fore named Pooided, however, that prop
erty of the enemy (unless it be contraband
of war; laden on board neutral vessel
shall not be subject of seizure under this
act; And provided further, that vessels
of the citizens or inhabitants of the United
States now in the ports of the Confederate
States, such as have been since the 9th OF
April last, or may hereafter be in the SER
vice of the Government of the Z. States,
shall be allowed thirty days after The publ
cation of this act, to leave said ports and
reach their destination; and such vessels
and their cargoes, excepting articles con-
traband of war, shall not be subject to cap
ture under this act during said period, un-
less they shall have previously reached
the destination for which they were bound
on leaving said ports.
Sec. 2. That the President Of the Con.
federate States shall be and is hereby au-
thorized and empowered to revoke and an
nul, at pleasure, all letters of marque and
reprisal which he may at any time grant
pursuant to this act.
SEC. 8. That all persons applying for
letters of marque and reprisal, 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 concerned
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