The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-05-15
RstsCssn .FYrsf Gnd ESafsr.
The Declaration of War Against f5Ia
United states by the Usurpers.

y
cial copy of the act passed by the " Confed-
crate Congress declaring war. 1t is about
two columns in length, and is chiefly occu-
pied with elaborate provisions concerning
the issuing of letters of marque and reprisal
The following is the material portion, which
is of general interest;
An act recognizing the existence Of a0ar be-
ta0een the United States and the Conteder-
ate States, and concerning letters otmarque,
prizes 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 unavailingi by reason of the refusal
of the Government of the United States to
hold any intercourse with the Commission
ers appointed by this Government for the
purpose aforesaid, or to listen to any propo-
sal they had to make for the peaceful solu-
ton 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
seventy-fve thousand men, for the pur-
pose, as therein indicated, of capturing
forts, and other stroEgholds within the
jurisdiction of and belonging to- the
Confederate States of America, and has de-
tailed naval ornaments upon the coasts Of
the Confederate States Of America and raised
organized, and equipped large military
force to execute the purpose aforesaid, and
has issued his other proclamation announc-
ing his purpose to set on foot q blockade of
H.. 3 r i
whereas, the State of Virginia has seeded
from the Federal Union and entered into a
convention of alliance, offensive and defen-
sive, 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
Arizonia and New Mexico, and the Indian
Territory, South of Kansas, will refuse to
cooperate with the Government of the
United States in these acts of hostilities and
wanton aggression which are plainly in
tended to overawe, oppress, and finally sub
jugate the people of the Confederate States
and whereas, by the acts and means ~afore-
said war exists between the Confederate
St and the Government of the United
States, and the States and Territories there
of, except the States of Maryland, North
Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas,
Missouri, and Delaware and the Territories
of Arizonia and New Mexico, and the Indian
Territories South of Kansas therefore
SEC. l. The Congress Of the Confederate
States of America do enact that the Presi-
dent .of the Confederate States is hereby
authorized to use the whole land and naval
force of the Confederate States to meet the
war thus commenced, and to issue to pri-
vate armed vessels commissions or letters of
marque and general reprisal in such form
as he shall think proper under the seal of
the Confederate States against the vessels,
goods, and effects of the Government of the
United States, and of the citizens or in
habitants of the States and Territories
thereof except the States and Territories
herein before named. PrOgided, however
that property of the enemy (unless it be
contraband of wary laden on board a neu-
trail vessel, shall not be subject to seizure
under this act And f2roUided further, that
vessels of the United States now in the
ports of the Confederate States, except such
as have been since the 5th.of April last, or
may hereafter be in the service of the Gov
ernment of the United States, shall be al
lowed thirty days after the publication of
this act to leave said ports and reach their
destination; and vessels and their cargoes
excepting articles contraband of war, shall
not be subject to capture upder this act dur
ing said period, unless they shall have pre-
viOusly reached the destination for which
they were bound on leaving said ports.