The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-05-29
DECLARATION OF WAR
by the Confederate States.
LErrERs o. MARoUE ANp REpnIsA1.

II BY the Confederate States.
LETTERS OF MARQUE AND REPRIsAL.
MONTGOMERY, Ala, MAY 6, 1861,
The following act has been passed by the Con
gfess of the Confederate States in secret ses
sion. The injunction Of secrecy has been re
moved thereironi;
AN ACT RECOGNIZING THE EXISTENCE OF Wal
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE CON.
EEDERATE STATES AND CONCERNING LETTER.
OF MARQUE PRIZES AND PRIZE GOODS:
Whereas, The earnest efforts made by th
Government TO establish friendly relations be
tween the Governmen of the United State.
and the Confederate States, and to settle al
questions Of disagreement between the two
Governments upon principles OF right, justice
equity, and good aith have proved unavaiIing
by reason Of the r, fnsal OF the Government o
the United States to hold any intercourse with
the commissioners appointed by this Govern.
ment Tor the purposes Aforesaid, or listen to
any proposal they had to make for the peaceful
solution OF all causes Of difficulties between the
two Governments: and whereas, the President
Off the United s ates Of America has issued his
prt ciamaiiou, making requsiton uptn the
States of the American Union for rs, 900 men,
or the purpose, as therein indicated, Of captur-
ing forts and other strongholds within the iur
isdictlon Of and belonging to the Confederate
States of America, and has de allied naval ar
naments upon the coas, of the Confederate
states Of America, and raised, organized, and
| equipped large military iorce to execute the
purpose Aforesaid, and has issued his other pro
clamation, announcing his purpose to set on
foot blockade OF the por,s o Confederate States;
apd W ereas the State OF Virginia has seeded
from the Federal Union, and entered into con
venion of Alliance, offensive and defensive, with
the Contedera Q States, and has adopted the
provisional constitution oil the said States, and
the States Of Maryland, North Carolina Ten
nessee. Kentucky, Arkansas, and Missouri have
refused, and 1t is believed that the Ssa Del
aware, and the iosst6itaEtsf tAe- Territories OF
Arigona and New Mexico and the Indian Ter.
Iitory south OF KANSAS, will refuse o operate
with the Government of the United States in
these acts OF hostilties and wanton aggression,
which are plainly intended to oyerawe, oppress
and finally subiugae the people OF the Confed
crate States, and whereas, by the acts and
means aforesaid, war exists between the Con
ederate States and the Government ofthe U.
nlted States, and the States and Territories
thereof, except the States of Maryland, North
Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Mis-.
souri,, and Delaware, and the Territories OF Ar
zona and New Mexico, and the Indian Terrific
ry south OF Kansas: There ore,
SECTION /. THE Congress Of the Confederate
States Of american do enact That the President
ofthe Confederate States ishefeby authorized
to use the whole land and naval force of the
Con ederate States to meet the war thus COM
meneed, and 10 issue to private armed vessels
commits sons, or letters OF marque and general
rep1isal, in such firm as he shall think proper
under the seal OF the Confederate States, against
the vessels, goods and effects of the Govern
ment OF the United States, and Of the citizens
or inhabitants OF the States and Territories
thereof, except the States and Territories here
inbefo,e named: Provided, hot0eoer, That prop
erty Of the enemy (unless it be contraband of
war; laden on board neutral vessel shall not
be subject to seizure under this act: And proUi
deq further, That vessels Of the citizens or in.
habitants OF the United States, now in the ports
of the Confederate States, except such as have
been since the 9Th Of April last or may hereafter
be- in the service of the Government of the Uni
ted States, shall be allowed thirty days al the
publication of this act to leave said ports and
reach their destination; and such vessels and
their cargoes, excepting articles cohtraband OF
war, slall not be be subject to capture under
this act, during said period unless they shall
have previously reached the destination for
which they were bound on leaving said ports.
Sec. 2. That the President of the Conieder.
ate States shall be- and he is hereby, authoriz-
ed and empowered to revoke and annul. at
pleasure all letters OF marque and r prisal 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 he name, and suitable
description oI the tonnage and force OF the YES
sci, and the name and place of residence of each
owner concerned therein, and the in ended
number OF the crew; which statement shall be
signed by the per on or persons making such
application and filed with the Secretary O
State, or shall be delivered to any Offices or per.
son who shall be employed to deliver out such
commissions to be by him transmit ed 10 the
Secretary Of State.
SEC T. That before any commission or let.
ters o marque and reprisal shall be issued as
, a oresad, the owner or owners Of the ship OF
!, vessel tor 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 offive Thousand
dollars; or if such vessel be provided with more
; than one hundred and fifty men, then in tht
, penal sum OF ten Thousand dollars, with condi
: tions that the owners, officers, and crew, wht
shall be employed on board such commissioned
vessels. shall and will observe the laws OF tht
/ Confederate States and the instructions which
/! shall be given them according to Law, for tn,
> regulation OF theii conduct; and will satisfy al
damages and injuries which shall be gwen then
according to law, Tor hereguation Of their con
duct; and will satisfy all damages and Injuries
which shall be done or committed contrary Il
the tenor thereof by such vessel, during he
commission, and to deliver up the same wher
revoked by the President Of the Confederat'
States,
Sec. s. That all captures and prizes Of yes
Is and property shall be forfeited, and shal
accrue to the owners, officers and crews ef th'
vessels by whom such captures and prizes shal
3 be made; and, on due condemnation had, shal
be distributed according TO any written agree
msnt which shall be made between them; an'