The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-05-10

Circular to Collectors, Surveyors and
other Oficers OF the Customs ON
the Northern and Southwestern
waters of the United States
The following document was received at
the Office of the Surveyors of Customs in
this city yesterday
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, May I'd, 1861.
On the 10Th of April, 1861, the President
of the United States by proclamation de-
clared the ports of South Carolina, Georgia,
Florida Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi,
and Texas, under blockade; and on the 9th
of the same month, by another proclama-
ton declared the ports of Virginia and
North Carolina also under blockade, since
which proclamation this Department has
received reliable information that attempts
/ are frequently made TO furnish arms, munl-
tons of war, provisions and other supplies
/ to persons and parties in those States IN
open instruction against the Constitutional
authorities of the Union.
1t becomes my duty, therefore, to instruct
you to cause a careful examination to be
made Of the mauifests Of all steam or other
vessels, departing from your port with car
! goes whose ultimate destination you have
satisfactory reason TO believe is under the
control of such insurrectionary parties, and
to compare the same with the cargo on
board and if any such manifest be found
to embrace any articles of the description
before mentioned, or any such articles be
found to constitute part of the cargo, you
will take all necessary and proper measures
to prevent the departure of the vessel, and
to detain the same in your custody until al
such articles be removed therefrom, and fol
further proceedings according to law.
You will also make a careful examination
of all fat boats and other water craft with
! loE 4 4 Nfh ai
vehicles arriving at or leaving your port
laden with merchandise, the ultimate des
tination of which you have good reason Il
believe is for any port or place under In
surrectionary control and if arms, mum
tions of war, provisions or other supplies
are found having such destination, you will
seize and detain the same to await tn
proper legal proceedings for con6scation o
forfeiture.
7 In carrying out these instructions, yoV
e will bear in mind that all persons or partie
, in armed instruction against the Union
: however such persons or parties may be or
ganized or named, are engaged in leVyinl
war against the United States, and that al
0 persons furnishing to such insurgents arms
: munitions of war, provisions, or other sup
plies, are giving them aid and comfort, an
so guilty of treason within the terms of tn
second section of the third article of tn
Il Constitution; and you will therefore us
q your utmost vigilance and endeavOrs to pre-
vent the prohibited shipments, and to deteC
and bring to punishment all who are in an
way concerned in furnishing to such insul
gents any of the articles above described.
You VIII, however, on the other hand, h
a careful not to interrupt vexatiously or b.
W yond necessity, by unwarranted or protrac
ell deteutions and examinations the regulf
Il and lawful commerce of your port.
1. You will report forthwith whether an.
d and if any, what additional measures ma
5, be necessary in your judgment to carry il
to full effect the foregoing directions an
you will report to this Department froi
L time to time your action under these il
l. structions S. P. CHASE,
a Secretary of the Treasury.
SURVEYOR OF CUSTOMS, Cincinnati, o.