, 1863-07-12
NUMBER 1923.

tants with recessaries, but to allow no other
until The complete EeeatabllahmcHs OF the M
tIopal authority shall warrant it; and third,
to allow no interuuurse at al beyond the Fed
cupation; across these lines thetu can be no
intercourse except that Of character e1clu-
r The M iimits Il. the districts within which the
most general trade mdy be allowed must nee
cessarily be prescribed BY the commanding
generals OF departments, and these should DO
80 clearly and distinctly marked By known
geographical boundaries, or by the enumero-
ion of counties, Is to leave no uncertainty as
to their course or comprehension The limits
Of the regions within which necessar1es may
be supplied cannot be 30 clearly defined, but
must he ascertained as well as possible tfom
the commanding generals, and the power to
permit any supplies within them must be ex-
ercised with great caution.
There does not seem to me to be SO m1ch
danger In Intercourse Whtch does not involve
the furnishing Of supplies. Il, for example,,
any PEI son desires to bring cotton, tobacco,
sugar, ruIpentlne or other property, already
from my place within the lines Of our mill
tar5 occupation, can see no objection to his
being permitted to do SO, subject to the fees
md Obligations specified in the general regu-
lations, on his givipg:a bond in = sufficient
sum, and with sufficient sureties, conditioned
SONS prohibited, by law Or by orders Of the
President or Of the Secretaries Of War or
Navy or of military or naval commanders
having proper authority, from being interest
ed in such property whether purchased or to
be purchased, shall be so interested therein
NE, be FateIy permitted, almost, il not quite,
CO extensively with our lines Of military oc-
cupatioD.
Should this view meet the approval Of the
general commanding the department within
sour agency, the question ofintercourse with
III the doubtful region between what may be
called the commercial and the military line
would be reduced to question Of the qunnti-
II cf supplies allowed TO be furnished for
money.
possible ways Of accomplishing the great OBJ
1ccts II Mhich Congress had In view in the sew
eral acts relating to commercial intercourse !;
but If these objects themselves be kept staad,
ily in view, namely First, non-Intercourse
between loyal States or districts and States or
districts partially regalned to the Union, the
nev nst @1s 9.sss Of taeT mi IN g
ly observe the course Of events, and hear at
teniive]y al1 suggestions made By respectable
and loyal citizens, sud report to me WilateYer
ua; seem to you proper for consideration In
establishing or modifying the regulations Of
this department.
added, except that hereafter the Supervising
special agents within their respective agen-
cies may establish, in conjunction with or
obedience to, the generals commanding de-
partments, lines within which trade, more or
less limited, may be carried on without await
ing my sanction, taking care, however, to
give as general notice as practicable, through
the press and otherwise, Of the establishment
or modification Of such lines. AL action m
der this authority must be Immediately and
specifically reported to this department. With
great respect.
s. P. CHASE, Secretary Of the Treasury.
NM. P. MELES, Esq, Supervising Special
Agent, First Agency.