Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-03
BL0CKADES BY j. s.
STRUCK NEUTRALS
Ports in Southern States and
in Cuba Cut Off by
This Country.
FRANCE AND ENGlAND'S
ACT RAISES A QUESTION
What Will Be Attitude of This
Country ?-Authorities Discuss
Rules Closing Waters.

The establishment of a virtua'
though not specifically proclaimed
blockade of Germany by England aho
France raises the question of the at
titude of the United States. In this
connection it is recalled that the united
States has, on two occasions at least
proclaimed blockadeS and maintained
them against all neutral powers
among these being those established
against the ports of the southern states
during the civil war and against Cupa
during the war of 1898.
Lineoln's Proclamation.
Arril 70, 1861, Abraham Lincoln, the
President OF the United States. issued
the following proclamation of the
blockade of the seeding states:
Whereas an insurrection against
the government of the United States
has broken out in the states of South
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida'
mississippi, Louisiana Ind Texas. ana
the laws of the United States for the
collection of the revenue cannot be Ell
fectually executed therein conforma bly,
to. that provision of the Constitution
which requires duties to be uniform
throughout the United States;
And whereas a combination OF per-
sons, engaged in such insurrection.
have threatened to grant pretended
letters of marque to authorize the
l., arers thereof to commit assaults on
the lives, vessels and property OF good
citizens of the country lawfully en-
gagged in commerce on the high seas,
and in waters of the United States;
And whereas an executive proclama-
ton has been already stated, requir-
ing the persons engaged in these dis
orderly proceedings to desist there
from, calling out militia force for
the purpose of REFRESHING the same,
and converting Congress in extra
ordinary session to deliberate and de-
Iermine thereon:
Blockade Is Ordered.
Now, therefore, I. Abraham Lincoln,
President of the United States. with
view to the same purposes before
mentioned, and to the protection of
the public peace and the lives and
property of quiet and orderly citizens
pursuing their lawful occupations. I'M
Ill Congress shall have assembled and
deliberated on the said unlawful pro-
ceedings, or until the same shall have
ceased, have further deemed it adj
visable to set on foot a blockade of the
ports within the states aforesaid, in
pursuance of the laws of the United
States and of the law of nations in
such case provided. For this purpose
Il competent force will be posted SO as
TO prevent entrance and exit of vessels
from the ports aforesaid. If, there
fore. with a view to violate such block
ade, vessel shall approach, or shall
attempt to leave. any of the said ports.
she will be duly warned by the COM
lnander of one of the b1ockading YES
seis, who will indorse on her register
the fact and date of such warning, and
II the same vessel shall again attempt
TO enter or leave the blockaded port
she will be captured and sent to the
nearest convenient port for such pro-
ceedings against her and her cargo as
prize as may be deemed advisable.
Cites Punishment.
And 1 hereby proclaim and declare
that any person. under the pretended
authority of the said states. or under
any other pretense, shall modest a YES
sci of the United States, or the persons
or cargo on board of her, such person
will be held amenab1e to the laws OF
tn United States for the prevent. =
and punish tent of piracy.
In witness whereof l have hereunto
set my hands. and caused the seal OF
the United States t be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington. this
18th day of April, in the year of our
Lord 1861, and of the independence OF
the United States the eighty-fifth
tSigned) ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Blockade Extended.
The blockade thus declared was ex-
tended by proclamation. on the 9th
of April. to the ports of North Vir-
ginia," says Montague Bernard, in his
treatise on the Neutrality of Great
Britain During the Civil War"
The naval resources of the United
States were at this time very limited.
he continues. AT the date of Mr. Lin
IT, Iofa vol
force, excluding ships unfinished OF
otherwise useless for war, consisted
OF sixty-nine -esels of FL classes, only
three of which were of the rank OF
frigate- OF the sixty-nine. forty-t1 :
only were in commission. and of these
again the great bulk were on foreign
stations. The home squadron numb r
ed twelve vessels. carrying lG7 guns
The available force was subsequently
duced by the loss of the ships de,
seized by the Confedt :es at Pensa'
cola. This small marine was utterly
ort of proportion to the demands about
to be made on it. and no exertion was
spared to increase it as rapidly as pos
sible. The East Indian. Mediterranean
Brazil and African squadrons were
brought home; ships unfinished were
dressed pTssfsd on to sGmpls,on sTss
steamers to ferry boats and tugboats
were bought or chartered, and such a:
could be made serriceable for enforc'
ing the blockade were manned. armeo
and sent with all speed to the south
The naval force employed on this sery.
ice was divided into two squadrons
one for the Atlantic and the other fol
the Gulf of Mexico.
Principal Ports Affected.
The blockade itself was set on foot
as regards the ports of Virginia, tn,
3oth of April. and was extended to thu
I,rincipal ports of the Atlantic anc
gulf coasts before the end OF May.
1t was enforced from first to last a:
international blockades are enforced
THE rules of international, not of mu
nicip;al, law were invoked and applied
Iii nd f..lr n