Year: 1861

lowed thirty days, after the publication of this act Il


leave said ports and reach their destinations and eucl


vessels and their cargoes except articles contaband


war; sha not be to capture under this act dur
ing said period, unless they shall have previously


reached the destination for which they were bound on
leaving said ports.


SEC g That the President Of the Confederate State;


shall be and he is hereby authorized and empowered
to revoke and annu at pleasure, all letters of marque
and reprisa which he may at any time grant pursuant
TO this act.


SEC. 3. That all persons applying for letters o
marque and reprisa pursuant to this act shall state IL
writing, the name, and a suitable description of the
tunnage and force Of the vessel, and the name and
place of residence Of each owner concerned therein,
and the intended number of the crew, which statement
shall be signed by the person or persons making such
application and filed with the Secretary of State or
shall be delivered to any other officer or person who
shall be employed TO deliver out such commissions, to
be by bin transmitted to the Secretary Of State.


SEC. A. That before any commission or letters Of
marque and reprisal shall be issued aforesaid the
owner CT owners Of the ship vessel for which the
same shall be requested, and the commander thereof
for the time being eha give bond to the Confederate
States with at least two responsible sureties not in
terested in such vessel in the penal sum of s5OOOi or
if such vessel be provided with more than one hun
dred and fifty men, then in the penal sum Of $4,000;
with condition that the owners officers and crew, who
shall be employed on board such commissioned yes.
sell shall and will observe the laws Of the Confederate
States. and the instructions which shall be given
them according to law, for the regulation Of their
conduct, and will satisfy all damages and injuries
which shall be done or committed contrary to the
tenor thereof by such vessel during her commission,
and to deliver up the when revoked by the Presl
dent of the Confederate States.


SEC 5. That all captures and prizes Of vessels and
property shall be forfeited and shall accrue to the own
ers officers and crews Of the vessels bywhom such cap
lures and prizes shall be made and on due condemna
ton had shall be distributed according TO any written
agreement which shall be made between themi and If
there be no such written agreement then one moiety
to the owners and the other mOiey to the officers and
crew as nearly as may be- according to the rules pre-
scribed for the distribution of prize money by the laws
Of the Confederate States.


SEC g. That all vessels goods, and effects, the prop
ery of any citizen OF the Confederate States, or oil
persons resident within and under the protection OF
The Confederate States, or of persons permanently
within the Territories and under the protection of any
foreign Prince, Government, or State in amlty with
the Confederate States which shall have been cap
tured bv the United States, and which shall be re-
capured by vessels commissioned as aforesaid SHALL
be restored 10 the lawful owners, upon payment by
them of iust and reasonable salvage, to be deter
mined by the mutual agreement Of the parties con-
ceued OF by the decree Of any Cour, having ursde-
ton according 10 the nature Of each case, agreeably
TO tie provisions established by law. And such sal-
wage shall be distributed among the owners, oficers,
and crews of the vessels commissioned aforesaid,
and making such captures according to any written
agreement which shall be made between them and
in case Of no such agreement, then in the same man
ner and upon the principles herenbefore provided in
Gaze Of capture


Src :. That before breaking bulk Of any vessel
which shall he captured as aforesaid, other disposal
or conversion thereof or of any articles which shall be
found on board the same such captured vessel goods
or effects, shall be brought into port of the Con-
federate States, or OF a nation State in amy with
the Confederate States and shall be proceeded against
before a competent tribunal and after condemnation
and forfeiture thereof shall belong to the owners, Off
GERS and crew Of the vessel capturing the same, and
be distributed as before provided and in the case of all
captured vessels, goods and effects which shall be





States the District Courts Of the Confederate States
shall have exclusive original cognizance thereof, as III
civil causes of admiralty and maritime jurisdictions and
the said courts the courts being courts OF the Con-
federe Sates, into which such causes shall be re-
moved and in which they shall be finally decided, shall
and may decree restitution in whole or in part, when
the capture shall have been made without just cause.
And if made without probable cause, may order and
decree damages and costs the party injured which
the owners aud commanders Of the vessel making such
captures, and also the vessels, shall be liable.


SEc g. That all persons found on board any captured
vessels or on board any recapured vessel, shall be re-
ported 10 the Collector of the port in the Confederate
Statee in which they shall first arrive, and shall be de-


vered into the custody of the Marshal Of the District
or some court or military officer of the Confederate
States, or of any State in such port, who shall
take charge Of the safe keeping and support at the ex
pense of the Confederate States.


Src g. That the President of the Confederate
States is hereby authorized to establish and
order suitable Instructions for the better gov
ernng and directing the conduct of the ves-
sells 70 commissioned, their officers and crews,
copies Of which shall be delivered by the collector of
the customs, TO tic commanders, when they shall give
bond as before provided.


Src TO- That bounty shall be paid by the COnfcde-
rate States of go for each person on board any armed
ship or vessel belonging 70 the United States, at the
commencement Of an engagement, which shall be
burnt, sunk or destroyed by any vessel commissioned
as aforesaid which shall be Of equal inferior force
the same to be divided in other Of prize money
- and bounty of $2j shall be paid to the owners
officers and crews of the private armed vessels, CON-
mssoned as aforesaid for each and every prisoner BY
them captured and brought into port, and delivered to