Year: 1861

secresy has been removed therefrom
ACT RECOGNIZING THE EXISTENCE OF WAR BETWEEN THE


UNITED STATES AND CONFEDERATE STATES, AND con-
CERNING LETTERS OF MARQUE, PRIZE GOODS.


Whereas, The efforts made by this Government
to establish ndy relations between the Government
the United and the Confederate States and to settle
all questions of disagreement between the Governments
upon principles of Justice equity and good faith have
proved unavaing by of the refusal
of the United States any with the
Commissioners appointed by this Government for the pur
poses aforesaid or to listen to any proposal thew had to
make for the peaceful solution of all difficulties be-
tween the two governments and rereGS, the President
OF the United States of America has issued his Proclamation
making requson upon the States the Union
for the purpose therein indicated for capturing
ing the Confederate States of Arerca detailed
naval armaments the the Confederate States
America and raised organized and equipped large mill
tary to the purpose aforesaid has issued his
other Prociamaon announcing his purpose to foot
blockade OF the ports of the Confederate and ue
the State Of Virginia has seeded from Federal Un
ION and entered into convention of alliance offensive and
defensive the Confederate States and has adopted the
Provisional Constitution of he said States and States of
Maryland North Carolina Tennessee Kentucky Arkansas
and Missouri have refused and it is believed that the
of Delaware and the Inhabitants the Territories of Ar
zona and New Mexico and the Indian Territory south of
the United States in these acts of hosities and wanon
aggression, which plainly intended overawe oppes
and finally subugate the people of the Coned rate States
and Uhereds by the acts and aforesaid
between the Confederate States and the Government
United States and the States and Territories thereof
cept the of Maryland North Carolina Tennessee
hebtncky Arkansas, Missouri and Delaware and the Ter
tory south of Kansas: Therefore,


SECTION l. The Congress OF the Confederate States of
Aeracd do enact That the President of the
Sta.es is hereby authorized use the whole land and
naval force of the Confederate States to the thus
commenced, and to issue to private armed vessels


MISSIONS or letters Of marque and reprisa
form as he shall think proper under the seal of the Con
ederae States against the vessels goods and effects
Government of the United States and the citizens or
inhabitants of the States and Territories thereof except
the States and Territories Eereinbefoe named Prouided
however that property of the enemy uness it be
band OF War) laden board neutral vessel shall be
subject to seizure under this Acts And proUded further
he fha
in the ports of the Confederate States except
such have been the 5h of April last, may
after be- in the service of the Government of the United
States shall be allowed thirty days after the publication of
this Act to leave said ports and reach their destinations and
such vessels and their cag0s excepting articles
of war shall not be subject to capture under this Act
during said period unless they shall have previously
the destination for which they bound leaving said
ports.


That the President of the Confederate States shall
be- and he hereby authorized and empowered
and annual at pleasure ali letters Of marque and reprsal
which he may at any time grant pursuant to this Act.


SEC. j. That all persons applying for letters of marque
reprisa pursuant this Act shall state in writing the
and suitable description of the tonnage force
the vessel and the and place of residence OF each
concerned therein and the intended number the
which statement snail be signed bv the person or persons
making such appcation and filed with the Secretary of
State shall be delivered to other Off person
who shall be employed deliver out commissions to be by
him transmitted to the Secretary of State.


SEC T. That before any commission or letters of marue
and reprisa shall be issued aforesaid the
of the ship vessel for which the shall be
quested aud the commander the cot for the time being,
sha give tond to the Confederate States with at least
responsb suretes interested such vessel the pc
nal sum of five thousand dollars if such vessel be pro-
yded with more than one bund ed and 6v men, then in the
penal Of Thousand dollars; with condition that the
owners, officers and who shall be employed board
such vessel shall and will observe the laws
of the Confederate States and the inst ucon which shall
be tn according law for the regulation of
conduct and will satisfy all damages and Injuries which
shall be done committed contrary the thereof
by such vessel during her commission and to deliver up
when revoked by the President of the Confederate
States


That all captures and prizes of vessels and pro-
perty shall be1Orfeed and shall to the Of
flee m CrpWS and
prizes shall be made and due condemnation had shall
be distributed according to any written agreement which
shall be made between them there be no such writ
agreement, then the
moety to the officers and as nearly as may be accor
dag the rules prescribed for the distribution
money, by the laws of the Confederate States.


SEC G. That all vessels goods and effects, the property
of any citizen of the Confederate Sates persons
iden within and under the protection of the Confederate
States or of persons within the territories and
the protection of any foreign prince government
State in amy with the Confederate States, which shai
have been captured by the United and which shall
be aEured by vessels commissioned aforesaid shall be
restored the lawful owners, upon payment by them of
agreement Of the by the of
any court having Jurisdiction according t. the nature Of


nd such salvage shall be distributed among owners
officers and of the vessels commissioned aforesaid
which shall be made between them and in of
such agreement then in the manner and upon the
principles herenbefore provided IN case of capture.


Sec. 7. That before breaking bulk of any vessel which
shall captured afOresai1 disposal


sion thereof or any articles which shall be found on board
the same such captured vessel goods Effects shall be
brought to port OF the Confederate States, or OF
nation State in amy with the Confederate States and
shall be proceeded against before competent tribunal
and condemnation and forfeiture the shall belong
same be distributed before provided and in the
of all captured vessels goods and effects which shall
be brought within the OF the Confederate states


the District Courts of the Confederate States shall have
exclusive original cognzance thereof civil Of
the courts being courts of Confederate States,
which such shall be removed and which they shall
he finally decided shall and NAV decree restituon in whole
Uhpnt he Autur
Just And if made without probable cause, may
and decree damages and costs to the party Injured
ing such captures and also the vessels shall be liable


SEC That all persons found board any captured
sels board any recapured vessel shall be reported
the oector OF the port the onfederate States IN
which they shall first arrive, and shall be delivered into the


sry officer the Confede ate States of State
near port who shall take charge of their safe keeping


SEC s. That the President Of the Confederate states
hereby authorized establish order of suitable nsruc


the YES els commissioned, their officers and VS. copies
of which shall be delivered by the collector of the CUSTOMS


commanders when they shall give bond as before
vided


SEC. TO- That bounty shall be paid by the Confederate
States Of $40 for each board armed ship
vessel belonging the United states commence
ment of engagement which shall be burnt sunk de-
sroyed by vessel commissioned aforesaid which shall
be of equal inferior force the to be divided
other of prize moneyand bounty of s25 shall be
paid the officers and crews of the private armed
commissioned aforesaid for each AMI prs
them captured and brought into port and delivered
to authorized to receive the any port of the
Confederate States and the Secreery hereby authorized
to pay or be paid the owners officers and
of private armed vessels commissioned aforesaid
or their agent, the bountes herein provided.


SEC H. That the Commanding Officer of every vessel
having commission letters of marqua and reprisa du-
ring The pres hoses between the Confederate States
and United State, shall keep regular journal,
tanning and exact OF his daily proceedings
and with such vessel and the thereof the
ports places be shall put into cast anchor in the


time Of his there and the thereof the prizes he
shall take the and probable value therec
hat
dispose of the same the ships vesse he shall fall
in with the times and places, when and where Ee shall
meet them and his observations and remarks thereon
Also of whatever else shall to him. of has o
Icers or marines, discovered by examination