138 



CONFEDERATE STATES. 



these letters of marque were required to obey 

 the following instructions : 



1. The tenor of your commission, under the act of 

 Congress entitled " An act recognizing the existence 

 of war between the United States and the Confederate 

 States, and concerning letters of marque, prizes, and 



Erize goods," a copy_ of which is hereto annexed, will 

 e kept constantly in your view. The high seas re- 

 ferred to in your commission you will understand gen- 

 erally to refer to the low-water mark, but with the 

 exception of the space within one league, or three 

 miles, from the shore of countries at peace with the 

 United States and the Confederate States. You will 

 nevertheless execute your commission within that dis- 

 tance of the shore of the nation at war with the United 

 States, and even on the waters within the jurisdiction 

 of such nation, if permitted to do so. 



2. You are to pay the strictest regard to the rights 

 of neutral powers and the usages of civilized nations, 

 and in all your proceedings towards neutral vessels 

 you are to give them as little molestation or interrup- 

 tion as will consist with the right of ascertaining their 

 neutral character, and of detaining and bringing them 

 in for regular adjudication in the proper cases. You 

 are particularly to avoid even the appearance of using 

 force or seduction with the view to deprive such ves- 

 sels of their crews or the passengers, other than per- 

 sons in the military service of the enemy. 



3. Towards enemy's vessels and their crews you are 

 to proceed, in exercising the rights of war, with all 

 tbe justice and humanity which characterize this 

 Government and its citizens. 



4. The master, and one or more o the principal 

 persons belonging to the captured vessels, are to be 

 sent, as soon after the capture as may be, to the judge 

 or judges of the proper court in the Confederate 

 States, to be examined upon oath touching the interest 

 or property of the captured vessel and her lading, and 

 at the same time are to be delivered to the judge or 

 judges all papers, charter parties, bills of lading, let- 

 ters, and other documents and writings found on 

 board ; and the said papers to be proved by the 

 affidavit of the commander of the captured vessel, or 

 some other person present at the capture, to be pro- 

 duced as they were received, without fraud, addition, 

 subtraction, or embezzlement. 



5. Property, even of the enemy, is exempt from 

 seizure on neutral vessels, unless it be contraband of 

 war. If goods contraband of war are found on any 

 neutral vessel, and the commander thereof shall offer 

 to deliver them up, the offer shall be accepted, and the 

 vessel left at liberty to pursue its voyage, unless the 

 quantity of contraband goods shall be greater than 

 can be conveniently received on board your vessel, in 

 which case the neutral vessel may be carried into port, 

 for the delivery of the contraband goods. 



The following articles are declared by this Govern- 

 ment contraband of w.ar, as well as all others that are 

 so declared by the laws of nations, viz. : All arms and 

 implements serving for the purpose of war by land or 

 sea, such as cannons, mortars, guns, muskets, rifles, 

 pistols, petards, bombs, grenades, balls, shot, shell, 

 pikes, swords, bayonets, javelins, lances, horse fur- 

 niture, holsters, belts, and generally all other imple- 

 ments of war. Also, timber for ship-building, pitch, tar, 

 rosin, copper in sheets, sails, hemp, cordage, and gen- 

 erally whatever may serve directly to the equipment 

 of vessels, wrought iron and planks only excepted. 



Neutral vessels conveying enemies' despatches or 

 military persons in the service of the enemy forfeit 

 their neutral character, and are liable to capture and 

 condemnation. But this rule does not apply to neutral 

 vessels bearing despatches from the public ministers 

 or ambassadors of the enemy residing in neutral 

 countries. 



By the command of the President of the Confeder- 

 ate States. EGBERT TOOMBS, 



Secretary of State. 



The passage of the ordinance of secession by 



the State Convention of Virginia on the 18th 

 of April, was received throughout the Con- 

 federate States with unbounded joy. In all the 

 principal cities bells were rung, salutes of a 

 hundred guns were fired, and other exciting 

 demonstrations made. The war spirit now 

 stirred up was unparalleled. Men and money 

 were lavishly offered, and hundreds of battalions 

 and regiments of volunteers began to form, some 

 openly, and some secretly, to be prepared to 

 meet the North. 



The refusal of the Governors of Virginia, 

 North Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, and Ar- 

 kansas, to furnish the quota of troops required 

 under the proclamation of President Lincoln, af- 

 forded much gratification to the authorities and 

 people of the Confederate States. Virginia 

 and North Carolina were regarded as sure to 

 join tbe Confederate States with their whole 

 military strength. The course of Kentucky 

 was considered as somewhat doubtful, and an 

 early effort was therefore made to secure her 

 cooperation. For this purpose the Governor 

 was addressed by the Secretary of War as 

 follows : 



MONTGOMERY, April 22, 1861. 

 HON. B. MAGOFFIN: 



SIR : Your patriotic response to the requisition of the 

 President of the United States for troops to coerce the 

 Confederate States justifies the belief that your people 

 are prepared to unite with us in repelling the common 

 enemy of the South. Virginia needs our aid. I there- 

 fore request you to furnish one regiment of infantry, 

 without delay, to rendezvous at Harper's Ferry, Vir- 

 ginia. It must consist of ten companies of not less 

 than sixty-four men each. * * * * Staff officers 

 are appointed by the President. They will be muster- 

 ed into the service of the Confederate States at 

 Harper's Ferry, but transportation and subsistence 

 will be provided from the points of departure. They 

 will furnish their own uniforms. By communicating, 

 arms and ammunition will be sent to Harper's Ferry, 

 or to such points as you may designate. Answer and 

 say whether you will comply with this request, and 

 when. L. P. WALKER, 



Sec. of War of the Confederate States. 



The military force of the Confederate States 

 now in the field was 35,000 men. Of this 

 number there were at Charleston, Pensacola, 

 Forts Morgan, Jackson, St. Philip, and Pulaski 

 19,000 men. The remainder were on the route 

 to Virginia, to wit, 16,000. the Navy Depart- 

 ment had become organized, and coinmenced 

 by the purchase of the steamers Sumter and 

 McRea, which were fitted out at New Orleans. 

 At the same time contracts were made in that 

 city with two different establishments for the 

 casting of ordnance cannon, shot, and shell 

 with the view to encourage the manufacture 

 of these articles. 



The loan of five millions of dollars author- 

 ized by Congress had now not only all been 

 taken, but an excess of three millions had also 

 been subscribed. The entire subscription was, 

 however, accepted, amounting to eight millions 

 of dollars. 



The question now presented before the Con- 

 federate Government for their decision, related 

 to the course to be pursued in the war. Should 



