Library of Congress Subject Headings, 21st edition, 1998

LC Subject Headings:

• Confederate States of America -- Politics and government.
• Law -- Confederate States of America.
• Legislation -- Confederate States of America.

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ACTS AND RESOLUTIONS
OF THE
SECOND SESSION
OF THE
PROVISIONAL CONGRESS
OF THE
CONFEDERATE STATES,
HELD AT MONTGOMERY, ALA.

RICHMOND:
ENQUIRER BOOK AND JOB PRESS.
BY TYLER, WISE, ALLEGRE & SMITH.
1861.

ACTS AND RESOLUTIONS.

No. 102.] AN ACT

To provide for the appointment of Chaplains in the Army.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That there shall be appointed by the President such number of chaplains, to serve with the armies of the Confederate States during the existing war, as he may deem expedient; and the President shall assign them to such regiments, brigades or posts as he may deem necessary; and the appointments made as aforesaid shall expire whenever the existing war shall terminate.

        SEC. 2. The monthly pay of said chaplains shall be eighty-five dollars; and said pay shall be in full of all allowances whatever.

        APPROVED May 3, 1861.

No. 103.] A RESOLUTION

Of thanks to Brigadier General G. T. Beauregard and the Army under his command, for their conduct in the affair of Fort Sumter.

        Be it unanimously resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That the thanks of the people of the Confederate States are due, and through this Congress are hereby tendered, to Brigadier General G. T. Beauregard and the officers, military and naval, under his command, and to the gallant troops of the State of South Carolina, for the skill, fortitude and courage by which they reduced and caused the surrender

of fort Sumter, in the harbor of Charleston, on the twelfth and thirteenth days of April, 1861. And the commendation of Congress is also hereby declared of the generosity manifested by their conduct towards a brave and vanquished foe.

        Be it further resolved, That a copy of this resolution be communicated by the President to General Beauregard, and through him to the army then under his command.

        APPROVED May 4, 1861.

No. 104.] A RESOLUTION

To extend the provisions of a Resolution approved March 4, 1861.

        Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That the resolution passed by this Congress and approved March the fourth, 1861, in relation to patents and caveats, be extended to citizens of all the slaveholding States.

        APPROVED May 4, 1861.

No. 105.] AN ACT

Providing for a Regiment of Zouaves in the Army of the Confederate States.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That there shall be added to the military establishment of the Confederate States one regiment of Zouaves, to be composed of one colonel, one lieutenant-colonel, one major, and ten companies; and each company shall consist of one captain, one first lieutenant, two second lieutenants, one sergeant major, one quartermaster's sergeant, four sergeants and eight corporals, and ninety privates. And to the regiment there shall be attached one adjutant and a quartermaster, to be selected from the lieutenants. And one assistant surgeon shall be appointed for the regiment, in addition to those already authorized by law for the medical department. The monthly pay of the officers of the regiment of Zouaves shall be the same as that of officers of infantry of the same rank; the allowances shall also be the same as those provided by law for officers of infantry; and the

adjutant and quartermaster shall receive ten dollars per month in addition to their pay as lieutenants. The monthly pay of the enlisted men of said regiment of Zouaves shall be as follows: sergeant major and quartermaster's sergeants, twenty dollars; sergeants, seventeen dollars; corporals, thirteen dollars; and privates, eleven dollars each; together with the same rations and allowance for clothing as are received by all other enlisted men.

        APPROVED May 4, 1861.

No. 108.] AN ACT

To admit the Commonwealth of Virginia as a member of the Confederate States of America.

        The Commonwealth of Virginia having in a Convention of her People ratified and adopted the Constitution of the Provisional Government of the Confederate States of America, therefore

        The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the Commonwealth of Virginia be and is hereby admitted as a member of the said Confederate States, upon an equal footing with the other Confederate States, under the Constitution for the Provisional Government of the same.

        APPROVED May 7, 1861.

No. 109.] AN ACT

To raise an additional Military Force to serve during the War.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That in addition to the volunteer force authorized to be raised under existing laws, the President be and he is hereby authorized to accept the services of volunteers who may offer their services, without regard to the place of enlistment, either as cavalry, mounted riflemen, artillery, or infantry, in such proportion of these several arms as he may deem expedient, to serve for and during the existing war, unless sooner discharged.

        SEC. 2. That the volunteers so offering their services may be accepted by the President in companies, to be organized

by him into squadrons, battalions or regiments. The President shall appoint all field and staff officers, but the company officers shall be elected by the men composing the company; and if accepted, the officers so elected shall be commissioned by the President.

        SEC. 3. That any vacancies occurring in the ranks of the several companies mustered into service under the provisions of this act, may be filled by volunteers accepted under the rules of such companies; and any vacancies occurring in the officers of such companies shall be filled by elections in accordance with the same rules.

        SEC. 4. Except as herein differently provided, the volunteer forces hereby authorized to be raised shall in all regards be subject to and organized in accordance with the provisions of "An act to provide for the public defence," and all other acts for the government of the armies of the Confederate States.

        APPROVED May 8, 1861.

No. 110.] AN ACT

To make further provision for the Public Defence.

        WHEREAS, War exists between the United States and the Confederate States; and whereas the public welfare may require the reception of volunteer forces into the service of the Confederate States, without the formality delay of a call upon the respective States:

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the President be authorized to receive into service such companies, battalions or regiments, either mounted or on foot, as may tender themselves, and he may require, without the delay of a formal call upon the respective States, to serve for such time as he may prescribe.

        SEC. 2. Such volunteer forces who may be accepted under this act, except as herein differently provided, shall be organized in accordance with and subject to all the provisions of the act entitled "An act to provide for the public defence," and be entitled to all the allowances provided therein; and when mustered into service, may be attached to such divisions, brigades or regiments as the President may direct, or ordered upon such independent or detached service as the President may deem expedient: provided, however, that

battalions and regiments may be enlisted from States not of the Confederacy, and the President may appoint all or any of the field officers thereof.

        SEC. 3. The President shall be authorized to commission all officers entitled to commissions, of such volunteer forces as may be received under the provisions of this act. And upon the request of the officer commanding such volunteer regiment, battalion or company, the President may attach a supernumerary officer to each company, detailed from the regular army for that purpose, and for such time as the President may direct.

        APPROVED May 11, 1861.

No. 111.] AN ACT

To amend "An Act vesting certain powers in the Postmaster General," approved March 15, 1861.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the provisions of "An Act vesting certain powers in the Postmaster General," approved March 15, 1861, be so amended as that he be and hereby is authorized on and after a day to be named by him in a proclamation to be issued by him for that purpose, to take the entire charge and direction of the postal service of the Confederate States.

        SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the Postmaster General be and he hereby is authorized and empowered to annul contracts, or to discontinue or curtail the service and pay on them, when he shall deem it advisable to dispense with the service, in whole or in part, or to place a higher or different grade of service on the route, or when the public interests shall require such discontinuance or curtailment for any other cause, he allowing one month's extra pay on the amount of service dispensed with, in full of all damages to the contractor.

        SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the railroads in the Confederate States be and they are hereby divided into three classes, on the following basis, viz: The great through lines connecting important points and conveying heavy mails, to class number one; completed railroads connecting less important points, but carrying heavy mails for local distribution, to be class number two; and roads on which less important mails are conveyed, short branch roads, and such

unfinished roads as do not carry great mails or connect important points, shall be class number three.

        SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That in contracts made with railroad companies for carrying the mail once a day, on schedules to be agreed on, the Postmaster General may allow them compensation not exceeding the following rates, viz : On first class roads, one hundred and fifty dollars per mile; on second class roads, one hundred dollars per mile; and on third class roads, fifty dollars per mile; the amount of compensation to be determined by the importance and value of the services to be performed: Provided, That if one-half of the services on any railroad is required to be performed in the night time, it shall be lawful for the Postmaster General to pay twenty-five per cent. in addition to the above named maximum rates of pay: Provided, further, That the agents, messengers, and other traveling employees of the post-office department shall pass free of charge over such roads, respectively; and this act shall take effect and be of force from and after its passage.

        APPROVED May 9, 1861.

No. 113.] AN ACT

Relative to Telegraph Lines of the Confederate States.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That during the existing war, the President be and he is hereby authorized and empowered to take such control of such of the lines of telegraph in the Confederate States, and of such of the offices connected therewith, as will enable him effectually to supervise the communications passing through the same, to the end that no communications shall be conveyed of the military operations of the Government to endanger the success of such operations, nor any communication calculated to injure the cause of the Confederate States, or to give aid and comfort to their enemies.

        SEC. 2. The President shall appoint trustworthy agents in such offices, and at such points on the various lines as he may think fit, whose duty it shall be to supervise all communications sent or passing through said lines, and to prevent the transmission of any communication deemed to be detrimental to the public service.

        SEC. 3. In case the owners and managers of said lines shall refuse to permit such supervision, or shall fail or refuse to keep up and continue the business on said lines, the President is hereby empowered to take possession of the same for the purposes aforesaid.

        SEC. 4. The President shall from time to time issue instructions to the agents so appointed, and to the operators of the various lines, to regulate the transmission of communications touching the operations of the Government, or calculated to affect the public welfare.

        SEC. 5. That the President, at his discretion, may employ the operators of the lines as the agents of the Government, so that in this as in all other respects there may be as little interference with the business and management of such lines as may be compatible with the public interest.

        SEC. 6. That the compensation of the agents appointed under this act, where such agents are not officers of the company, and the expense attending the execution of the provisions of this act, shall be paid out of the Treasury.

        SEC. 7. That no communications in cypher, nor enigmatical, or other doubtful communication, shall be transmitted, unless the person sending the same shall be known to the agent of the Government to be trustworthy, nor until the real purport of such communication shall be explained to such agent.

        SEC. 8. That the President is hereby authorized , whenever it may be found necessary or advisable for the successful prosecution of the war, to extend existing lines of telegraph, or make connections between the same, the expense of contracting such additional lines to be paid out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.

        SEC. 9. That all present and future officers of the telegraph lines engaged in receiving and transmitting intelligence within the Confederate States shall, as soon as practicable after the passage of this act or after their appointment, take and subscribe before any judicial officer of any one of the Confederate States, the following oath: "I, A. B., do solemnly swear that I will support and maintain the Constitution of the Confederate States of America, and will not, knowingly, directly or indirectly, transmit through the telegraph any communication or information calculated to injure the cause of the Confederate States, or to give aid or comfort to their enemies."

        SEC. 10. That if any person shall knowingly send or transmit any message or communication touching the military operations of the Government, without the same being first submitted to the inspection of the agent of the Government, or any message calculated to aid and promote the cause of the enemies of the Confederate States, he shall be subject to indictment in the district court of the Confederate States, and on conviction shall be fined in a sum not less than five hundred dollars, and imprisoned for a term not less than one year.

        APPROVED May 11, 1861.

No. 114.] A RESOLUTION

In regard to the military expenditures made by the State of South Carolina.

        Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That the expenditures made by the State of South Carolina for the pay and maintainance of the troops employed in the defence of the Charleston harbor, under the command of Brigadier General Beauregard, were intended to be provided for by an act making appropriations for the support of three thousand men, for twelve months, to be called into service at Charleston, South Carolina, under the third and fourth sections of an act of the Congress, to raise provisional forces for the Confederate States of America, and for other purposes; and that the amount of such expenditures be audited by the proper officer of the Treasury Department, and that the amount which shall be found due, be paid to the State of South Carolina, from the appropriation made by the Act aforesaid.

        APPROVED May 10, 1861.

No. 115.] AN ACT

To amend "An Act to Provide for the Public Defence," approved March 6, 1861.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America enact, That the President may receive into the service of the Confederate States any company of light artillery, which by said act he is authorized to do, with such complement

of officers and men, and with such equipments as to him shall seem proper; anything in said act of the 6th of March, 1861, to the contrary, notwithstanding.

        APPROVED May 10, 1861.

No. 118.] AN ACT

To amend an act entitled "An Act to fix the pay of members of the Congress of the Confederate States of America," approved March 11, 1861.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the above entitled act, approved March 11, 1861, be so amended and construed as to provide, that in computing the mileage to which members are entitled, the distance shall be estimated by the usual route of travel from the residence of the member to the place where Congress may assemble.

        SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That this act shall take effect and be of force from its passage.

        Approved May 11, 1861.

No. 119.] AN ACT

In relation to the Confederate Loan.

        WHEREAS, Under and by virtue of the act to raise money for the support of the government, and to provide for the defence of the Confederate States of America, approved February 28, 1861, the Secretary of the Treasury did proceed to offer five millions of said loan, conformably to the provisions of said act: And whereas, in many portions of the Confederate States the currency was and is composed of notes of banks which have suspended specie payment, not of necessity, but as a measure of public policy: And whereas, certain of said banks did agree to redeem in coin or its equivalent such of their notes as should be paid in by subscribers to said loan: And whereas, the Secretary of the Treasury, in view of the exigencies of the times, and with a desire to give to the people of all parts of the Confederate States the opportunity of subscribing to said loan, did

authorize the loan commissioners to receive the notes of the banks hereinbefore referred to; and to avoid inconvenience and the risk of transit, has authorized the said loan commissioners to deposit the moneys received by them in said banks: Now, therefore,

        The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That all of the acts and doings of the Secretary of the Treasury, of his subordinate officers, and of the loan commissioners, consistent with the facts recited in the foregoing preamble, are hereby confirmed and made valid, any law, usage or custom to the contrary, notwithstanding: and the said Secretary, his subordinate officers, and the loan commissioners, are hereby authorized to continue so to act in regard to the said loan, until the whole amount authorized by said act shall have been fully subscribed for, and their duties regarding the same shall have determined: and the said Secretary is authorized to make and continue the deposits of moneys received or to be received on account of the said loan in any of the said banks; and the Treasurer of the Confederate States is authorized to draw checks or warrants on said banks on account of said deposits, payable eiher in coin or its equivalent, or in current bank notes, as the Secretary of the Treasury may direct.

        APPROVED May 11, 1861.

No. 120.] AN ACT

To amend an Act entitled "An Act further to provide for the organization of the Post-Office Department," approved March 9, 1861.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That from and after the passage of this act, the annual salary of the chief of the contract bureau, the chief of the appointment bureau, and the chief of the finance bureau, shall be three thousand dollars; and that hereafter, as the office of either of them shall be vacated, the appointment of his successor shall be made by the President of the Confederate States, by and with the advice and consent of the Congress; and the clerks, draftsmen and other employees of the department shall be appointed by the consent of General.

        SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That in case of the death, resignation, absence or removal from office of the

Postmaster General, all his powers and duties shall devolve on and be performed by the chief of the contract bureau, until a successor shall be appointed and arrive at the general post-office to perform the business, or until the return of the Postmaster General: Provided, however, The said chief of the contract bureau shall make no permanent appointment of clerks.

        SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That there shall be allowed to each of the bureaus of the department, and also to the inspection office, a principal clerk, at an annual salary of fourteen hundred dollars each. And the Postmaster General is hereby authorized to employ ten additional clerks, at an annual salary of twelve hundred dollars each; also four clerks, at an annual salary of one thousand dollars each; also one watchman, at an annual salary of five hundred dollars.

        SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the clerk charged with the disbursement of the contingent and salary funds of the department be allowed an additional compensation of two hundred dollars per annum; and that this act take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

        APPROVED May 11, 1861.

No. 121.] AN ACT

To amend "An Act to prescribe the Rates of Postage in the Confederate States of America, and for other purposes," approved February 23, 1861.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That so much of the first section of an act entitled "An act to prescribe the rates of postage in the Confederate States of America, and for other purposes," approved February 23, 1861, as relates to sealed packages containing other than printed or written matter, including money packages, be and the same is hereby so amended as to require that such packages shall be rated by weight, and charged the rates of letter postage.

        SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the second section of said act be amended as follows, to-wit: That all newspapers published within the Confederate States, not exceeding three ounces in weight, and sent from the office of publication to actual and bona fide subscribers within the Confederate

States, shall be charged with postage as follows, to-wit: The postage on the regular numbers of a newspaper published weekly shall be ten cents per quarter; papers published semi-weekly, double that amount; papers published thrice a week, treble that amount; papers published six times a week, six times that amount; and papers published daily, seven times that amount. And on newspapers weighing more than three ounces there shall be charged on each additional ounce, in addition to the foregoing rates, on those published once a week, five cents per ounce or fraction of an ounce per quarter; on those published twice a week, ten cents per ounce per quarter; on those published three times a week, fifteen cents per ounce per quarter; on those published six times a week, thirty cents per ounce per quarter; and on those published daily, thirty-five cents per ounce per quarter. And periodicals published oftener than bi-monthly shall be charged as newspapers. And other periodicals, sent from the office of publication to actual and bona fide subscribers, shall be charged with postage as follows, to-wit: The postage on the regular numbers of a periodical published within the Confederate States, not exceeding one and a half ounces in weight, and published monthly, shall be two and a half cents per quarter, and for every additional ounce or fraction of an ounce two and a half cents additional; if published semi-monthly, double that amount; and periodicals published quarterly or bi-monthly shall be charged two cents an ounce; and regular subscribers to newspapers and periodicals shall be required to pay one quarter's postage thereon, in advance, at the office of delivery, unless paid at the office where published. And there shall be charged upon every other newspaper, and each circular not sealed, hand-bill, engraving, pamphlet, periodical and magazine, which shall be unconnected with any manuscript or written matter, and not exceeding three ounces in weight, and published within the Confederate States, two cents; and for each additional ounce or fraction of an ounce two cents additional; and in all cases the postage shall be pre-paid by stamps, or otherwise, as the Postmaster General shall direct. And books, bound or unbound, not weighing over four pounds, shall be deemed mailable matter, and shall be charged with postage, to be pre-paid by stamps or otherwise, as the Postmaster General shall direct, at two cents an ounce for any distance. And upon all newspapers, periodicals and books, as aforesaid, published beyond the limits of the Confederate States, there shall be charged postage at double the foregoing specified rates. The publishers of newspapers or

periodicals within the Confederate States may send and receive to and from each other, from their respective offices of publication, one copy of each publication free of postage. All newspapers unsealed circulars, or other unsealed printed transient matter, placed in any post-office not for transmission but for delivery only, shall be charged postage at the rate of one cent each.

        SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the third section of the above recited act be and the same is hereby so amended as to authorize the Postmaster General to provide and furnish ten cent stamps and stamped envelopes; and that the provisions, restrictions and penalties prescribed by said section of said act for violations of the same in relation to two, five, and twenty cent stamps and stamped envelopes, shall, in all respects, apply to the denomination of stamps and stamped envelopes herein provided for.

        SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the proviso contained in the fifth section of the said act be so amended as to extend to the chiefs of the contract, appointment and finance bureaus of the Post-Office Department the privilege therein conferred upon the Postmaster General, his chief clerk, and the auditor of the treasury for the Post-Office Department, of transmitting through the mails, free of postage, any letters, packages, or other matters relating exclusively to their official duties or to the business of the Post-Office Department, subject to the restrictions and penalties prescribed by the said proviso; and that this act take effect and be of force from and after its passage.

        APPROVED May 13, 1861.

No. 122.] AN ACT

To suspend the operations of the Mints.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That from and after the first day of June ensuing, the operations of the several mints in the Confederate States be suspended; and that all officers therein shall cease to exercise their functions or to receive any salaries; and that all moneys and bullion in the hands of any officer shall forthwith be transferred to the Treasurer of the Confederate States.

        SEC. 2. That the mint at New Orleans, with the tools, implements and all appurtenances, be placed by the superintendent in charge of some fit person, to be approved by the Secretary of the Treasury; and that the said Secretary be authorized to accept the superintendent as such custodian, and to allow him, or such other person as may be appointed, the use and occupation of the portion heretofore used as a dwelling, in consideration of his undertaking the charge and safe-keeping of the whole establishment.

        SEC. 3. That the Secretary of the Treasury, until otherwise directed by law, be authorized to take the same course in relation to the mint and public property connected with it at Dahlonega.

        APPROVED May 14, 1861.

No. 123.] AN ACT

To organize further the Bureau of Superintendent of Public Printing.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the salary of the Superintendent of Public Printing shall be three thousand dollars, payable as other salaries of heads of bureaus in the several departments.

        SEC. 2. The Superintendent of Public Printing shall be entitled to a messenger, who shall receive a salary of three hundred dollars per annum.

        SEC. 3. The publication of the laws and journals of Congress shall be exclusively under the direction of the Superintendent of Public Printing, subject to the supervision and control of the Attorney-General. And the Superintendent may contract with publishers of newspapers as to the terms of publication of the laws and journals, not exceeding in compensation the rates usually paid by other advertisers for similar work.

        SEC. 4. The Superintendent shall have authority to contract, by advertising for sealed proposals, for all paper necessary to do all the printing ordered by Congress or either one of the executive departments. In all cases the contractor shall furnish the paper at such times and in such quantities as the Superintendent shall require, and shall give

bond, with two good sureties, for the faithful performance of the contract.

        SEC. 5. All orders for printing by Congress or any of the executive departments shall be sent to the Superintendent of Public Printing, to be by him delivered to the printer or contractor: and the printing, when completed, shall be returned to the Superintendent, to be received or rejected, and by him delivered according to the order.

        SEC. 6. All laws and parts of laws militating against this act be and the same are hereby repealed.

        APPROVED May 14, 1861.

No. 124.] AN ACT

To authorize the transfer of Appropriations.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That during the recess of Congress the President of the Confederate States may and he is hereby authorized--on the application of the secretary of the proper department, and not otherwise--to direct, if in his opinion necessary for the public service, that a portion of the moneys appropriated for a particular branch of expenditure in that department be applied to another branch of expenditure in the same department; in which case a special account of moneys thus transferred shall be laid before Congress during the first week of the next ensuing session.

        SEC. 2. This act shall continue and be of force until the end of the existing war, and no longer.

        APPROVED May 14, 1861.

No. 125.] AN ACT

To define the Limits of the Port of New Orleans, and for other purposes.

        The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the port of New Orleans, in the State of Louisiana, shall embrace and include all the waters, inlets and shores on both sides of the river Mississippi, within the whole parish of Orleans, that part of the parish of Jefferson on the

right bank of the said river to the upper line of the Destrehans canal, and that portion of the said parish of Jefferson on the left bank of the Mississippi river to the upper limits of the town or faubourg of Hurtsville. That the ports of delivery known as bayou St. John's, Lake Port, and Port Pontchartrain, and the customs officers authorized therefor, be and the same are hereby abolished and discontinued, and all the waters, inlets and shores embraced within the limits of said ports be added to and included in the port of New Orleans.

        APPROVED May 14, 1861.

No. 126.] AN ACT

Regulating the sale of Prizes, and the distribution thereof.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That all prizes of vessels and property captured by private armed ships, in pursuance of the act passed by Congress recognizing the existence of war between the United States and the Confederate States, and concerning letters of marque, prizes and prize goods, which may be condemned in any court of the Confederate States, shall be sold at public auction by the marshal of the district in which the same shall be condemned, within sixty days after the condemnation thereof--sufficient notice of the time and place and condition of sale being first give-- on such day or days, on such terms of credit, and in such lots or proportions as may be designated by the owner or owners, or agent of the owner or owners, of the privateer which may have captured the same: Provided, That the term of such credit shall not exceed ninety days. And the said marshal is hereby directed to take and receive from the purchaser or purchasers of such prize vessel and property, the money therefor, or his, her or their promissory notes, with endorsers, to be approved by the owner or owners of the privateer, to the amount of the purchase, payable according to the terms thereof.

        SEC. 2. That upon all duties, costs and charges being paid according to law, the said marshal shall, on demand, deliver and pay over to the owner or owners of the privateer, or to the agent of such owner or owners of the privateer which may have captured such prize vessel and property,

just and equal proportion of the funds received on account of the sale thereof, and of the promissory notes directed to be taken as aforesaid, to which the said owner or owners may be entitled, according to the articles of agreement between the said owner or owners and the officers and crew of the said privateer; and a just and equal proportion of the proceeds of the sale as aforesaid, shall, on demand, be also paid over by the said marshal to the officers and crew of the said privateer, or to their agent or agents. And if there be no written agreement, it shall be the duty of the marshal to pay over, in manner as aforesaid, one moiety of the proceeds of the sale of such prize vessel and property to the owner or owners of the privateer which may have captured the same, and the other moiety of the said proceeds to the agent or agents of the officers and crew of the said privateer, to be distributed according to law, or to any agreement by them made: Provided, The said officers and crew, or their agent or agents, shall have first refunded to the owner or owners, or to the agent of the owner or owners of the privateer aforesaid, the full amount of advances which shall have been made by the owner or owners of the privateer to the officers and crew thereof.

        SEC. 3. That for the selling prize property and receiving and paying over the proceeds as aforesaid, the marshal shall be entitled to a commission of one per cent. and no more, first deducting all duties, costs and charges which may have accrued on said property: Provided, That on no case of condemnation and sale of any one prize vessel and cargo shall the commissions of the marshal exceed two hundred and fifty dollars.

        SEC. 4. That it shall be the duty of the marshal, within fifteen days after any sale of prize property, to file in the office of the clerk of the district court of the district wherein such sale may be made, a just and true account of the sales of such prize property, and of all duties and charges thereon, together with a statement thereto annexed of the promissory notes taken on account thereof, which account shall be verified by the oath of the said marshal; and if the said marshal shall wilfully neglect or refuse to file such account, he shall forfeit and pay the sum of five hundred dollars for each omission or refusal as aforesaid, to be recovered in an action of debt by any person interested in such sale, and suing for the said penalty, on account of the party or parties interested in the prize vessel or property sold as aforesaid, in any court having cognizance thereof.

        SEC. 5. That the owner or owners of any private armed

vessel or vessels, or their agent or agents, may, at any time before a libel shall be filed against any captured vessel or her cargo, remove the same from any port into which such prize vessel or property may be first brought, to any other port in the Confederate States, to be designated at the time of the removal as aforesaid, subject to the same restrictions and complying with the same regulations with respect to the payment of duties which are provided by law in relation to the other vessels arriving in port with cargoes subject to the payment of duties: Provided, That before such removal the said captured property shall not have been attached at the suit of any adverse claimant, or a claim against the same have been interposed in behalf of the Confederate States.

        APPROVED May 14, 1861.

No. 128.] AN ACT

To provide for Auditing the Accounts of the Post-Office Department.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That it shall be the duty of the First Auditor of the Treasury to receive all accounts arising in the Post-Office Department or relative thereto; to audit and settle the same and certify their balances to the Postmaster General: Provided, That if either the Postmaster General, or any person whose account shall be settled, be dissatisfied therewith, he may within twelve months appeal to the Comptroller of the Treasury, whose decision shall be final and conclusive. The said Auditor shall report to the Postmaster General, when required, the official forms of papers to be used by postmasters and other officers and agents of the department concerned in its receipts and payments, and the manner and form of keeping and stating its accounts. He shall keep and preserve all accounts, with the vouchers, after settlement. He shall promptly report to the Postmaster General all delinquencies of postmasters in paying over the proceeds of their offices. He shall close the accounts of the Department quarterly, and transmit to the Secretary

of the Treasury quarterly statements of its receipts and expenditures. He shall register, charge and countersign all warrants upon the treasury for receipts and payments issued by the Postmaster General, when warranted by law. He shall perform such other duties in relation to the financial concerns of the department as shall be assigned to him by the Secretary of the Treasury or the Postmaster General and shall make to them, respectively, such reports as either of them may require respecting the same. He shall state and certify quarterly to the Postmaster General accounts of the moneys paid pursuant to appropriations, in each year, by postmasters, out of the proceeds of their offices, towards the expenses of the department, under each of the heads of the said expenses specified in the appropriations; upon which the Postmaster General shall issue warrants to the Treasurer of the Confederate States, in order that the same may be carried to the credit and debit of the appropriation for the service of the Post-Office Department, on the books of the Auditor of the Treasury. He shall superintend the collection of all debts due to the department, and all penalties and forfeitures imposed on postmasters for failing to make returns, or to pay over the proceeds of their offices, and he shall direct suits and legal proceedings, and take all such measures as may be authorized by law to enforce the prompt payment of moneys due to the department.

        SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the said Auditor shall have charge of all lands and other property which shall be assigned, set off or conveyed to the Confederate States in payment of debts, and of all trusts created for the use of the Confederate States in payment of debts due them on account of the Post-Office Department; and to sell and dispose of lands or other property assigned or set off to the Confederate States in payment of debts, or being vested in them by mortgage or other security for the payment of debts due to the said department, under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Postmaster General.

        SEC. 3. The Secretary of the Treasury shall appoint a chief Clerk to aid the First Auditor of the Treasury in auditing the accounts of the Post-Office Department, who shall receive a salary of two thousand dollars per annum; and shall appoint fifteen additional clerks, with salaries of twelve hundred dollars each, and fourteen other clerks, with salaries of one thousand dollars each, to aid the First Auditor of the Treasury in auditing the accounts of the Post-Office Department. And he shall appoint one messenger for

the Treasury Department, who shall be allowed a salary of five hundred dollars per annum.

        SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, That the said Auditor of the Treasury shall be allowed to send through the mail all communications, relating exclusively to the Post-Office business, free of charge, under the same rules, regulations and restrictions, and subject to the same penalties as are now prescribed with respect to transmission free of charge by the heads of bureaus of the Post-Office Department. And this act shall go into effect from and after its passage.

        APPROVED May 16, 1861.

No. 106.] AN ACT

Recognizing the existence of War between the United States and the Confederate States; and concerning Letters of Marque, Prizes and Prize Goods.

        WHEREAS, The earnest efforts made by this Government to establish friendly relations between the Government of the United States and the Confederate States, and to settle all questions of disagreement between the two Governments upon principles of right, justice, equity and good faith, have proved unavailing by reason of the refusal of the Government of the United States to hold any intercourse with the commissioners appointed by this Government for the purposes aforesaid, or to listen to any proposals they had to make for the peaceful solution of all causes of difficulty between the two Governments: and whereas the President of the United States of America has issued his proclamation making requisition upon the States of the American Union for seventy-five thousand men for the purpose, as therein indicated, of capturing forts and other strongholds within the jurisdiction of and belonging to the Confederate States of America, and has detailed naval armaments upon the coasts of the Confederate States of America, and raised, organized and equipped a large military force to execute the purpose aforesaid, and has issued his other proclamation announcing his purpose to set on foot a blockade of the ports of the Confederate States: and whereas, the State of Virginia has seceded from the Federal Union and

entered into a convention of alliance offensive and defensive with the Confederate States, and has adopted the Provisional Constitution of the said States, and the States of Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas and Missouri, have refused, and it is believed that the State of Delaware and the inhabitants of the territories of Arizona and New Mexico, and the Indian territory South of Kansas, will refuse to co-operate with the Government of the United States in these acts of hostilities and wanton aggression, which are plainly intended to overawe, oppress and finally subjugate the people of the Confederate States: and whereas, by the acts and means aforesaid, war exists between the Confederate States and the Government of the United States, and the States and territories thereof, except the States of Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri and Delaware, and the territories of Arizona and New Mexico, and the Indian territory South of Kansas: Therefore,

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the President of the Confederate States is hereby authorized to use the whole land and naval force of the Confederate States to meet the war thus commenced, and to issue to private armed vessels commissions, or letters of marque and general reprisal, in such form as he shall think proper, under the seal of the Confederate States, against the vessels, goods and effects of the government of the United States, and of the citizens or inhabitants of the states and territories thereof: Provided, however, That property of the enemy (unless it be contraband of war) laden on board a neutral vessel, shall not be subject to seizure under this act: And provided further, That vessels of the citizens or inhabitants of the United States now in the ports of the Confederate States, except such as have been since the 5th of April last, or may hereafter 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 destination; and such vessels and their cargoes, excepting articles contraband of war, shall not be subject to capture under this act during said period, unless they shall have previously reached the destination for which they were bound on leaving said ports.

        SEC. 2. That the President of the Confederate States shall be and he is hereby authorized and empowered to revoke and annul, at pleasure, all letters of marque and reprisal which he may at any time grant pursuant to this act.

        SEC. 3. That all persons applying for letters of marque and reprisal, pursuant to this act, shall state in writing the name and a suitable description of the tonnage 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 him transmitted to the Secretary of State.

        SEC. 4. That before any commission or letters of marque and reprisal shall be issued as aforesaid, the owner or owners of the ship or vessel for which the same shall be requested, and the commander thereof for the time being, shall give bond to the Confederate States, with at least two responsible sureties not interested in such vessel, in the penal sum of five thousand dollars, or if such vessel be provided with more than one hundred and fifty men, then in the penal sum of ten thousand dollars, with condition that the owners, officers and crew who shall be employed on board such commissioned vessel, 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 same when revoked by the President of the Confederate States.

        SEC. 5. That all captures and prizes of vessels and property shall be forfeited and shall accrue to the owners, officers and crews of the vessels by whom such captures and prizes shall be made, and on due condemnation had shall be distributed according to any written agreement which shall be made between them; and if there be no such written agreement, then one moiety to the owners and the other moiety to the officers and crew, as nearly as may be according to the rules prescribed for the distribution of prize money by the laws of the Confederate States.

        SEC. 6. That all vessels, goods and effects, the property of any citizen of the Confederate States, or of 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 amity with the Confederate States, which shall have been captured by the United States, and which shall be recaptured by vessels commissioned as aforesaid, shall be restored to the lawful owners, upon payment by them of a

just and reasonable salvage, to be determined by the mutual agreement of the parties concerned, or by the decree of any court having jurisdiction, according to the nature of each case, agreeably to the provisions established by law. And such salvage shall be distributed among the owners, officers and crews of the vessels commissioned as 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 manner and upon the principles hereinbefore provided in cases of capture.

        SEC. 7. That before breaking bulk of any vessel which shall be captured as aforesaid, or 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 some port of the Confederate States, or of a nation or state in amity with the Confederate States, and shall be proceeded against before a competent tribunal; and after condemnation and forfeiture thereof shall belong to the owners, officers 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 brought within the jurisdiction of the Confederate States, the district courts of the Confederate States shall have exclusive original cognizance thereof, as the civil causes of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; and the said courts, or the courts, being courts of the Confederate States, into which such cases shall be removed, 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 to the party injured, for which the owners and commanders of the vessels making such captures, and also the vessels, shall be liable.

        SEC. 8. That all persons found on board any captured vessels, or on board any re-captured vessel, shall be reported to the collector of the port in the Confederate States in which they shall first arrive, and shall be delivered into the custody of the marshal of the district, or some court or military officer of the Confederate States, or of any state in or near such port who shall take charge of their safe keeping and support, at the expense of the Confederate States.

        SEC. 9. That the President of the Confederate States is hereby authorized to establish and order suitable instructions for the better governing and directing the conduct of the vessels so commissioned, their officers and crews, copies of which shall be delivered by the collector of the customs

to the commanders, when they shall give bond as provided.

        SEC. 10. That a bounty shall be paid by the Confederate States of $20 for each person on board any armed ship or vessel belonging to 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 or inferior force, the same to be divided as in other cases of prize money; and a bounty of $25 shall be paid to the owners, officers and crews of the private armed vessels commissioned as aforesaid, for each and every prisoner by them captured and brought into port, and delivered to an agent authorized to receive them, in any port of the Confederate States; and the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized to pay or cause to be paid to the owners, officers and crews of such private armed vessels commissioned as aforesaid, or their agent, the bounties herein provided.

        SEC. 11. That the commanding officer of every vessel having a commission or letters of marque and reprisal, during the present hostilities between the Confederate States and the United States, shall keep a regular journal, containing a true and exact account of his daily proceedings and transactions with such vessel and the crew thereof; the ports and places be shall put into or cast anchor in; the time of his stay there and the cause thereof; the prizes he shall take and the nature and probable value thereof; the times and places when and where taken, and in what manner he shall dispose of the same; the ships or vessels he shall fall in with; the times and places when and where he shall meet with them and his observations and remarks thereon; also, of whatever else shall occur to him or any of his officers or marines, or be discovered by examination or conference with any marines or passengers of or in any other ships or vessels, or by any other means touching the fleets, vessels and forces of the United States, their posts and places of station and destination, strength, numbers, intents and designs; and such commanding officer shall, immediately on his arrival in any port of the Confederate States, from or during the continuance of any voyage or cruise, produce his commission for such vessel, and deliver up such journal so kept as aforesaid, signed with his proper name and hand-writing, to the collector or other chief officer of the customs at or nearest to such port; the truth of which journal shall be verified by the oath of the commanding officer for the time being. And such collector or other chief officer of the customs shall, immediately, on the arrival of such vessel, order the proper officer of the customs to go on board and take an

account of the officers and men, the number and nature of the guns, and whatever else shall occur to him on examination material to be known; and no such vessel shall be permitted to sail out of port again until such journal shall have been delivered up, and a certificate obtained under the hand of such collector or other chief officer of the customs that she is manned and armed according to her commission; and upon delivery of such certificate, any former certificate of a like nature which shall have been obtained by the commander of such vessel shall be delivered up.

        SEC. 12. That the commanders of vessels having letters of marque and reprisal as aforesaid, neglecting to keep a journal as aforesaid, or wilfully making fraudulent entries therein, or obliterating the record of any material transaction contained therein, where the interest of the Confederate States is concerned, or refusing to produce and deliver such journal, commission or certificate, pursuant to the preceding section of this act, then and in such cases the commissions or letters of marque and reprisal of such vessels shall be liable to be revoked; and such commanders respectively shall forfeit for every such offence the sum of $1,000, one moiety thereof to the use of the Confederate States, and the other to the informer.

        SEC. 13. That the owners or commanders of vessels having letters of marque and reprisal as aforesaid, who shall violate any of the acts of Congress for the collection of the revenue of the Confederate States, and for the prevention of smuggling, shall forfeit the commission or letters of marque and reprisal, and they and the vessels owned or commanded by them shall be liable to all the penalties and forfeitures attaching to merchant vessels in like cases.

        SEC. 14. That on all goods, wares and merchandise captured and made good and lawful prizes of war, by any private armed ship having commission or letters of marque and reprisal under this act, and brought into the Confederate States, there shall be allowed a deduction of 33 1-3 per cent. on the amount of duties imposed by law.

        SEC. 15. That five per centum on the net amount (after deducting all charges and expenditures) of the prize money arising from captured vessels and cargoes, and on the net amount of the salvage of vessels and cargoes re-captured by private armed vessels of the Confederate States, shall be secured and paid over to the collector or other chief officer of the customs, at the port or place in the Confederate States at which such captured or re-captured vessels may arrive, or to the consul or other public agent of the Confederate

States residing at the port or place not within the Confederate States at which such captured or re-captured vessel may arrive. And the moneys arising therefrom shall be held and are hereby pledged by the government of the Confederate States as a fund for the support and maintenance of the widows and orphans of such persons as may be slain, and for the support and maintenance of such persons as may be wounded and disabled on board of the private armed vessels commissioned as aforesaid, in any engagement with the enemy, to be assigned and distributed in such manner as shall hereafter be provided by law.

        APPROVED May 6, 1861.

No. 129.] AN ACT

To increase the Military establishment of the Confederate States, and to amend the "Act for the establishment and organization of the Army of the Confederate States of America."

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the President shall be authorized to raise and organize, in addition to the present military establishment, one regiment of cavalry and two regiments of infantry, whenever in his judgment the public service may require such an increase, to be organized in accordance with existing laws for the organization of cavalry and infantry regiments, and to be entitled to the same pay and allowances provided for the same respectively.

        SEC. 2. That the five general officers provided by existing laws for the Confederate States, shall have the rank and denomination of "General," instead of "Brigadier General," which shall be the highest military grade known to the Confederate States. They shall be assigned to such commands and duties as the President may specially direct, and shall be entitled to the same pay and allowances as are provided for brigadier generals, and to two aids-de-camp, to be selected

as now provided by law. Appointments to the rank of general, after the army is organized, shall be made by selection from the army.

        SEC. 3. That the President be authorized, whenever in his judgment the public service may require the increase, to add to the corps of engineers one lieutenant colonel, who shall receive the pay and allowances of a lieutenant colonel of cavalry, and as many captains, not exceeding five, as may be necessary.

        SEC. 4. That there be added to the quartermaster general's department one assistant quartermaster general with the rank of lieutenant colonel, and two quartermasters, with the rank of major; and to the commissary general's department, one assistant commissary, with the rank of major, and one assistant commissary, with the rank of captain; and to the medical department, six surgeons and fourteen assistant surgeons.

        SEC. 5. That the President be authorized to appoint as many military store-keepers, with the pay and allowances of a first lieutenant of infantry, as the safe-keeping of the public property may require, not to exceed in all six storekeepers.

        SEC. 6. That there be added to the military establishment one quartermaster sergeant for each regiment of cavalry and infantry, and one ordnance sergeant for each military post, each to receive the pay and allowances of a sergeant major, according to existing laws.

        SEC. 7. That there may be enlisted for the medical department of the army, for the term already provided by law for other enlisted men, as many hospital stewards as the service may require, to be determined by the Secretary of War, under such regulations as he may prescribe, and who shall receive the pay and allowances of a sergeant major.

        SEC. 8. That until a military school shall be established for the elementary instruction of officers for the army, the President shall be authorized to appoint cadets from the several states, in number proportioned to their representation in the House of Representatives, and ten in addition, to be selected by him at large from the Confederate States, who shall be attached to companies in service in any branch of the army, as supernumerary officers, with the rank of cadet, who shall receive the monthly pay of forty dollars, and be

competent for promotion at such time and under such regulations as may be proscribed by the President, or hereafter established by law.

        SEC. 9. That the President be authorized to assign officers of the army of the Confederate States to staff duty with volunteers or provisional troops, and to confer upon them, whilst so employed, the rank corresponding to the staff duties they are to perform.

        SEC. 10. There shall be allowed and paid to every able-bodied man who shall be duly enlisted to serve in the army of the Confederate States, a bounty of ten dollars; but the payment of five dollars of the said bounty shall be deferred until the recruit shall have been mustered into the regiment in which he is to serve.

        SEC. 11. That the provision of the third section of the act of the Congress of the United States, making appropriations for the legislative, executive and judicial expenses of the government for the year ending the thirtieth day of June, A. D. eighteen hundred and sixty-one, approved June twenty-third, eighteen hundred and sixty, which declares that no arms nor military supplies whatever, which are of a patented invention, shall be purchased, nor the right of using or applying any patented invention, unless the same shall be authorized by law, and the appropriation therefor explicitly set forth, that it is for such patented invention, (if of force within the Confederate States, shall be suspended in its operation for and during the existing war.

        APPROVED May 16, 1861.

No. 130.] AN ACT

To provide a Compensation for the Disbursing Officers of the several Executive Departments.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the Secretaries of the State, Treasury, War and Navy Departments, and of the Department of Justice, and of the Post Office Department, shall appoint one of their clerks as a disbursing clerk; and such clerk shall be allowed, in addition to his compensation as clerk, the additional sum of two hundred dollars per annum, for disbursing the funds of said departments which may be required to pass through their hands. And that all laws and parts of laws now in force relating to this subject be repealed; and that this act take effect and be of force from and after its passage.

        APPROVED May 16, 1861.

In relation to Marine Hospital.

No. 131.] AN ACT

        Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That the expenses of the marine hospitals in the Confederate States be limited to the amounts received for their support; and that the Secretary of the Treasury be authorized to place any such hospitals as may be practicable under the charge of any corporate or State authority which will undertake to keep open the same as a hospital for the sick, and to receive therein such seamen as the funds allowed by law for their support will enable them to provide for.

        APPROVED May 16, 1861.

No. 132.] AN ACT

To amend an Act entitled "An Acts to provide for the appointment of Chaplains to the Army," approved May third, eighteen hundred and sixty-one.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That so much of the second section of the above

recited act as fixes the pay of chaplains in the army at eighty-five dollars be repealed, and that the pay of said chaplains be fifty dollars per month.

        APPROVED May 16, 1861.

No. 133.] AN ACT

To authorize the President to continue the Appointments made by him in the Military and Naval service during the recess of Congress or the present session, and to submit them to Congress at its next session.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the President be authorized to continue the appointments made by him in the military and naval service during the recess of Congress or the present session, and to submit them to Congress at its next session.

        APPROVED May 16, 1861.

No. 134.] AN ACT

To authorize a Loan and the issue of Treasury Notes; and to prescribe the punishment for forging the same, and for forging Certificates of Stock and Bonds.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the Secretary of the Treasury may, with the assent of the President of the Confederate States, issue fifty millions of dollars in bonds, payable at the expiration of twenty years from their date, and bearing a rate of interest not exceeding eight per cent. per annum until they become payable, the said interest to be paid semi-annually. The said bonds, after public advertisement in three newspapers within the Confederate States for six weeks, to be sold for specie, military stores, or for the proceeds of sales of raw produce or manufactured articles, to be paid in the form of specie or with foreign bills of exchange, in such manner and under such regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, with the assent of the President. But

it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to report, at its next ensuing session, to the Congress of the Confederate States, a precise statement of his transactions under this law. Nor shall the said bonds be issued in fractional parts of the hundred, or be exchanged by the said Secretary for Treasury notes, or the notes of any bank, corporation or individual, but only in the manner herein prescribed: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to prevent the Secretary of the Treasury from receiving foreign bills of exchange in payment of these bonds.

        SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That in lieu of bonds, to an amount not exceeding twenty millions of dollars, the Secretary of the Treasury, with the assent of the President, may issue treasury notes to the same amount, without interest, and in denominations of not less than five dollars--the said notes to be receivable in payment of all debts or taxes due to the Confederate States, except the export duty on cotton, or in exchange, for the bonds herein authorized to be issued. The said notes shall be payable at the end of two years from the date of their issue, in specie. The holders of the said notes may at any time demand in exchange for them bonds of the Confederate States, payable at the end of ten years, and bearing an interest of eight per centum per annum, to be paid semi-annually. The Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized to issue the said bonds, but not in fractional parts of the hundred. But if after the expiration of two years, when the treasury notes shall be due, the Secretary of the Treasury shall advertise that he will pay the same, then the privilege of funding shall cease after six months from the date of the advertisement, unless there shall be a failure to pay the same on their presentation.

        SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That in lieu of the notes authorized by this act, which may be redeemed, other notes may be issued within the period of ten years as aforesaid: Provided, however, That the amount of such notes outstanding, together with the stock in which the said treasury notes may have been funded under the provisions of this act, shall not exceed the sum of twenty millions of dollars. But the Secretary of the Treasury may, upon application of the holder of a bond thus funded, redeem it by giving in exchange treasury notes issued under the provisions of this act, to such extent as that the entire amount of notes then issued, together with the amount of the bonds in which they may have been funded, shall not exceed twenty millions of dollars.

        SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the faith of the Confederate States is hereby pledged to provide and establish sufficient revenues for the regular payment of the interest, and for the redemption of the said stock and treasury notes. And the principal sum borrowed under the provisions of this act and the interest thereon, as the same shall from time to time become due and payable, shall be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

        SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That this act shall be deemed to contain all the provisions, limitations and penalties of the act entitled an act to authorize the issue of treasury notes, and to prescribe the punishment for forging the same, and for forging certificates of stocks, bonds or coupons and approved March ninth, 1861, which shall be considered as parts of this act, save the first, second and tenth sections, and save so much as relates to interest upon treasury notes.

        SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That for the purpose of raising ten millions of dollars within the present calendar year, and of providing for the ultimate redemption of the debt herein authorized to be contracted, the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby directed to collect information in regard to the value of the property, the revenue system, and the amount collected during the last fiscal year in each of the Confederate States, and to report the same to Congress at its next session, so as to enable it to lay a fair, equal and convenient system of internal taxation, for the purpose of securing the payment of the interest and principal of the debt hereby authorized to be created, in such manner as may fully discharge the obligation herein contracted by the pledge of the faith of the Confederate States to pay the principal and interest of the said debt when due.

        SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That any State may pay into the treasury, in anticipation of the tax aforesaid, any sum not less than one hundred thousand dollars, in specie or its equivalent; and if the same be paid on or before the first day of July next, the said State shall be allowed to set off the same with ten per cent. additional from the quota to be assessed upon the said State.

        APPROVED May 16, 1861.

No. 135.] AN ACT

To admit the State of North Carolina into the Confederacy, on a certain condition.

        The State of North Carolina having adopted measures, looking to an early withdrawal from the United States, and to becoming in the future a member of this Confederacy, which measures may not be consummated before the approaching recess of Congress: Therefore,

        The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the State of North Carolina shall be admitted a member of the Confederate States of America, upon an equal footing with the other States, under the Constitution for the Provisional Government of the same, upon the condition that the convention of said State, soon to assemble, shall adopt and ratify said Constitution for the Provisional Government of the Confederate States, and shall transmit to the President of the Confederate States, before the re-assembling of Congress, through the Governor of said State, or some other proper organ, an authentic copy of the act or ordinance of said convention so adopting and ratifying said Provisional Constitution; upon the receipt whereof the President, by proclamation, shall announce the fact; whereupon, and without any further proceeding on the part of Congress, the admission of said State into this Confederacy, under said Constitution for the Provisional Government, shall be considered as complete, and the laws of this Confederacy shall thereby be extended over said State as fully and completely as over the other States now composing the same.

        APPROVED May 17, 1861.

No. 137.] A RESOLUTION

In relation to Imports from the States of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

        Resolved, That all imports from the States of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas, be exempted from the payment of duties; and that this exemption extend to imports from the said States now in warehouse.

        APPROVED May 17, 1861.

No. 138.] AN ACT

To admit the State of Tennessee into the Confederacy, on a certain condition.

        The State of Tennessee having adopted measures looking to an early withdrawal from the United States, and to becoming, in the future, a member of this Confederacy, which measures may not be consummated before the approaching recess of Congress: Therefore,

        The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the State of Tennessee shall be admitted a member of the Confederate States of America, upon an equal footing with the other States, under the Constitution for the Provisional Government of the same: upon the condition that the said Constitution for the Provisional Government of the Confederate States shall be adopted and ratified by the properly and legally constituted authorities of said State; and the Governor of said State shall transmit to the President of the Confederate States, before the re-assembling of Congress, after the recess aforesaid, an authentic copy of the proceedings touching said adoption and ratification by said State of said Provisional Constitution; upon the receipt whereof the President, by proclamation, shall announce the fact; whereupon, and without any further proceeding on the part of Congress, the admission of said State of Tennessee into the Confederacy, under said Constitution for the Provisional Government of the Confederate States, shall be considered as complete; and the laws of this Confederacy shall be thereby extended over said State, as fully and completely as over the other States now composing the same.

        APPROVED May 17, 1861.

No. 139.] AN ACT

To authorize the extension of the Mail Service of the Confederate States in certain cases and upon certain conditions.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the Postmaster-General be and he is hereby authorized to extend the mail service of the Confederate States over all such States and territories as shall, by their

legislative or executive authority, request the same to be done, between this and the meeting of the next session of the Congress; and that this act take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

        APPROVED May 20, 1861.

No. 140.] AN ACT

To establish a Mail Route from Vermillionville, in the State of Louisiana, to Orange, in the State of Texas, and for other purposes.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the following mail route be and the same is hereby established, to-wit: From Vermillionville, in the State of Louisiana, to Orange, in the State of Texas.

        SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the Postmaster-General be and he is hereby authorized to make the first contract for carrying the mail over said route without the necessity of advertising for bids for said contract, as required by existing law; and that this act take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

        APPROVED May 17, 1861.

No. 141.] AN ACT

To provide an Additional Company of Sappers and Bombardiers for the Army.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That there be added to the military establishment of the Confederate States one company of sappers and bombardiers, to consist of one captain, two first lieutenants, one second lieutenant, ten sergeants or master-workmen, ten corporals or overseers, two musicians, thirty-nine privates of the first class, and thirty-nine privates of the second class, who shall be instructed in and perform all the duties of sappers and bombardiers, and shall, moreover, under the orders of the chief engineer, be liable to serve, by detachments, in overseeing and aiding laborers upon fortifications or other works under the engineer department, and in supervising finished fortifications, as fort-keepers, preventing injury and making repairs.

        SEC. 2. That it shall be the duty of the colonel of the engineer corps, subject to the approval of the Secretary of War, to prescribe the number, quantity, form, dimensions,&c., of the necessary vehicles, arms, pontons, tools, implements, and other supplies for the service of said company as a body of sappers and bombardiers.

        SEC. 3. That the monthly pay of the captain of said company shall be one hundred and forty dollars; of each first lieutenant, one hundred dollars; of the second lieutenant, ninety dollars; of the sergeants, thirty-four dollars; of the corporals, twenty dollars; of the musicians, thirteen dollars; of the first class privates, seventeen dollars; and of the second class privates, thirteen dollars. And the said commissioned officers shall be entitled to the same allowances as all other commissioned officers of the army, and the same right to draw forage for horses as is accorded to officers of like rank in the engineer corps; and the enlisted men shall receive the same rations and allowances as are granted to all other enlisted men in the army.

        APPROVED May 17, 1861.

No. 142.] AN ACT

To admit the State of Arkansas into the Confederacy.

        The people of the State of Arkansas, in sovereign convention, having passed an ordinance dissolving their political connection with the United States, and another ordinance adopting and ratifying the Constitution for the Provisional Government of the Confederate States of America: Therefore,

        The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the State of Arkansas be and is hereby admitted into this Confederacy, upon an equal footing with the other States, under the Constitution for the Provisional Government of the same.

        APPROVED May 20, 1861.

No. 145.] AN ACT

Amendatory of an Act to provide for the organization of the Navy.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That from and after the passage of this act, the corps of marines shall consist of one colonel, one lieutenant colonel, one major, one quartermaster with the rank of major, one paymaster with the rank of major, one adjutant with the rank of major, one sergeant major, one quartermaster sergeant, ten captains, ten first lieutenants, twenty second lieutenants, forty sergeants, forty corporals, and eight hundred and forty privates, ten drummers and ten fifers and two musicians.

        SEC. 2. The pay and emoluments of the officers and enlisted men shall be the same as that of the officers and enlisted men of like grade in the infantry of the army, except that the paymaster and the adjutant shall receive the same pay as the quartermaster, and the adjutant shall be taken from the captains and subalterns of the corps and separated from the line. The rations of enlisted marines shall be the rations allowed by law to seamen. All acts inconsistent with the provisions of this act are hereby repealed.

        APPROVED May 20, 1861.

No. 146.] AN ACT

To amend an Act to provide for the organization of the Navy, approved March sixteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-one.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the President be and he is hereby authorized to nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of Congress to appoint all officers of the navy of the United States, who have resigned or may hereafter resign their commissions on account of the secession of any or all of the Confederate States, and who may be fit for active service, to the same rank and position in the navy of the Confederate States which they held in that of the United States: Provided, however, That no officer shall be so appointed who may at any time have committed any act of hostility against the Confederate States or any one thereof.

        SEC. 2. That the President be authorized to assign officers of the navy to any duty connected with the defence of the country, and suitable to their rank, which he may deem proper.

        SEC. 3. That the President be authorized to appoint six assistant paymasters of the navy, each to receive a salary of one thousand dollars when employed at sea, and seven hundred dollars when not thus employed; and all paymasters of the navy shall be taken from the grade of assistant paymasters.

        APPROVED May 20, 1861.

No. 147.] AN ACT

To establish a separate Port of Entry at Sabine Pass, in the County of Jefferson, in the State of Texas, and to provide for the appointment of a Collector therein.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That all that part of the collection district for the District of Texas included in the county of Jefferson in the State of Texas, embracing, all the waters, islands, bays, harbors, inlets, shores and rivers in the same, shall be a collection district, to be called the District of Sabine Pass, and Sabine Pass shall be the port of entry for said district.

        SEC. 2. A collector for the said district of Sabine Pass shall be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of Congress, who shall reside at Sabine Pass, and hold his office for the terms and the time prescribed by law for the like office in other districts, and who shall be entitled to a salary not exceeding seventeen hundred and fifty dollars per annum, including in that sum the fees allowed by law; and the amount he shall collect in any one year for fees allowed by law; and the amount he shall collect in any one year for fees, exceeding the said sum of seventeen hundred and fifty dollars, shall be accounted for and paid into the treasury of the Confederate States of America.

        SEC. 3. That all laws and parts of laws Dow in force, contravening the provisions of this act, be and the same are hereby repealed, and that this act take effect from and after its passage.

        APPROVED May 21, 1861.

No. 148.] AN ACT

To put in operation the Government under the Permanent Constitution of the Confederate States of America.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That an election shall be held in the several states of this Confederacy, on the first Wednesday in November, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, for members of the House of Representatives in the Congress of the Confederate States under the permanent constitution, which election shall be conducted in all respects according to said Constitution and the laws of the several states in force for that purpose; and in states which may not have provided by law for such election, according to the laws heretofore existing in such states for the election of members of the House of Representatives in the Congress of the United States. And on the same day the several states shall elect or appoint Electors for President and Vice President of the Confederate States of America, according to said Constitution, and in the manner prescribed by the laws of the several States made for that purpose; and in states where no such laws may exist, according to the laws heretofore in force in such states for the election or appointment of Electors for President and Vice President of the United States.

        SEC. 2. The Electors for President and Vice President shall meet in their respective states on the first Wednesday in December, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, and proceed to vote for President and Vice President, and make out lists, certify the same, and forward the same to the President of the Senate; all as directed by the said Constitution in that behalf.

         SEC. 3. The members of the House of Representatives so elected, and the Senators who may be elected by the several states according to the provisions of said Constitution, shall assemble at the seat of government of the Confederate States, on the eighteenth day of February, eighteen hundred and sixty-two; and the said members of the House of Represent shall proceed to organize by the election of a Speaker, and the Senators by the election of a President of the Senate for the time being; and the President of the Senate shall, on the nineteenth day of February, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, open all the certificates; and the votes for President and Vice President shall then be counted, as directed by said Constitution.

        SEC. 4. The President of the Confederate States shall be inaugurated on the twenty-second day of February, eighteen hundred and sixty-two.

        SEC. 5. Be it further enacted, That in case the State of Virginia shall adopt and ratify the Constitution for the permanent government of the Confederate States of America before the elections in this act provided for, she shall be entitled to elect sixteen members to the House of Representatives; and the State of North Carolina, in like case, ten members; the State of Tennessee, in like case, eleven; and the State of Arkansas, in like case, four members; the same being upon the basis of one member for every ninety thousand representative population, and one additional member for a fraction over one half of the ratio aforesaid, in each of said states, under the census of the United States taken in eighteen hundred and sixty, and being the same basis of representation fixed for the seven original states in said Constitution for permanent government.

        SEC. 6. Be it further enacted, That the same rules and principles shall be observed as to the number of Presidential Electors in the states aforesaid as in the other seven original states.

        APPROVED May 21, 1861.

No. 149.] AN ACT

Making Appropriations in addition to those already made for the Military Service of the Confederate States of America, for the fiscal year ending the eighteenth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That there be appropriated for the pay of the officers and privates of one hundred regiments of infantry, and for quartermaster's supplies of all kinds for the same, and transportation, including horses, wagons, harness, ambulances and other necessary expenses, for the fiscal year ending the eighteenth of February, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, twenty-seven millions nine hundred and thirty-two thousand four hundred and ninety-three dollars and twelve cents.

        SEC. 2. That there be appropriated for the pay, quartermaster's supplies of all kinds, transportation and other necessary expenses for one regiment of legionary formation, composed of one company of artillery, four companies of cavalry, and six companies of voltigeurs, five hundred and fifty thousand four hundred and eighty-five dollars.

        SEC. 3. That there be appropriated for the purchase of subsistence stores and commissary property for one hundred thousand troops, for the fiscal year ending the eighteenth of February, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, five millions four hundred and sixty-four thousand two hundred and fifty-eight dollars and eighty cents.

        SEC. 4. That there be appropriated for the ordnance service, for the fiscal year ending the eighteenth of February, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two-- for the preservation of public buildings, quarters, barracks, &c., at the arsenals, armories, and depots; for the repairs and preservation of ordnance stores; for the pay of clerks, draughtsmen, colorers, superintendents, overseers, &c.; for the purchase of horses, mules, forage, stationery, and contingencies of ordnance service; for the purchase of heavy ordnance and carriages, with shot and shell for the same; for sixteen field batteries of six pieces each, with harness, implements and ammunition; for fifty thousand stands of small arms; for five thousand pistols and holsters; for sabres, swords, carbines and pistols; for five thousand sets of cavalry equipments: for five thousand sets of cavalry accoutrements for one hundred thousand sets infantry accoutrements; knapsacks, haversacks and canteens; for two and one-half million pounds of powder; for materials for the same; for lead, copper and materials for percussion caps and for friction tubes; for additional shops and storehouses at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Alabama, and Augusta Arsenal, Georgia; for machinery, steam engine and tools; for cap machine; for bullet machine; for repairs of buildings and machines at Harper's Ferry-- four millions four hundred and forty thousand dollars.

        SEC. 5. That there be appropriated for medical and hospital supplies, for the year ending eighteenth of February, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, the sum of three hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

        SEC. 6. That there be appropriated for the contingent service of the War Department, for the year ending the eighteenth of February, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, the sum of three hundred thousand dollars.

        SEC. 7. That there be appropriated for contingent expenses of the Adjutant and Inspector General's Department, including office furniture, stationery, printed blanks for the use of the army, record books, postage, telegraphic despatches, &c., for the year ending the eighteenth February, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, the sum of eight thousand dollars.

        SEC. 8. That there be appropriated for the pay of surgeons, assistant surgeons, and chaplains, for the year ending the eighteenth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, the sum of three hundred and twenty-nine thousand nine hundred and one dollars.

        APPROVED May 21, 1861.

No. 150.] AN ACT

To amend an act relative to Telegraphic Lines of the Confederate States, approved May eleventh, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the sixth section of the "act relative to telegraph lines of the Confederate States" be and the same is hereby so amended as to authorize the President to allow such compensation as may be reasonable and proper, in addition to what may be allowed by the telegraph companies, to such of the agents of said companies as he may charge with special and important duties, where such agents are deemed trustworthy and acceptable both to him and the companies concerned.

        APPROVED May 21, 1861.

No. 151.] AN ACT

Making appropriations for the Legislative and Executive expenses of Government for the year ending eighteenth of February, eighteen hundred and sixty-two.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America enact, That the following sums be and the same are hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the objects hereafter expressed,

for the year ending the eighteenth of February, eighteen hundred and sixty-two:

        Legislative-- For compensation and mileage of members of Congress, twenty-five thousand dollars. For compensation of officers of Congress, six thousand dollars. For contingent officers of Congress including printing, five thousand dollars.

        Department of State-- For compensation of two additional clerks, two thousand dollars. For the publication and printing of acts and resolutions of Congress, twenty-two thousand five hundred dollars. For necessities and exigencies under laws already passed, or which may be passed, or from causes which now exist or may hereafter arise, and unforeseen emergencies, forty thousand dollars-- to replace same amount in State Department.

        Treasury Department-- For this amount to pay interest on loan of February 28, 1861, five hundred thousand dollars. For additional expenses under the act "to raise money for the support of the Government and to provide for the defence of the Confederate States of America," approved February 28, 1861, thirty thousand dollars. For incidental and contingent expenses of the Treasury Department, twenty thousand dollars.

        Miscellaneous-- For compensation of two watchmen to guard the executive buildings, at four hundred dollars each, and for lighting the same, sixteen hundred dollars. For rent of executive building corner of Bibb and Commerce streets, three thousand dollars. For rent of executive building on Bibb street, between Coosa and Commerce streets, two thousand dollars. For rent of building of Noble & Brother and others, three thousand dollars. For furniture for executive mansion, nine hundred and eighty-seven dollars and fifty-eight cents. For furniture of executive offices and halls, six hundred and twenty-seven dollars and twenty-one cents. For work done on executive buildings by order of committee of Congress, six hundred and thirty-five dollars and fifty-two cents.

        APPROVED May 21, 1861.

No. 152.] AN ACT

To provide for certain Deficiencies in the Appropriations for the Post-Office Department for the year ending February 18, 1862.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the following sums shall be and are hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the service of the Post-Office Department for the year ending February 18th, 1862: For increased compensation of the chiefs of the contract, appointment and finance bureaus, one thousand one hundred and six dollars and one cent. For compensation of disbursing clerk, one hundred and forty-seven dollars and forty-seven cents. For compensation of watchmen, three hundred an sixty-eight dollars and sixty-seven cents. For compensation of four principal clerks, at fourteen hundred dollars each, four thousand and thirty-six dollars eighty cents. For compensation of ten clerks, at twelve hundred dollars each, eight thousand seven hundred and forty-nine dollars and twenty cents. For compensation of four clerks at on thousand dollars, two thousand nine hundred and sixteen dollars and forty cents. To supply deficiency in the appropriation for the compensation of the Postmaster General, clerks and messengers in his office, made by the act approved 9th day of March, 1861, and entitled "an act further to provide for the organization of the Post-Office Department," ten thousand dollars. For the compensation of agents, and for cost of materials, and constructing, repairing, and operating telegraph lines, and for other expenses which may be incurred under said act, thirty thousand dollars; Provided, That the Postmaster General is hereby authorized, with the approval of the President, to employ officers of the telegraph companies as agents to perform the services specified in the act entitled "an act relative to telegraph lines of the Confederate States," approved 11th day of May, 1861. But the compensation allowed to such agents shall in no case exceed that provided for other agents by said act, and shall be fixed by the Postmaster General, with the approbation of the President.

        APPROVED May 21, 1861.

No. 153.] AN ACT

Concerning the transportation of Soldiers and allowance for Clothing of Volunteers, and amendatory of the Act for the establishment and organization of the Army of the Confederate States.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, When transportation cannot be furnished in kind, the discharged soldier shall be entitled to receive ten cents per mile in lieu of all travelling pay, subsistence, forage, and undrawn clothing, from the place of discharge to the place of his enlistment or enrollment, estimating the distance by the shortest mail route, and if there is no mail route, by the shortest practicable route. The foregoing to apply to all officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians, artificers, farriers, blacksmiths and privates of volunteers, when disbanded, discharged or mustered out of service of the Confederate States; and it shall also apply to all volunteer troops, as above designated, when travelling from the place of enrollment to the place of general rendezvous or point where mustered into service: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to deprive the mounted volunteers of the allowance of forty cents a day for the use and risk of his horse, which allowance is made from the date of his enrollment to the date of his discharge, and also for every twenty miles travel from the place of his discharge to the place of his enrollment.

        SEC. 2. That the fourth section of the act of March 6, 1861, "To provide for the public defence," be amended as follows, viz: There shall be allowed to each volunteer, to be paid to him on the first muster and pay rolls after being received and mustered into the service of the Confederate States, the sum of twenty-one dollars, in lieu of clothing for six months; and thereafter the same allowance in money at every subsequent period of service for six months in lieu of clothing; Provided, That the price of all clothing in kind received by said volunteers from the Confederate States government shall be deducted first from the money thus allowed; and if that sum be not sufficient, the balance shall be charged for stoppage on the muster and pay rolls; and that all accounts arising from contracts, agreements, or arrangements for furnishing clothing to volunteers, to be duly certified by the company commander, shall be paid out of the said semi-annual allowance of money.

        SEC. 3. That the twenty-first section of the act for the organization of the army of the Confederate States be so amended as to allow to aids-de-camp and to adjutants forage for the same number of horses as allowed to officers of the same grade in the mounted service.

        APPROVED May 21, 1861.

No. 154.] AN ACT

To be entitled an Act to amend "An Act to raise an additional Military Force to serve during the War."

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That so much of the second section of the act entitled an act to raise an additional military force to serve during the war, passed May eighth, eighteen hundred an sixty-one, be so amended as to authorize the President, on the application of any commanding officer of a regiment or battalion authorized by said act, to assign a subaltern of the line of the army to the duties of adjutant of said regiment or battalion.

        APPROVED May 21, 1861.

No. 155.] AN ACT

To authorize the President to confer temporary rank and command, for service with volunteer troops, on Officers of the Confederate army.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the President shall be authorized to confer temporary rank and command, for service with volunteer troops, on officers of the Confederate army; the same to be held without prejudice to their positions in said army, and to have effect only to the extent and according to the assignment made in general order.

        APPROVED May 21, 1861.

No. 156.] AN ACT

To provide for the Incidental Expenses of the Public Service within the Indian tribes.

        The Congress of the Confederate States do enact, That the sum of one hundred thousand dollars be and the same is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to meet the incidental expenses of the public service within the Indian tribes, for the year ending February the eighteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-two. But a particular and specific account of the expenditures under this act shall be made and reported to Congress at its next session after the expiration of the period herein named.

        APPROVED May 21, 1861.

No. 158.] A RESOLUTION

In relation to certain Accounts.

        Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That the Secretary of the Treasury be authorized to pay, out of the contingent fund of the Treasury Department, all accounts contracted for work done or furniture provided for the use of the executive office, or in the executive buildings, not properly chargeable to the contingent fund of either of the other departments.

        APPROVED May 21, 1861.

No. 159.] AN ACT

To divide the State of Texas into two Judicial Districts, and to provide for the appointment of Judges and officers in the same.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the State of Texas be and the same is hereby divided into two judicial districts in the following manner, to wit: all the territory of the State of Texas within and West of the following named counties shall compose one district, to be called the Western District, to wit : Matagorda, Wharton, Colorado Fayette, Washington, Burleson,

Milan, Fall, McLellan, Hill, Johnson, Tarrant, Wise, Montague; and all the territory East of said counties shall constitute the Eastern District of Texas.

        SEC. 2. There shall be appointed a judge and marshal for said Western District. The said judge shall hold two terms each year of said court, at the city of Austin, and at Brownsville, in the county of Cameron, at the times prescribed by the laws of the United States for the holding of the district courts of the United States, at said places.

        SEC. 3. All the laws of the United States relative to the district courts of Texas, and the powers and jurisdiction of the same, so far as they are consistent with the Constitution and the laws of the Confederate States, are hereby re-enacted and continued in full force.

        APPROVED May 21, 1861.

No. 162.] AN ACT

To provide Revenue from Commodities Imported from Foreign Countries.

        SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That from and after the 31st day of August next, a duty shall be imposed on all goods, products, wares and merchandize imported from abroad into the Confederate States of America, as follows:

        On all articles enumerated in schedule A, an ad valorem duty of twenty-five per centum. On all articles enumerated in schedule B, an ad valorem duty of twenty per centum. On all articles enumerated in schedule C, an ad valorem duty of fifteen per centum. On all articles enumerated in schedule D, an ad valorem duty of ten per centum. On all articles enumerated in schedule E, an ad valorem duty of five per centum. And that all articles enumerated in schedule F, a specific duty as therein named. And that all articles enumerated in schedule G, shall be exempt from duty, to wit :

SCHEDULE A, (twenty-five per centum ad valorem.)

• Alabaster and spar ornaments; anchovies, sardines and all other fish preserved in oil.
• Brandy and other spirits distilled from grain or other materials, not otherwise provided for; billiard and bagatelle tables, and all other tables or boards on which games are played.

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• Composition tops for tables, or other articles of furniture; confectionary, comfits, sweetmeats, or fruits preserved in sugar, molasses, brandy or other liquors; cordials, absynthe, arrack, curacoa, kirschenwesser, liquors, maraschino, ratafia, and all other spirituous beverages of a similar character.
• Glass, cut.
• Manufactures of cedar-wood, granadilla, ebony, mahogany, rosewood and satin-wood.
• Scagliola tops, for tables or other articles of furtiture; segars, snuff, paper segars, and all other manufactures of tobacco.
• Wines-- Burgundy, champagne, clarets, madeira, port, sherry, and all other wines or imitations of wines.

SCHEDULE B, (twenty per centum ad valorem.)

• Almonds, raisins, currants, dates, figs, and all other dried or preserved fruits, not otherwise provided for; argentine, alabata, or German silver, manufactured or unmanufactured; articles embroidered with gold, silver or other metal, not otherwise provided for.
• Balsams, cosmetics, essences, extracts, pastes, perfumes and tinctures, used for the toilet or for medicinal purposes: bay rum, beads of amber, composition or wax, and all other beads; benzoates; bracelets, braids, chains, curls or ringlets composed of hair, or of which hair is a component part, not otherwise provided for; brooms and brushes of all kinds.
• Camphor, refined; canes and sticks, for walking, finished or unfinished; capers, pickles, and sauces of all kinds, not otherwise provided for; card cases, pocket-books, shell boxes , souvenirs, and all similar articles, of whatever material composed, not otherwise provided for; compositions of glass, set or unset; coral, cut or manufactured.
• Feathers and flowers, artificial or ornamental, and parts thereof, of whatever material composed; fans and fire screens of every description, of whatever material composed.
• Grapes, plums, and prunes, and other such fruit, when put up in bottles, cases, or cans, not otherwise provided for.
• Hair, human, cleansed or prepared for use.
• Manufactures of gold, platoon or silver, not otherwise provided for; manufactures of papier mache; molasses.

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• Paintings on glass; pepper, pimento, cloves, nutmegs, cinnamon, and all other spices; perfumes and perfumery, of all sorts, not otherwise provided for; plated and gilt ware of all kinds, not otherwise provided for; playing cards; prepared vegetables, fruits, meats, poultry and game, sealed or enclosed in cans or otherwise.
• Silver plated metals, in sheets or other form; soap, castile, perfumed, Windsor, and other toilet soaps; sugar of all kinds; syrup of sugar.
• Epaulettes, galloons, laces, knots, stars, tassels, tresses, and wings of gold or silver, or imitations thereof.

SCHEDULE C, (fifteen per cent. ad valorem.)

• Alum; arrow-root; articles of clothing or apparel, including hats, caps, gloves, shoes and boots of all kinds, worn by men, women or children, of whatever material composed, not otherwise provided for.
• Baizes, blankets, bookings, flannels and floor-cloths, of whatever material composed, not otherwise provided for; baskets, and all other articles composed of grass, osier, palm-leaf, straw, whalebone or willow, not otherwise provided for; beer, ale and porter, in casks or bottles; beeswax; berries and vegetables of all sorts used for food, not otherwise provided for; blue or roman vitrol, or sulphate of copper; bologna sausages; braces, suspenders, webbing, or other fabrics composed wholly or in part of Indian rubber, not otherwise provided for; breecia; burgundy pitch; buttons and button moulds of all kinds.
• Cables and cordage, of whatever material made; cadmium; calamine; calomel and all other mercurial preparations; carbonate of soda; castor beans; castor oil; candles and tapers of spermaceti, stearine, parafine, tallow or wax, and all other candles; caps, hats, muffs and tippets, and all other manufactures of fur, or of which fur shall be a component part; caps, gloves, leggins, mits, socks, stockings, wove shirts and drawers, and all similar articles worn by men, women and children, and not otherwise provided for; carpets, carpeting, hearth-rugs, bed-sides, and other portions of carpeting, being either Aubusson, Brussels, ingrain, Saxony, Turkey, Venetian, Wilton, or any other similar fabric, not otherwise provided for; carriages and parts of carriages; castorum; chains, of all sorts; cider and other beverages not containing alcohol, and not otherwise provided

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  for; chocolate; chromate of lead; chromate, bi-chromate, hydriodate, and prussiate of potash; clocks and parts of clocks; coach and harness furniture of all kinds; cobalt; combs of all kinds; copper bottoms; copper rods, bolts, nails, and spikes; copper in sheets or plates, called brazier's copper, and other sheets of copper, not otherwise provided for; copperas, or green vitriol, or sulphate of iron; corks; cotton cords, gimps, and galloons; cotton laces, cotton insertings, cotton trimming, laces, cotton laces and braids; court plaster; coral, manufactured; crayons of all kinds; cubebs; cutlery of all kinds.

• Delaines; dolls and toys of all kinds; dried pulp; drugs, medicinal.
• Earthen, china, and stone ware, and all other wares composed of earthy and mineral substances not otherwise provided for; encaustic tiles; ether.
• Felspar; fig-blue; fire-crackers, sky-rockets, Roman candles, and all similar articles used in pyrotechnics; fish, whether fresh, smoked, salted, dried or pickled, not otherwise provided for; fruits, preserved in their own juice, or pie fruits; fish glue, or isinglass; fish skins; flats, braids, plaits, sparterre and willow squares, used for making hats or bonnets; floss silks, feather beds, feathers for beds, and downs of all kinds; frames and sticks for umbrellas, parasols, and sunshades, finished or unfinished; Frankford black; fulminates, or fulminating powders; furniture, cabinet and household, not otherwise provided for; furs, dressed on the skill.
• Ginger, dried, green, ripe, ground, preserved or pickled: glass, colored, stained or painted; glass, window; glass crystals for watches; glasses or pebbles for spectacles; glass tumblers, plain, moulded and pressed, bottles, flasks, and all other vessels of glass not cut, and all glass not otherwise provided for; glue; grass cloth; green turtle; gum benzoin or benjamin; guns, except muskets and rifles, fire-arms, and all parts thereof not intended for military purposes; gunny cloth and India baggings, and India mattings of all sorts, not otherwise provided for.
• Hair, curled, moss, seaweed, and all other vegetable substances used for beds or mattresses; hair pencils; hat bodies of cotton or wool; hats and bonnets, for men, women and children, composed of straw, satin-straw, chip, grass, palmleaf, willow, or any other vegetable substance, or of hair,

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  whalebone, or other materials, not otherwise provided for; hatter's plush, of whatever material composed; honey.

• Ink and ink powder; ipecacuanha; iridium; iris or orris root; iron castings; iron liquor; iron in bars, bolts, rods, slabs, and railroad rails, spikes, fishing plates and chairs used in constructing railroads; ivory black.
• Jalap; japanned ware of all kinds not