Office of the Historian

Mr. Sherman to Mr. Evarts.

Treasury Department, June 24, 1879.

Sir: Referring to your letter of the 18th instant relative to the proposed issue of letters of marque by the Government of Bolivia, with authority to privateers to seize Chilian property in neutral vessels, I have the honor to inclose herewith six copies of [Page 127] the circular on the subject issued by this department on the 21st instant and sent to the collectors of customs at ports from which illegal expeditions might be arranged, warning them to be vigilant to guard against any breach of the neutrality laws of the United States.

Very respectfully,

JOHN SHERMAN,
Secretary.

Observance of the neutrality laws.

Treasury Department, Office of the Secretary,
Washington, D. C., June 21, 1879.

[1879. Department No. 101. Secretary’s office.]

To collectors of customs and whom it may concern:

This department has received information that the Government of Bolivia has decreed the issue of letters of marque, with authority to privateers to seize Chilian property in neutral vessels, and that agents of Bolivia have departed for the United States.

Collectors of customs, in whose ports attempts may be made to fit out warlike expeditions in aid of either of the belligerent powers, will take care to see that section 5290 of the Revised Satutes be vigilantly enforced against all vessels that appear to be destined to violate the neutrality laws of the United States. The section is here reproduced:

“Sec. 5290. The several collectors of the customs shall detain any vessel manifestly built for warlike purposes, and about to depart the United States, the cargo of which principally consists of arms and munitions of war, when the number of men shipped on board, or other circumstances, render it probable that such vessel is intended to be employed by the owners to cruise or commit hostilities upon the subjects, citizens, or property of any foreign prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people with whom the United States are at peace, until the decision of the President is had thereon, or until the owner gives such bond and security as is required of the owners of armed vessels by the preceding section.”

JOHN SHERMAN,
Secretary.