Was the blockade legal from 4.19.61 to 7.17.61?

[Bonny Blue Flag]

One week after Ft. Sumter was attacked, to July 17th when Congress recognized a state of war existed, an inpromtu blockade was established around the ports of the South and down the Mississppi river to it's mouth.

Would any ship caught up in this hastely thrown together blockade be legally searched and/or seized?

I suspect any and all sides of this would be very complicated.

[Scribe]

Originally Posted by Bonny Blue Flag

One week after Ft. Sumter was attacked, to July 17th when Congress recognized a state of war existed, an inpromtu blockade was established around the ports of the South and down the Mississppi river to it's mouth.

Would any ship caught up in this hastely thrown together blockade be legally searched and/or seized?

I suspect any and all sides of this would be very complicated.

That question was settled by the Supremes in the Prize Cases. They ruled that the blockade was indeed legal and Constitutional and that ships violating the blockade could be stopped and seized.

[Bonny Blue Flag]

Thank you.

--BBF

[ole]

Hooo, boy! Could we get off on your wonderful question, BBF. But Scribe has already provided THE answer. Party pooper!

The first thing that popped into my cob-webby mind when I saw the question was: I just pointed a gun at your nose and stole all your stuff. Is it legal for you to take my gun away and beat the stuffing out of me?

(Scuzzi. I often think wierd thoughts.)

ole