Citizens of Neutral States.—­Members of a neutral state may lend money to a belligerent or may go into the army or navy of a belligerent without breach of the neutrality of their nation.  They may sell goods, except materials of war, to either belligerent, Blockade.—­A belligerent may, as a war measure, close the ports of the enemy.  This is called a blockade.  Two things are necessary to make a blockade valid—­due notice must be given, and the blockade must be made effective by placing before the ports armed vessels to prevent the entrance of trading vessels.  If the conditions have been complied with, neutrals trade with the port at the risk of losing all captured ships and cargoes.

DECLARATION OF WAR—­1812.

An act declaring war between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the dependencies thereof, and the United States of America and their territories.[Footnote:  Drawn by William Pinckney, Attorney General of the United States.]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That war be, and the same is hereby declared to exist between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the dependencies thereof, and the United States of America and their territories; and that the President of the United States is hereby authorized to use the whole land and naval force of the United States to carry the same into effect, and to issue to private armed vessels of the United States commissions, or letters of marque and general reprisal, in such form as he shall think proper, and under the seal of the United States, against the vessels, goods, and effects, of the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the subjects thereof.

APPENDIX E.—­DOCUMENTS.

ACT AUTHORIZING A STATE GOVERNMENT.

[Passed February 26, 1857.]

SECTION 1.  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the inhabitants of that portion of the Territory of Minnesota which is embraced within the following limits, to-wit:  beginning at the point in the center of the main channel of the Red River of the North, where the boundary line between the United States and the British Possessions crosses the same; thence up the main channel of said river to that of the Bois de Sioux River; thence up the main channel of said river to Lake Traverse; thence up the centre of said lake to the southern extremity thereof; thence in a direct line to the head of Big Stone Lake; thence through its centre to its outlet; thence by a due south line to the north line of the State of Iowa; thence along the northern boundary of said state to the main channel of the Mississippi River; thence up the main channel of said river, and following the boundary line of the State of Wisconsin,