http://www.oyez.org/cases/1851-1900/1862/ U.S. Supreme Court Cases, presented by The Oyez Project (www.oyez.org) en-us <p>Lincoln proclaimed a blockade of southern ports in April 1861. Congress authorized him to declare a state of insurrection by the Act of July 13, 1861. By the Act of August 6, 1861, Congress retroactively ratified all Lincoln's military action. These cases involved the seizure of vessels bound for Confederate ports prior to July 13, 1861.</p> http://www.oyez.org/cases/1851-1900/1862/1862_0/