Congress
Congress has the authority to grant letters of Marque under Article 1, Section 8.
No they can not, the United States Constitution specifically forbids states from issuing the letters of marque and reprisal. It is a power reserved for Congress. See Article I section 8 for Congressional Power, and Article I section 10 for the restriction on state's powers.
The Constitution of the United States of America states in Article I, Section 8, that the Congress shall have the power to declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water; Therefore Congress was not forbidden to grant letters of marque. That power was reserved exclusively for the Congress.UPDATE: The Declaration of Paris (1856) and The International Peace Conference (Hague, 1907) outlaw the granting of letters of marque and reprisal by signatory nations ... of which the United States of America is included. Thus, Congress is specifically forbidden to grant such letters, despite the Constitution.
No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit...
No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit...
Mark has two homonyms, marque and marc. Marc is the refuse of grapes or fruit used to make wine. Marque used to mean reprisal, as in letters of marque.
Privateers were not pirates, although they sometimes acted like them. Privateers were privately-owned warships which sailed under "Letters of Marque and Reprisal", which were essentially government licenses to steal from the government's enemies. The Constitution of the United States specifically authorizes the Congress to issue Letters of Marque and Reprisal as one of the eighteen "Enumerated Powers" listed in Article 1 Section 8: "To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;"
Drake, but he did have letters of Marque and Reprisal, so technically, he was not a pirate
Letter of Marque
Letters of Marque were licenses that authorized privateers to attack and capture enemy vessels and bring them before admiralty courts for judgment and sale. This was legal piracy or a license to steal. Possessing a letter of marque while committing piracy was considered an honorable profession, allegedly making it better than simple piracy. The French sometimes chose to use the phrase, â??letter de courseâ?? instead of "letters de marque", since that phrase was most often used to describe the victim ships, which were usually slow moving cargo carriers. Privateers, on the other hand, were fast vessels that had heavy arms and crew and were exclusively used to attack and fight.
Marque Richardson's birth name is Marque Richardson Jr..
The Congress shall have Power To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States.