civil war

when a civil war rages in a foreign nation, one part of which separates itself from the old established government, and erects itself into a distinct government, the courts of the union must view such newly constituted government as it is viewed by the legislative and executive departments of the government of the United States. If the government remains neutral, and recognizes the existence of a civil war, the courts of the union cannot consider as criminal those acts of hostility, which war authorizes, and which the new government may direct against its enemy.

An internecine war in which the opposing forces both belong to the same country or nation, e. g. the Revolutionary War prior to the Declaration of Independence, or the late Rebellion prior to the president's proclamation of August 16, 1861.

An internecine war. A war carried on between opposing masses of citizens of the same country or nation. Before the declaration of independence, the war between Great Britain and the United Colonies was a civil war; but instantly on that event the war changed its nature, and became a public war between independent governments. Hubbard v. Exp. Co.., io R. I. 244; Brown v. Hiatt, 4 Fed. Cas. 387; Prize Cases, 2 Black, 667, 17 L. Ed. 459; Central R. & B. Co. v. Ward, 37 Ga. 515.

Defined under War in Black's Law Dictionary.

An internecine war. A war carried on between opposing masses of citizens of the same country or nation. Before the declaration of independence, the war between Great Britain and the United Colonies was a civil war; but Instantly on that event the war changed its nature, and became a public war between independent governments. 8 Dall. 199, 224,