Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-07-18
THE 0U TRACES UPON BRITISH SUB
JECTS a, NEW ORLEANS.

A.
The British C1Hsui Confirms nr. RHsseIl,s
Statements
The Ncw Orleans Pieayune of the 9th inst,
contains the following letter from the British
Consu. in that city
NEW ORLEANS, July ), 1881
To me EGIf0rs Of the DAILY PicavUns:
Gentlemsn-My attention has been called
o. an article IN yestoI day mornings PicSyune
CnnmentIng upon Mr.. Russell's tenth letter.
written from this city on the 25th Of May, in
which my name is msde use of for the purpose
Of ImpeschinG Mr.. Russell's veracity L have
not seen his letter, bot that is Of little conse-
qGeEce. as | am not called upon either to coin
eide IN his opinions or defend his views |
tale 1t for granted, however, that the extract
from the New York paper, relative 10 the i'm
pressment of British subjects. is correct and
"a the statement made by Mr. Russell involves
4 Ius'tiOH of Jact, in Which I am interested,
think It due TO myself not to preserve a
Silence which might be miscOntrued
Mr.. Russells statement, you have, apps-
reHuy without inquiry, characterized, not with
your usual courtesy, as an outrageous false
hOo' ol tis own coinage, &c. Let US see with
what justice you have used these severe ex-
pressiOus.
1t is not the fact, as you suppose, that one
OF two isolated cases of British subjects who
enlisted in the army, and having thought
better Of it, then invoked my protection, made
the basis Of Mr. Russel's statement or, as you
call IL, 'mOnstrOus Invention - But II rs the
fact that since the 2Sth of April TO the present
day, with very slight intermis.ion, mary Brit
ish subjects, some Of whom were only few
weeks III the country, were seized and f0rcibly
carried on from the levCe. steam hoe Landing,
bOarding-hsuses, &C to the different places
Of rendezvous of military companies When
the men resisted, they were frequently as
saulted, knocked down, and. beng overnow-
cred, carried off il furniture wagons TO the hoFd-
quarter: of these. embryo companies, where
the most violent threats were used to compel
them - to sign the papers,
When these outrsges commenced, address
ed, IN the end of April and beginning of MAY
communications to His Excellency. Governor
Moore, who ~ once granted al, the redress in
bis power, by ordering the discharge of those
men whose names l could furnish ~ having
been Illegally impressed. His Excellency at
the same time expressed :" bis unqualified con-
demnstiOn" Of such outrages, and stated that
be would endeavor to put an end to them. as
far as he had any control OF authority over
the parties implicated. l believe that in one
case a company was ordered to be aisbanded,
in cOnsequeEce of the very fagrant conduct of
the recruiting squads, who had kiduapped men
in midday, at the end of the shell road
At the time Of Mr.. Russell's arrival in this
city, about thirty-fye or forty of these ellie
gal musters' had been discharged. and nv
Office was still daily besieged by women, i'm
ploring me to get their husbands released
Within the last few days there have been over
twenty applications OF q similar kind. and somo
Of the men, according to the evidence have
been most severely maltreated One woman
alleges that her husband was seized Oh his way
10 procure medical help for their child that
il was three days before she discovered the
rendezvous where he was confined, and when
she saw him be was tied by cords, and so dis
figured by bruises that she scarcely recognized
him. She was not allowed to hold any com
municstisn with him. but was threatened with
the prison if she troubled them again.
DO not wish 10 trespsss upon your columns
BY multiplying instances. LqStsaS OE one re-
psHtiag r0lHHt,er. there hare teen s50ut sIrtv
eases Of impressed British subjects reported
a. My Office. l am somewhat surprised, when
90 much patriotic spirit has been eviGced in
the filing up OF the military companies with
80 much rsPidity, that any resort should have
been had to the gag or bludgeon; and it il
singular that fact So notorious should have
escaped the attention Of your city reporter, who
might have easily satisfied himself Of its aecu-
raey by applying to official quarters.
Upon tie principle Of " audi aiterGn par
tS.t' / request the insertion of this letter,
and remain, dear sir, your obedient servant,
WILLIAM MURR