The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-05-08
THE REPLY.

Mayors OFFICE CRY OF New ORLEANS,
zff 49, CRY HALL, April &C. 1862.
Flag Officer ID. G. Farragut, U. s. Flag Ship
Hartford:
Sir: In pursuance of resolution,
which we thought proper to take ont
of regard for the lives of the women
and children, who still crowd the me-
tropois, General Lowell has evacuated
it with his troops and restored back to
me tie administration of its Govern
ment and the custody of its honor. /
have, Ia council with the city fathers,
considered the demand you made of
me yesterday of an unconditional sur
render of this city, coupled with the
fequisition to hoist the flag of the
United States upon the public edifces
and haul down the flag that still floats
upon the breeze from the dome of this
hall. 1t becomes my duty to transmit
to you an answer which the universal
sentiment of my constituents no less
than the prompting of my own heart
dictates on this sad and solemn occa-
sion. The city is without the means
of defease. ard is utterly destitute of
the force and material that might ena-
BILE it to resist an orerpowering arma-
ment displayed ia sigh: of it.
/ am no military man, and possess
no authority beyond that of executing
the municipal laws of the city of New
Orleans, therefore it would be presump-
tuous in me to attempt to lead an army
to the field, if had one at command
7 L 4
an undefended place, held as this is, at
the mercy of your gunners and NOR
tars. To surrender such place were
an idle and unmcaning ceremony. The
city is yours by the power of brutal
force, not by my choice or the consent
of its inhabitants. 1t is for you to de-
termine what will be the fate that
awaits 1t. AS to hosting any flag not
of our own adoption and allegiance,
let me say to you that the man lives
not in our midst whose hand and heart
would not be paralyzed at the mere
thought of such an act; nor could
find, in my entire constituency, so des-
perate and wretched a renegade as
would dare to profane with his hands
the sacred emblem of his aspirations.
Sir you have manifested sentiments
which would become one engaged in a
better cause than that to which Won
have devoted your sword. doubt not
that they spring from noble though
deluded nature, and | know how to APP
preciate the emotions which inspired
them. You have a gallant people to
administrate during your occupany OF
this city-people sensitive to all that
can in the least affect their dignity and
self.respect. Pray, sir. do not fail to
regard their susceptibilities. The obi
cations which | shall assume in their
name shall be rcligiously complied with.
You NAV trust their honor, though you
might not count on their submission tc
unmerited wrong.
In consideration, beg you to under
stand that the people of New Orleans
while unable to resist your force, do moi
allow themselves to he insulted by the
interference of such as have rendered
themselves obnoxious and contemplate
by their dastardly desertion of Oul
cause in the mighty struggle in which
we are engaged, or such as might re-
mind them too forcibly that they are
the conquered, and yours the conquer
ors. Peace and order may be preserved
without resort to measures which !
could not at this moment prevent
Your occupying the city. does no,
transfer allegiance from the Govern
ment of their choice to one which the,
have deliberately repudiated, but the,
yield the obedience which the conquer
or is entitled to extort from the con
quered.
Respectfully, JOHN F. MONROE. Mayor.