Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-12-29
BYiTHE:PRK sIDkNT OF THE cONFKDER-
=. ATY STATES. - I'D Z
.PROGL& MATfON

Whereas Accommodation was addre'ecd Oh the oth
day of July ast ss629 by General Robert b. Lee act.
ing under the instructions of the Secretary Of War OF
the Confederate States OF America, to General IL. W.
Hsleck Genersnchief of the United sstes army, In
forming the latter that report had reached this Gov
ernmsnt that Wm. B. Muniord, citizen OF the Coined,
crate States had been executed by the United States
authorities at Nav Orleans for having pulled down the
United States flag in that city, before its occupationby
the forces of the United States and calling for state
ment of the facts with view 10 retaliation If such an
outrage had really been committed under sanction OF
the authorities of the United States. .
And whereas Ino answer having. been received to
said etter) another letter WAS the I'd August last
sG2) addressed oy General Lee, undermy instructions,
10 Cen Haeck renewing the inquiry in relation to the
said execution Of said Mumford, with the information
that in the event Of not receiving reply within fifteen
days il would be assumed tat the fact alleged was true
aud was sanctioned by the Government OF the United
States. a. l. u.. ..- .-.a.5 20 -, ]
And whereas an answer dated oRthe 9TH August last
ns6sl was addressed to General Lee by Geera II. w.
Haleek the said Generan Chief of the armies of the
United States alleging sufficient cause for failure TO
make early reply to said letter OF the 9th july asserting
that mo authentic information had been receyedn re-
laton to the execution of Mumford, but measures will
be Immediately taken ascertain the facts of the alleged
execution and promising that General Lee should be
duly informed thereof: ..r..- . ..
And whereas on the 29th November last, (lS62) an
other letter was addressed under my instructions by
Robert Ould Confederate Agent for the exchange of
prisoners under the cartel between the two Governments
to Lieut. Col. W. II. Ludlow, agent OF the United
States under said cartel informing him thatthe explains
tons promised in the said letter of General aeck OF
eth of August last had not yet been received aud that
if no answer was sent to the Government within fifteen
DAYS from the delivery Of this last communication 1t
would be considered that an answer is declined;
And whereas, by letter. dated on the Sd day of the
present month OF December the said Lieut. Col Ludlow
appraised the said Robert 0ud that the above recited
communication of 29th November had been received
and forwarded to the Secretary of War of the United
States
Aud, whereas, this last delay Of fifteen daysalowed
for answer has elapsed and answer hiss been received
And whereas in addition TO the tAeit admission re-
sulting FROM above refusal TO answer have received
evidence fully establishing the truth OF the fact that the
said William b. Mumford citizen of this Coniederacy,
vas actually and publicly executed ia cold blood by
hanging after the occupation OF the city OF New orleans
bT the forces under the command of Gen Benjamin r.
Butler when said Mumford unressting and uon-
combatant captive and for ofence even alleged TO
have been committed by him subsequent TO tue date OF
the capture Of the said CITY:
Aud whereas the silence Of the government Of the
United States sad its maintaining Of said Butler in high
oiEce under it, authority for many moaths after his
commission Of act that can be viewed in no other
light than a. deliberate murder, well as Of numerous
other ourges aud atrocities hereafter TO be mentioned
afford evidence on conclusive that the said govern
ment sanctions the conduct Of said Butler and Is de-
iermined that be shall remain unpuaished Tor his
crimes
Now therefore, l. JEFFERSON DAVIS, President OF the
Confederate States OF America, and IN their name, do
pronounce aud declare the said Benjamin + Butler TO
Be felton, deserving Of capital punishment. DO order
that he he longer considered or treated simply as
public enemy OF the Confederate States OF America but
a. au outlaw and common enemy OF mankind, and that
in the event Of his capture the officer III command Of
the capturing force do cause him to be Immediately
cuted BY hanging and do further order that no COM
mis>oaed officer OF the United States taken captive,
shall be released pArol before exchange, until the
said Butler shall have met with due punishment for his
crimes
And. whereas, the hostiltes waged against this Con-
federacy by the forces of the United States under tn"
command of said Benjamin II Butler have borne no re.
samblance such warfare as l. alone perm-sibe by the
rule, of international law the usages Of civilization,
hut have been characterized by repeated atrocities and
outrage among the large number OF which, the follow
ing NAV be cited as examples:
Peaceful and Sged citizens, unresiSting captives and
noncombatants have been confined at hard labor with
balls and chains attached 10 their limbs aud are still SO
held in dungeons and forresses Others have been sub
jected like degrading punishment for selling medi-
cines TO the sick soldiers OF the Contederacy. :.
The soldiers of the United States have been invited
and encouraged bv general orders insult and outrage
the wives the mothers and the sisters Of our citizens
HELPLESS women have been torn from their homes, and
subjected to solitary confinement some in tortreSses
aud prisons anG one, especially, on an island OF barren
sind under tropical sun have been fed with oath-
raton that had been condemned n unit Tor sol
ders and have been exposed to the VileSt insults
Prisoners Of War who surrendered 10 the naval forces
of the United states on agreement that they should be
released parole have been seized and kept In close
confinement
Repeated prete,ts have been sought invented foe
puudering the inhabitants Of the captured ciy By hnes
levied aud eSscted under threat q mpsonng Ttcusants
at hard labor With ball and chail
The eutir population OF the city Of New Orleans have
been forced 10 elect between starvation, by tie conea-
dion Of al their property, aud taking an oath agalnst
conscience tobeAr allegiance TO the Invaders Of their
country
E,rcss from the city has been refused 70 those whose
fortitude wthstood ths test lone aud aged women
aud 10 Helpless chsen aud after being elected oui heir
homes aud robbed OF their pope.tr, they haze et left
10 starvc IN the strcrt-CF suEsi an charity; J
The slaves have becu driven fcia The plNnSiiona IN
the neghborlood OF New orleansr I'LL thea owners
would consent share It's crops With the Commanding
General his brother Andrew J. Butler, aud Oiber OH
Gers aud when such Gonsdnt hsd been eStorted, the
slaves have been restored 10 the plantations sud there
rompeleJ To- work under the tayoheia of guards Of
United States "a eicTs. -
Wherc thixparsne shipwss refused arned expeditions
been sani t0 the plantations 10 rob henr Of every
ih!ng that va. sueepble OF removal and even slaves,
TOO aged or ;ffn Tor work have, 10 spite Of their en-
tryaties been forced rom Me homes provided py the
owners aid driven to wander helpless on the highway
Bye rScert Geherl Order So. 9l the entire proper.
~ IN iha. rt GfLousEna lying westof Tile Mississippi
Tyet has been sebuestIate cou6scauon and oicsrs
have been SssigI 10 duty With orders to gather up
and coec, .Lo PetsonJ property andturn over TO- the
proper officers lpos heir receipts sneh Of said PtoPegy
Ss may be required tor dre 'se9t;the United States
army tocoleeI nsetct nj the other Peitonhi properly
md bring the ssme TO NeE: Orleans shd cause
TO DE sold q public auction tothe highest hidders
ian order Which; j. executed, SondtnRsto puhishmeht
by Starvation &t;lSsst qdafter Of million of humqh
btHS Of alarri, sores aid dOhafous; aud Of which
the sSeadtidn glodgh forbidden 60 military officers BY
the orders df President Lincoln Il in accordance with
the COnfscston law of enemies, which he has d.
fected to- be eafdreed through the agency Of civil OH
Gals And finally the African slaves bate not only been
excited 10 insurrecion by every license and ehcoudge
lueh bu. numbers Of them have actually been sPufd
foTs seryile VAR war in its ratare lar e1eseiing In
: a &c. =