Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-12-27
BIZ THE PRESIDENT OF THE GoNFEDER
-es1G n., ATE STATES. g-e II; e-~



eminent that m. b. Mumford, citizen Of the Conied
crate States had been executed by the United States
authorities at New Orleans for having pulled down inc
United States flag in that city, before lis occupation py
the forces ofthe United States and calling ior state
ment of the facts with view realisation II such an
outrage had really beer committed under sahouoh OF
the authorities of the United States -Sr
And whereas (uo answer having been reeve 70
said etter) another letter was, on The I'd August last
ls62 addressed by General Lee, undermy
Gen Haeck, renewing the inquiry u resioh 10 !ee
said execution OF said Mumford with the information
that in the ereut of not receiving reply within heen
days II would be assumed that the fact alleged Was true
and was sanctioned by the Government OF The United
States. a.. ,,s.i
And whereas an answer dated on the 18th August last
1861 was addressed to General Lee by Genend a. W.
Haeck the said Generalin Chief Of the armies oil the
United States alleging sufficient cause for failure to
make early reply TO said letter OF the 9th july asserting
that no authentic information had been received in
0tou to the execution of Mumiord but measures viii
be Immediately taken oasceran the facts OF the alleged
execution" and promising that General Lee should De
duly informed thereof: ,..1 - .I
And, whereas on the 29th November last, QS62l an
other letter was addressed under my instructions by
Robert 0uld Confederate Agent for the exchange OF
prisoners under the cartel between the two Governments
10 Iieut.-Col. W, II. Ludlow, agent OF the United
States under said cartel informing him that the eIpana,
tons promised in the said letter of General Haeck, OF
9Th of August last had not vet been received aud that
if no answer WAS sent the Government within hiteep
DAYS from the delivery OF this last communication, II
would be considered that an answer is declined:
And whereas by letter, dated on the 81 day oil the
present month Of December the said Lieut. Col Ludlow
apprsed the said Robert Oud that the above reclted
communication of 29th November had been received
aud forwarded to the Secretary OF War of the United
States
And whereas this last delay of fifteen days allowed
for answer has elapsed and has been received
And whereas in addition TO the taet admission re-
sltng from above refusal to answer, have received
evidence uly establishing the truth OF the fact that the
said William b. Muntord citizen OF tins Conicderacy
was actually, aud publicy executed in cold blood by
hang ng AFTER the occupation OF the city OF New Orleans
by the forces under the command OF Gen Benjamin
Butler when said Mmnford was unressting and non
combatant captive and for no otfenee even alleged to
have been committed by hun Subsequent 10 ue date OF
the capture of the said city
And whereas the silence of the government OF the
United States and its maintaining of ssd Butler IN high
Office under lis authority for many months after his
commission OF act that can be viewed in no other
light than deliberate murder as well as OF numerous
other outrages and atrocities hereafter 10 be mentioned
afford evidence ony conclusive that the said govern
ment sanctions the conduct OF said Butler, and is de-
terminod that be shall remain unpublished for his
crimes;
Now, therefore, l. JETFERsoS DAVIS President Of the
Confederate States Of America, and In their name, do
pronounce aud declare the said Benjamin p Butler TO
be a feon deserving of capital punishment. do order
that he be longer considered OF treated simply as
public enemy Of the Confederate States nf America but
as an outlaw and common enemy Of mankind, aud that
In the event of his capture the officer in command Of
the capturing force do cause him to be immediately
cuted by hanging aud do further order that no com
uiissoned officer Of the United States taken captive,
shall be released parOl before exchange until the
said Butler shall have with due punishment for his
crimes
And. whereas, the hosities waged against this Con-
he If he United uuter the
command Of said Benjamin =. Butler have borne
sembance to such warfare il alone permissible by the
rules of international Law the usages of civilization
but have been characterized by repeated atrocities and
OutTSges among the large number OF which, Tie follow
ng Eiay be cited as NXsmpleS:
Peaceful and aged citizens unresstiug captves and
non combatant' have been confined at hard labor With
balls and chains attached TO their limbs aud are still so
held 10 dungeon and ioreSses Others have been sub
eced 10 like degrading punishment for selling med-
cines to the sick soldiers Of the Confcderacy.
The soldiers of the United States have been invited
and encouraged by general orders insult aud outrage
the wives the mothers and the sister. of our citizens
HELPLESS women have been from their homes, and
subjected to solitary confinement some in iortresses,
aud pisons aud one especially, island of barren
stnd under tropical sun; have been fed with loath
some ratOns that had been condemned unfit for sol
diers, and have been exposed to the ycst insults
Prisoners OF war who surrendered the naval forces
Of the United States agreement that they should be
released parole, have been seized and kept in close
confinement
Repeated pretexts have been soug, or invented for
plnnderng the inhabitants OF the captured city by fines
levied and cNactcdunde threat OF imprSonug rrcantS
At hard labor with ball and chain
The entire population Of the city OF New Orleans have
been forced 20 eject between starvation by the contsca
ton of AL their property and taking oath against
conscience 10 bear allegiance TO the invaders Ot Their
Fgrcs. from TIE CITY has been refused to those whose
fortudc with, the test to lone and aged women
and pcss children and after being elected from their
homes and robbed oil their property they have been LETT
10 starye n the streets subsist on charity:
The slave. have been driven from the plantations in
the nelghborhoOd OF New Orleans till their owners
would consent to share the crops with the Commanding
General Ms brother Andrew J. Butler, and other Off
GERS and when such consent had been extortod, the
slaves have been restored TO the plantations and there
compelled to work under the bayonets of guards OF
United States soldiers
Where this partneship was refused armed expeditions
have been TO the plantations 10 rob them OF every
thing that susceptible OF removal and even slaves
TOO aged or inrm for work have in spite of their en-
treaties been forced from the homes provided by the
owners and driven 10 wander helpless the highway
By recent General Order no. 9l) the entire proper
ty in that part Of louisiana lying westof the Mississippi
river has been seQueratcd for conscation and officers
have been assigned 10 duty with orders to gather mp
and collect the personal property and turn 10 the
proper officers upon their receipts such Of said property
AZ NAV he required for the use Of the United States
army TO collect together all the other personal property
and bring the same 10 New Orleans, and cause
to be sold at public auction 10 tho highest bidder
an order which II executed condemns to punishment
by starvation least quarter ofs million OF human
beings, of al ages and conditions and OF which
the execution although forbidden 10 military. officers by
the orders Of President Lincoln il in accordance with
the Confscation Law Of our enemies which ho has d-
reced to be enforced through the agency OF civil OIL
Gals Aud finally the African slaves have not only been
excited to instruction by every license and encourage:
meat but number. Of them have actually been armed
for seryle war; war in its nature far exceeding in
horrors the most merccss atrocities of the savages
And whereas the officers under the command OF the
said Butler have BEEN in many instances, active and
jealous agents in tie commission OF these crimes and
no instance is known of the refusal OF any one OF them