Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-12-29
JEFF DAVIS CURSES BEN BUTLER,
a Very Notable Proclamation.

the 9th day of July last, 1852, by Gen. Robert E,
Lee, acting under instructions of the secretary of
war of the confederate states of America to Gen.
IL. w. Halleck, c0mmander-n-chief of theIUnited
States of America, informing the latter that a
report had reached this government that VIM. B.
Mumford, citizen of the confederate states,
had been executed by the United States authori-
ties at New Orleans, for having pulled down the
United States flag in that city before its occupa-
ton by the United States forces, and calling for
statement of facts with view of retaliation if
such an outrage had really been committed I'M
der the sanction of the authorities of the United
States;
And whereas, no answer having been received
TO said letter, another letter on the Sd of Au
gust last, addressed by Gen. Lee under my in
structions, to Gen. Haeck, renewing the inquiry
in relation to the execution of said Mumtord,
with the information that in the event of not re-
ceiving reply within fifteen days, it would be
assumed that the fact was true and was sane
TONED by the government of the United States;
AND whereas an answer dated 7th August was
addressed to Gen. by Gen. Halleck, the said
geDeraLin-chief of the United States army, al
legng sufficient causes for failure to make carly
reply 10 said letter Of the 9th of July, asserting
that no authentic information had been received
in regard to the execution of Mumford, but
that measures will be taken Immediately to as
certain the facts of the alleged execution, and
promising that Gen. Lee should be duly informed
thereof
And whereas on the 2Sth of November last
another letter was addressed under my nstruc-
tions, by Robert Ould, confederate agent for the
exchange OF prisoners, under the cartel between
the two governments, to Lieut.. Col. w. H. Lud-
low, agent of the United States under said cartel
informing him that the explanation promised in
said letter Of Gen. Haeck of the 7th of August.
had not yet been received, and il no answer was
sent 10 the government within fifteen days from
the delivery of this last communication, it would
be considered that an answer is declined:
And whereas by letter dated Sd of the pre-
sent month of December, the said Lieut. Col
Ludlow appraised said Robert Ould that the above
recited communication of 10Th of November had
been received and forwarded to the secretary of
war OF the United States;
And whereas this last delay of fifteen DAYS al
lowed for an answer has elapsed and no answer
has been received
Repeated preteXtS have been sought or invent
cd for plunGering the inhabitants of the captured
city, by fines levied and collected under threst of
imprisoning the ,recusantS at hard labor with
bail and chain.
And whereas in addition to the tacit admis-
sion resulting from the above refusal to answer.
| have received evidence fully establishing the
truth of the fact that the said VIM. b. Mumford.
a citizen of the cOnederacy was actually and
publicly executed in cold blood by hanging after
the occupation Of the city of New Orleans by the
forces under Gen BENZ. f. Butler when said
Mumord was an uGresisting and non-combat-
tant captive, and for no offence even alleged to
have been committed by HIM subsequent to the
date of the capture of said city.
And whereas the silence of the government of
the United States, and its maintaining said
Butler in high office under its authority for many
months after his commission of an act that can
be viewed in no other light than as a deliberate
murder, as well as of numerous other outrages
and atrocities hereafter 10 DE mentioned afford
evidence too conclusive that said government
sanctions the conduct OF said Butler, and is de-
termIned that he shall remain pieba g.
these crimes;
Now, therefore, l, jefferson Davis, president
of the confederate states of America, and in their
name, do pronounce and declare the said Benia-
min +. Butler to be telon, deserving of capiIal
punishment do order that he shall no longer
be considered or treated as public enemy of the
confederate states of America but as an outlaw
and common enemy OF mankind, and that in the
event OF his capture, the officer in command of
the capturing force do cause him TO be immedi-
ately executed by hanging. And | do further
order that no commissioned officer of the United
STATES taken captive shall be released on parole
before exchange until the said Butler shall have
met with due punishment for his crimes
And whereas the hostties waged against this
contederacy by the United States, under the
command of said Benjamin F. Butler. have
borne no resemblance to such warfare as is alone
permissible by the rules of International law or
the usage of civilization, but have been charac-
terlzed by repeated atrocities and outrages,
Hollow
ing may be cited as examples
Peaceful and aged citizens, unresisting captiyes
ana noa-combattants, have been confined at
hard labor with chains attached to their limbs.
and are Still so held in dungeons and fortresses.
Others have been submitted to a like degrading
punishment for selling medicines to the sick sol.
diers of the confederacy
The soldiers of the United States have been in
Vlted and encouraged in general orders 10 Insult
and outrage the wives, the mothers, and the sis
~ nn nj uaI,
torn from their homes and subjected to solitary
confinement, some in fortresses aud prisons, and
one especially on an island of barren sand under
tropical sun, have been fed with loathsome RAJ
tions that had been condemned as unfit for SOL
diers, and have been exposed to the yest in
suits.
Prisoners of war who surrendered to the naval
forces of the United States on agreement that
they should be released on parole, have been
seized and kept in close confinement.
The entire population of New Orleans have
been forced to elect between starvation, by the
confscaton of all their property, and taking an
oith against conscience 10 bear allegiance to the
invader of their country. Egress flom the city
has been refused 10 those whose fortitude with
stood the test, and even to lone aud aged women
and 10 helpless children, and after being elected
from their homes and robbed of their properIy
they have been left to Starve in The streets or sub
sst on charity
The slaves have been driven from the pIanta
tohS Ill tHS HClEDDDTnOOu OF New Orleans. until
their owners would consent to share their crons
with the commanding general, his brother, An
drew D. Butler and other officers; and when such
consent had been eXtorted, the slaves have been
restored othe plantations and there compelled
TO work under the bayOnetS of the guards of the
United STATES soldiers. Where thar partnership
was refused, armed expeditions have been sent
to the plantations to rob them of everything that
was susceptible of removal, and even slaves FOO
AGED or intirm tor work, have, in spite of their
entreatles, been forced from the homes provided
by their owners, and driven to wander helpless
on the highway.
BY recent general order No. 81, the entire prom
erty in that part of Louisiana west of the Missis
sipp river, has been Sequestrated for conisca-
hor, and officers have been assigned to duty.
with orders to gather up and collect the personal
property and turn over to the proper officers nm
on their receipts, such of said property as may be
required for the use Of tho United States armv.
but TO collect together all the other personal
property and bring the same to New Orleans.
and cause it 10 be sold at public auction 10 the
highest bidder; an order, which, if executed,
condemns TO punishment by starvation, at least
one quarter of million of human beings of ali