The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-12-30

them of everything that was susceptible of remov
al. and even slaves too aged or infrm for work,
have in spite oftheir entrsaties, been forced from
the homes provided by the owners, and driven to
wander helpless on the highway.
BY recent General Order (No. 911 the entire
property that part of Louisiana lying west of the
Mississippi river, have been sequestrated for con-
fscation, and officers have been assigned to duty
with orders to gather up and collect the personal
property and turn over to the proper officers, upon
their receipts such of said property may be re-
ouired for the use of the United States army; to
collect together all the other personal property and
bring the same to New Orleans, and cause it to be
sold at public auction to the highest bidder"-an
order which, if executed, condemns to punishment
by starvation, at least quarter OF million of HUI
man beings Of all ages, sexes and conditions; and
of which the execution, although forbidden to
military officers by the orders of President Lin
coin, is liz accordance with the Confscation law of
our enemies, which he has directed to be enforced
through the agency of civil officials And finally,
the African slaves have not only been excited to
Instructions by every license and encouragement;
but numbers of them have actually been armed for
a servile war, war in its nature far exceeding in
horrors the most merciless atrocities of the saya-
ges:
And whereas the officers under the command of
the said Butler have been, in many instances ac-
crimes, and no instances is known of the refusal of
any one ofthem to participate in the outrages above
narrated:
And whereas the President of the United States
has, by public and official declaration signifed not
only his approval Of the effort to excite seryile
within the Confederacy, but his intention to give
aid and Encouragement thereto, if these indepen-
dent States shall continue to refuse submission to
foreign power after the 1st day of January next,
and has thus made known that all appeals to the
laws of nations the dictates of reason, and the in
stncts of humanity would be addressed in vain to
our enemies and that they can be deferred from
the commission of these crimes only by the terms
of just retrbuion:
Now, I, JEFFERSON DAVIS, President of the
Confederate States of America, and acting by their
authority, appealing to the Divine Judge in attes-
tation that their conduct is not guided by the pas
sion of revenge but that they reluctantly yield to
the solemn duty of REFRESHING by necessary severi-
ty, crimes of which their citizens are the Victims
co issue this my proclamation, and by virtue Of
my authority as Commander IN Chief of the armies
Of the Confederate States do order,
1st. That all commissioned officers in the COM
mand of said Benjamin f. Butler be declared not
entitled to be considered soldiers engaged in hon
orable warfare, but as robbers and criminals de-
serving death; and that they and each of them be,
whenever captured, reserved for execution
I'd. That the pri' ate soldiers and noncomnis-
stoned officers in the army of said Butler be con-
sidered only the instruments used for the COM
mission of the crimes perpetrated by his orders, !
and not as free agents, that they therefore be treat
ed, when captured, prisoners of war, with kind
ness and humanity, and be sent home on the |
usual parole, that they will in no manner aid or
serve the United States in any capacity during
the continuance of this war, unless duly ex-
changed.
Sd. That all negro slaves captured in arms be
at once delivered over to the Executive authori-
ties of the respective States to which they belong
to be dealt with according to the laws of said !
States.
4th. That the like orders be executed in all |
cases with respect to all commissioned officers of
the United States when found serving in company |
with armed slaves in instruction against the au-
authorities of the different States of this Con- |
federacy.
In testimony whereof, I have signed these
presents and caused the seal of the Confederate |
States of America to be affixed thereto at the city
of Richmond, on this sd day of December, in
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred !
and sixty-two.
JEFFERSON DAVIS |