American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1862-05-02
the MAYORS MESSAGE.
The Action of the City Council.
The Mayors Answer to the Demand.


the special meeting of the City Council held
!. Ia.t evening, to receive, consider, and act
upon a message from the Mayor on the exist
ing state of things, after the reception ana
reading of the message, adjourned till ten
| o'clock this morning.
At the appointed hour, there was large
assembIage of citizens in and around the
Citv Hall. and on the opening of the Council
#gbamber the space allotted to spectators was
instantIy filed with deeply interested citizens,
anxious to ascertain the decision of the Coun-
Gil on the momentous subject submitted for
their consideration.
Seven Aldermen and thirteen Assistant
Aldermen were present in the joint session
of the two Boards.
On motion of Alderman Stith the Mayors
Message was again read--as follows
MAYoRALTY OF New ORLEANS,
CRY HALL, April %, 1862. ]
To the Honorable the Common Council:
GENTLENES-At Il O'Clock P. NJ to-day, l
was waited on by Captain Bailey, second in
command of the Federal feet now lying in
front of the city, bearing a demand from flag
officer Farragut, for the unconditional sur
render of the city of New Orleans, and the
hosting of the United States flag on the
Customhouse, Postofice and Mint.
4 He also demanded that the Louisiana flag
i be hauled down from the City Hall. l replied
/ that General Lowell was in command Of the
city, and / was without authority to act in
military matters.
Gen. Lowell was then sent for, and to him,
after stating that his mission was to the May
or and Council, Captain Bailey addressed his
| demands.
Gen. Lowell refused to surrender the city,
4 or his forces, or any portion of them but
accompanied his refusal with the statement
\ that he should evacuate The city, withdraw
8 lis troops, and then leave the civil authori-
! ties to act as they might deem proper.
II is proper here TO state that, in reply to
| the demand to haul down the flag from the
| City Hall, returned an unqualified refusel
| am now in momentary expectation of
receiving another peremptory demand for the
surrender of the city. l solicit your advice
in this emergency. Ny own opinion is that,
as a civil magistrate, possessed of no military
power, am incompetent to perform military
act such as the surrender of the city to a hos
tile force that it would be proper to say, in
reply to a demand of that character, that we
are without military protection; that the
troops have withS rawn from the city; that
we are consequently incapable of making any
resistance; and that therefore, we can offer
no obstruction to the occupation of the place
#by the enemy that the Customhouse, Post
Office ami Mint are the property of the Con-
Efederate States, and we have control over
them and that all acts involving a transfer
of authority must be performed by the inyad-
4 ing forces themselves; that we yield to phys
1 ical force alone, and that we maintain our
allegiance to the Government of the Confed-
crate States.
Beyond this, due respect for our dignity,
our rights and the flag of our country, does
5not, think, permit US to 60
Respectfully,
JOHN T. MONROE, Mayor
Alderman Dupre then offered the following
RESOLUTION, which, without debate, was unan-
mously adopted
"The City Council of New Orleans having
he city is indefensible, declare that re-
|istance will be made to the forces of the
United States.
"ResoIved, That the sentiments expressed |
b the message of His Honor the Mayor to
pc City Council in perfect accordance
it'll the sentiments entertained by the Coun-
il and by the entire population of this me-
Fopolis, and that the Mayor be respectfully |
equested to act in the spirit manifested in
bid message
On motion of Alderman Stith, the Council |
ben adjourned till half past six o'clock this
Eening
The correspondence between the Mayor
hd the Commander of the Federal feet will
found elsewhere in to-day's paper
1t costs great deal more to be misera-
lie than to be happy.