New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-29
should be released on parole, have been seized and
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kept in close confinement:
Repeated pretexts have been sought or invented
for pundering the inhabitants Of the captured city,
by fines levied and collected under threats Of imprs
oning recussnts at hard labor with ball and chain.
The entire population Of New-Orleans have been
forced 10 elect between starvation by the confsca-
ton fall their property, and taking On oath against
conscience to bear allegiance to the invader Of their
country:
Egress from the city has been refused to those
whose fortitude withstood the tcs and even to lone
and aged women, and to helpless children; and after
being elected from their homes, and robbed OF their
property they have been left to starve in the streets
or subsst on charity.
The slaves have been driven from the plantations
in the peIghborhood Of New-Orleans until their
owners would consent to share their crops with the
Commanding. General, his brother, Andrew j. But
Ter, and other officers and when such consent had
been extorted the slaves have been restored TO the
plantations and there compelled TO work under the
bayonets Of the guards of United States soldiers.
Where that partnership was refused, armed expedi'
tons have been sent to the plantations to rob them
of everything that was susceptible of removals
And even slaves, too aged or infrm for work,
have in spite of their entreaties, 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
property in that part Of Louisiana west of the hs-
sssipp River has been sequestrated for coniscaton,
and officers have been assigned to duty with orders
TO gather up and collect the personal property and
IN ofticpra thelr reCeiptg,
such Of said property may be required for the use
of the United States army to collect together all
the other personal property and bring the same 70
New Orleans, and cause il 10 be sold at public suc-
ton TO the highest biddersan order which, IL exc
cued, condemns TO punishment, by starvation, at
least a quarter Of million of human beings Of all
ages sexes and conditions and Of WHICH the execu-
ton although forbidden to military officers by the
orders OF President Lincoln, 10 in accordance with
the Confscaton Law of our enemies, which he has
effected TO be enforced through the agency Of civil
officials;
| And finally, The African slaves have not only
been melted to insurection by every license and en-
enlargement, but numbers of them have actually
been armed for servile war-a war in its nature
far exceeding the horrors and most merciless atroci
ties Of savages
! And whereas The officers under command Of the
said Butler have been in many instances active and
Jealous agents in the commission Of these crimes,
and no instance is known OF the refusal Of any one
of them 10 participate in the outrages above mar
rated
And whereas, The President Of the United States
has, by public and official declarations, sniied not
only his approval Of the effort to excite servile war
within the Conederacy, but bis intention to give aid
aud encouragement thereto, il these independent
States shall continue to refuse submission to a foreign
power after the first day Of January next, and has
thus made known that all appeal TO the law Of ma
tons the dictates Of reason and the instincts Of ha-
mainly would be addressed in vain TO enemies,
ard that they can be deferred from the commission
OF these crimes only by the terrors Of just reribu-
ton:
Now, therefore, !, Jefferson Davis, President Of
the Confederate States Of America, and acting by
their authority, appealing TO the Divine Judge ia
attestsion that their conduct is not guided by the
passion Of revenge but that they reluctantly yield
70 the solemn duty Of redressing, by neceesary
severity crimes Of which their citizens are the vic
tins, do issue this my proclamation, and by virtue
of my authority AS Commander-in-Chef Of the ar
mics Of the Confederate States, do order:
First: That all commissioned officers in the COM
mand Of said Benjamin +. Butler be declared not
entitled 10 be considered as soldiers engaged III hon
orabe warfare but as robbers and CRIMINALS deserv-
ing death; and that they, and each of them se
whichever captured, reserved for Execution.
! Second. That the private .oldiers and non.corn.
missoned OFFERS IN the army Of said Butler be con-
sdered as only the instruments used for the commits
sion of crimes perpetrated by his orders, and not as
free agents that they, therefore, be treated when
cap,ured. as prisoners Of War, with kindness and
humanity and be sent home on the usual parole that
they will in no manner lid or serve the United
States in any capacity during the CONTINUANCE OF this
war unless duly exchanged.
IEird That all negro slaves captured III arms
be at once delivered to the executive author
ties of the respective States to which they belong, to
be deal, with according to the laws of said States.
Fouyth: That the like orders be executed III all
cases with rospec; to all commissioned officers OF The
United States when found serving in company with
sed slaves in instruction against the authorizes oil
the different States Of this Confederacy.
In testimony whereof have signed these pres
ents and caused the zeal Of the Confederate State.
of America to be affixed thereto, at the City OF Rich
lnond Oh this I'D day Of December, in the year Of
onr / ord 1862 JETFERsos DAVIS.
BY the President: J. p. BEsJAxN, Secretary Of State
EDITORIAL COMMENTS.
On this proclamation The Rtchmoad DsspoteA