Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-05-08
Flag Officer Western Gulf Squadron.
THE REPLY.

MAYORS orylcx, Cry OF NEw oRLrASs,l
CITY HALL, April &c. 1ed2,
Flag Officer d. G. Farragut, n. S. Flag
Snip Hartford.
SIR: In pursuance Of a resolution which
We thought proper to take out of regard Tor
the lives OF the women and children; who
still crowd the metropolis, Gen. Lowell has
evacuated it with his troops. and restored
back to me the administration of its govern
ment and the custody of its power.
| have in council with the City Fathers
considered the demand you made of me yes
terday-of an unconditional surrender of
the city, coupled with requisition to hoist
the flag of the United States on the public
edifices, and haul down the flag that still
floats upon the breeze from the dome of this
Hall. II becomes my duty to transmit to
you an answer which is the universal senti-
| ment of my constituents, no less than the
prompting of my own heart, dictates to me
on this sad and solemn occasion. The city
is without the means of defense, and is ut
terly destitute Of the force and material that
might enable it to resist an oyerpowering
armament displayed in sight OF it,
/ / am no military man, and possess nc
authority beyond that Of executing the mu'
nicipal laws of the City of New, Orleans, il
would be p%resumptuous in me to attempt u
lead an army to the field, if ! had one al
command and ! know still less how to sur
render an undefended place, held, as Thu
is, at the mercy of your gp,nnerss, and you
mortars. 10 surrender such a place were al
idle and unmeaning. ceremony. Ind.
The city is yours by the power OF bruta
inhabitants. Ii is for you to determine
|. what will be the fate that awaits here. Al
to hosting any flag Of our own adoption an,
allegiance, let me say to you that the ma
lives not in our midst whose hand and hear
would not be paralyxed at the mere though
5 of such an act. Nor could / fndin my en-
tire constituency so desperate and wretche,
a renegade rs would dare to- prefane wit
his hand the sacred emblem Of our aspira
tions. .i( i6 .s ,nsd =.
Sir, you have manifested sentiment
which would become one engaged in 9 bel
ter cause than that TO which you have deyC
ted your sword, / doubt not that they sprin
from y noble though deluded nature, and
know how to appreciate the emotion whic
iipspired them. You have q gallant poop
& to ,administrate during your occupancy (
this city-a people sensitive to al that ca
d in the least affect their dignity and sci
respect. Pray, Sir, do not fail TO, regar
their susceptibilities The obligations whic
y l shall assume in their name shall be relil
= iously compiled with. You may trust. the
10 honor, though you might not count on the
submission to unmerited wrong. B
In conclusion, I beg you to understaI
& that the people Of New Orleans, while un
" BE 10 resist your force, do not allow then
selves to be insulted by the interference
I'd such as have rendered themselves odio'
Q and contemplate by their dastardly desc
ton Of our cause in the mighty struggle
which We are engaged, or such as mig
OF remind them too forcibly that they are Il
re conquered, and yours the oon9uerors.'
Peace and order may be preserved witho
resort to measures which ! could not At Il
moment prevent. Your occupying the q
OK does not transfer allegiance from the Cover
n ment of their choice 70 one which ha
|. IdelibsrateIy repudisted, and that they vie
he the Obedience which the ccnqueror q Zen
OF tiedto extopt from the conquered.
ell Respectfully .,fa,H
JOHN 4. MONROE, Mayor