Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-12-29
THE EVENING STAR.
JEYF. DAyIs,s PROCLAMATION.

Jefferson Davis has issued q proclamation
Announcing that retaliatory measures will be
as>d against Gen. Butler and his officers for
certain acts Of theirs said TO be in violation OF
ths psages of war. All negroes taken with
ayns are to be disposed Of according to the lava
u he State TO which they belong. That means
nat they will be hung
The proclamation commences by reciung
certain communications alleged TO have passed
between Gen. Lee, on behalf of the Confederate
Statss, and Gen. IaIleck, on bshaf Of the
United States in relation 10 the hanging in New
Orleans OF VIM. Il. NJ umford. an alleged citizen
Of the Confederate States. The silence OF The:
Cnited states governments taken AZ an eNi.
dencs that the conduct Of Butler u sanctioned
by bis government, ard Jen. Davis therefore
prcnounces and declares the said Ben iami5
r. Butler 70 Be a felon, deserving Of capital
prnishment. do order that he shall no longer
Be considered or treated simply as q public
enemy OF The Confederate States of America
but as an outlaw and common enemy OF man
kind, and that, in the event of his capture, the
on eer IN command OF the capturing forces do
es:use him 20 be Immediately executed ny
hanging.
.And do further order that no commissioned
officer Of tho United States, taken captive, shall
be released ON parole. before exchange, Until
she eaId Butler shall have met with due pun
ishvisnt for his crime"
1t was then asserted that Gen Butler has no.
conducted hostilites as civilized warfare should
lie conducted, and certain serious charges are
preferred against bin, among which sre: con-
inning peaceful and aged citizens, capIiye- and
noBcomo atants; Furnishing parties for selling
medicines TO sick Confederate soliiers: insu lt-
ing the wives, mothers and sisters Of Confeder-
ate ctSEs ne sub}ecting women to solitary con-
nneme nj IN fortre<ses and prisons; keeping IN
rloce con 6nrmcnt prisoners OF war who sur
rendered ami Were promised release on pa
role; by fines and leyies forcing citizens 10 take
oaths Of allegiance against their conscien reg:
forcing slaves from their plantations and com
polling them 10 work under Federal bayonats;
krrr g..
less On the highways; coniiseatiug and senuPz-
trating all that portion of Iouisiana west OF
The Mississippi river.
"And, finally, The African slaves have no,
only been melted 10 insurTection BY every Ii
sense and encouragement. but numbers OF
them have actually been armed for 4 servile
war-a war in its nature far exceeding The
horrors and most merciless atrocities OF say
ages:
And whereas, The oMcers nader COM
mand of said Butler have been, in many in
stsDCes. actiNe and zPalous agents in The COM
mission Of these crimes, and no instance *
known OF the refusal OF any one of them 20
participate in The outrases above narrated:
And whereas, The President of the United
States has, by public and official declarations
signifcd not only his approval of the effort 10
excite serVile war within the COnfedrracy, bu:
els intention TO give aid and encoursgement
Thereto, il these independent States shall con-
Gnue tereIuse submission to a foreign power
after the fist day of January next. and has
thus mad" known that all appeal TO the law of
OF humanity would BE- addressed in vain to cur
enemies and that they can be deferred from The
commission OF these crimes only by the terrors
OF inst reiribution:
Therefore, the Confederate President or.
ders:
"Eirst. That all commissioned officers III the
command OF said Ben jannin r. Busler ~ de-
clarrd not entitled To be considered as soldiers
engaged in honorable warfare, but az robbers
and criminals deserving death; and tia. they.
aud each cf them, be, whenever captured, re.
served for execution.
"Second. That The private soldiers and non
commissioned officers IN the 8rmy or said But
Der be considered as only the instruments used
for the commission OF crimes perpetra:ad by his
orders. and not as free agents. that they, there,
fore, be treated, when captured. ga prisoners OF
war, with Kindness and humanity, and he sent
home On the usual parole that they will i'm 40
manner aid OF serve The United States in any
capacity during the continuance Of this war
unless duly exchanged.
Third. That ali negro slaves captured in
Arms De at once delivered over To The ex ecntivs
authorities of the respective States 70 which
they belong, 10 be deals with according to tn.
laws OF the said States.
Fourth. That the like orders be- exscu ed In,
all cases with rPspec. 10 all commissioned Of
Ulcers of the United States when found serving
In company with said slaves in irsurrection
against The authorities OF the different Stairs OF
his ConfsdPracy."