Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-07-30
The Hanging of wnl. B. Mumford in New
 Orleans.

A painful but plain duty awaits performance at the hands of the authorities here IL is to select from the enemy's prisoners in our hands a subject for retaliation for the illegal, barbaFous and nia- nous hanging of Wm. 5. Mumfoul, in New Or leans, for the |" crime" ot tearing the Yankee en- sign from the mint in that city, on tho 2lth of April last. The facts of the case are, that the ankees, having passed the forts below New Or leans, made their appearance off the city on the 2ith of April, and demanded its surrender, The mayor replied tha the city at the mercy of the Yankees; but that t would never be surrendered Under such circumstances the Yankee commander party shore to hoist their flag on the pub lie buildings. They were not tOrciby resisted, and executed their orders unmO esed, but no sooner had they gone on board of their boats than Mumtord went to the top of the mint and tore the hated banner down. The crowd assisted him, and in a few minutes the " stars and stripes" so defantlv flung to the breeze were tramped beneath the feet of the indignant people of the city and dragged through the streets.
 The act of Mumford was committed bgf0re the city of New Orleans had surrendered. The flag was planted upon the dome of the public building by force, and while there act of the authoi- ties to bind him. Mumlord was perfectly ustifabe in tearing it down.
 Indeed, the flag was placed there while negotia- tions were being conducted between the comman- der of the Yankee fleet end the authorities, and, under these circumstances, the raising ot the enc my's flag was plain violation of the rules and amenities of war; and an outrage on the authorities and people of the city.
 But even under the harshest rule of construction, the act of Mumtord having been committed before the city of New Orleans had surrendered and while she steadily refusing 10 do So, was noh- ing more than act 0t t1Gr, for which he was no more responsible than prisoner of war 1t was an act, too, in which no life was sacrtced or blood shed, and which amounted to nothing more than show of resentment to the flag ot an enemy.
 For this simple manifestation oi hostility to an enemy who had neither occupied the city with his forces, received its surrender from the author- ties, the unhappy man, Mumtord, has been hung in open day by the orderot Butler, the tyrant ot New Orleans.
 From such accounts of the affair as we have been able to gather it appears that the brutal sentence of death on the gallows was carried into effect in the presence of thousands of spectators. The vic tim was surrounded by Cordon Of armed men, ready to prevent any attempt at a rescue. The crowd looked on, scarcely believing their senses, unwilling to think that even such tyrtnt as But Ter could really have the beart to murder citizen Of the Confederate States thus openly, and hoping every moment for reprieye CT a pardon; but none came. and the soul of the martyr usheFed, by violent hands, into the presence of its God
 For this horrible and gha~tly outrage there comes a cry for vengeance. A sharp and dire vengeance mus be executed. The law of retaliation is 8 severe, but mercitul enc; it is part of the civi lized code of war; it is intended to check and ohas tse its excesses; and the spirit that constantly threatens its application, but shrnks from 1t from weakness or maudIin tenderness is alike childish ill its nature and cruel in it's consequences mond Examiner.