The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-02

man. The countries washed by the waters
of the Ohio, the Missouri and the Missis-
sippi, can never be permanently severed.
If one generation basely barriers away its
rights, immortal honor will rest upon an
other that reclaims them.
Let it never be said either that the East
and West may be separated. Thirty days
distance from the markets of Europe may
satisfy the wants of Louisiana and Arkan-
sas, but it will not answer the demands of
Illinois and Ohio. The Valley of the
Mississippi will have its outlets upon the
Atlantic, the physical force of the West
will debOuche upon its shores with power
as resistless as the torrents of it's giant
rivers.
This country cannot be permanently d.
vided Ceaseless wars may drain its
blood and treasure domestic tyrants or
foreign force may grasp the sceptre OF its
power but its destiny will remain I'M
changed. 1t will still be united. God has
ordained it. What avails, then, the de-
struction of the best government ever de-
vised by mantle self-adjusting, self-cor-
People of the Southwest, why not ac-
cept the conditions imposed by the imperi-
Gus necessities of geographical position and
commercial supremacy, and re-establish
your ancient prosperity and renown
Why not become the founders of States,
which, as the entrepots and depots of your
own central and pleasant valleys, may
stand in the affluence of their resources
without superior, and in the privileges of
the people without peer, among the ma
tons of the earth +?
| (SigneD N P. BANKS,
| Major General Commanding.
jeff Davis allegations against General
Butler are the following:
| Peaceful and aged citizens, unresisting
captives, and non-combatants have been
confined at hard labor, with chains at
tached to their limbs, and are still held in
dungeons and fOrtresses. Others have
been subjected to like degradation and
punishment, for selling medicines to sick
soldiers of the confederacy United States
soldiers have been invited and encouraged
in general orders to insult and outrage the
wives, mothers and sisters of our citizens
Helpless women have been torn from their
homes, and subjected to solitary confne-
ment-some in fortresses and prisons, and
one especially on an island of barren sand,
under a tropical sun, and fed with loath-
some rations that had been condemned as
unfit for soldiers, and have been
exposed to vilest insults. Prisoners
of war, who surrendered to naval
forces Of the United States, on agreement
that they should be released on parole,
have been seized and kept in close confne-
ment. Reported pretexts have been sought
and invented for plundering the inhabitants
of the captured city, by fines levied, and
collected under threat Of Imprisonment of
residents at hard labor with ball and chain
The entire population of New Orleans have
been forced to elect between starvation, by
confiscatiOn Of all their property, and tax
ing an oath against conscience to bear allie
glance to the invaders of their country
Egress from the city has been refused to
those whose fortitude withstood the test,
even to lone, aged women and to helpless
children; and after being taken from their
homes, and robbed of their property, they
have been left to starve in the streets, or
subsist on charity. Slaves have been driven
from plantations in the neighborhoOd OF
| New Orleans, until the owners would CON
sent to share the crops with the Com
handing General, lis brother, and other
officers; and when such consent had been
extorted, slaves have been returned to their
plantations. and compelled to work under
bayonets of the guards of the United States,
assigned to duty with orders to gather up
cotton together with all other personal
property, and turn over the same to the
proper officers, upon their receipts, such
Of said property as may be required for
the use of the United States army; to
collect and gather all personal property,
and bring the same to New Orleans, and
cause it to be sold at public auction to the
highest bidders; an order which, if exc
cuted, condemns to punishment by starva-
ton at least one fourth of the people of all
ages, sexes and conditions; OF which the
execution, although forbidden to military
officers by the orders of President Lincoln,
is in accordance with the confscatiOn law
Of Butler, which he has enforced through
the agency of cruel officers; and finally
the African slaves have not only been in
cited to insurrection by every encourage
ment, but numbers of them have actually
been armed for war--a war far exceeding
the horrors and most mcrciess ATROCITIES
of that of savages; and officers under COM
mand of said Butler have been in many
instances active and jealous agents in the
commission of these crimes.
/