Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-01-03

L
Lats RcLmoni papers eoaaia long proclamation, IS
sued the % instent by Gen JEFFERSON DAVIS, in
which be orders retaliation against the troops OF the Uni
tod States for Tho acts Of Gen. Is T. Butter
This proclamation, BY way Of preamble, rscites the
resp ndeaos between Gen Lee and Gen Hasck regard
to the Of WIN. b Mumford, who was executed al
New Orleans and then after stating the unsatisfactory
suits of the correspondence, proceeds as follows:
Now therefore, l. jefferson Davis, President If the
Confederate States Of America and in their name do pro
DOunce and declare the said Benjamin f. Butler TO be
eoB, deserving Of capital punishment do order that be
shall no longer be considered treated simply as public
enemy of the Confederate States Of America but out
law and common enemy of mankind, aud that IN the event
OF hi capture the oi,er in command OF the capturing
force do cause him to be immediately executed BY hang
log And do further order that ssioned ofcsr
OF the United States taken captive shall be released on
parole before exchange, until the sid Butler shall have
met with due punishment for his crimes"
Tho proclamation then proceeds to specify various
cencrs alleged to have been perperated by Gen Butrr
ut New Or!eanssuch the punishment of some OF its
people by imprisonment the levyng upon The property OF
others, the aiming cf negroes, &c-snd concludts as
follows:
Aud whereas the officers under command of the said
Butler haye batn Ia many instances active and jealous
agents in the commission Of hese crimes and instance
i known OF the refusal Of any of them to participate
N the outrages above narrated and whereas the Prrsl
dent OF the United States has by public aud official deca-
none sghlntd moi only MIS- apprUvai oil the eHOfC 10
cite serve war within the C0niederacy, but his intention
70 give aid and encouragement thereto these ndepen
dent Staes shall continue to refuse submission to foreign
Power after the first day Of January next and has thus
made known that s appeal to the law of nations the die
tales OF rea on and the instincts of humanity would be-
in vain to enemies and that they can be de-
TERED from the commission Of these crimes only by the
terrors of just retrbutioa
Now therefore, l. j ffrrson Davis. President of the
confederate States of America and acting by their author
M appealing to the Divine Judge in attestaton that their
conduct not guided by the passion of revenge but that
hey reluctantly yield to the solemn duty of Refreshing by
necessary severity crimes Of which their ctzrns are the
Vctms DO issue this my proclamation and BY virtue ofmy
authority OF the armies Of the Con-
foderate States, do order:
First That all commissioned ofic in the command of
said Benjamin f. Butler BIZ declared not entitled 10 be
sdered sol Tiers engaged ia honorable warfare but
robbers and CRIMINALS deserving death and that they and
each of them be, whenever csptured reserved for
ton.
Second That the private soldiers aud commissioned
officers in the army of said Butler bs considered only
the instruments used for the mmssion Of crimes perpe-
tated by his ORDERS and not free agents, that they
therefore DO treated when captured prisoners Of
with kindness and humanity, and be sent home on the
Usual parole that they will in aid the
Unlfed States III any capacity during the cpnnuancs Of
his war, unless du'y exchanged.
Third That all negro Saves captr, in bs at
delivered over to the Executive authorities Of the reapec
tive States ia which they belong be dealt with accord
ing to the laws of said States
Fourth That the like orders be executed in all
With respect to all commissioned officers OF the United
States when found serving 10 company with said slaves 10
against the authorities of the different States
OF this Cpnfederacy.
In testimony whereof have sgued these presents and
caused the zeal of the Confederate States of Amerca
be affixed thereto at the city Of Ri hmond this 23d day
OF December in the year Of Lord thousand eight
hundred and sixty-two JEFFERSON DAVIS
9 by the President:
-. p. BENJAMIN, Secretary of State"