Maryland free press., 1863-01-09
BY THE PRESIDENT OF TffE CON-
FEDERATE STATES-A PROCLA-
NATION.

Whereas, A communication was addressed
on the sixth day of July last, 1862, by Gen.
Robert L. Lee, acting under the instructions
of the Secretary of War of the Confederate
States of America, to Gen II. w. Halleck,
Commander in Chief of the United States
Army, informing the latter that a report had
reached this Government that VIM. B. Num-
ford, a citizen of the Confederate States, had
been executed by the United States authori-
ties at NcwOrleans for having pulled dgrn
tnc UIIItr'I '1rfees na vrfor .'t, oc,;t,. us
occupation by the United States forces, and
calling for statement of the facts, with a
view of retaliation if such an outrage had re-
ally been committed under the sanction of the
authority of the United States;
And whereas tNo answer having been re-
ceivcd to said letter,) another letter was, on
the I'd of August last (1SG2) addressed by
Gen. Lee, under my instructions, to General
Hdllcck, renewing the inquiries in relation to
the execution of the said Mumford, with the
information tftat In tile event of not receiving
a reply within fifteen days, it would be assu-
med that the fact was true, and was sanction
ed by the Government of the United States :
And whereas, An answer, dated on the 7th
of August last, t1S62,l was addressed to Gen.
Lee by Gen. Hallcck the said General in
Chief of the armies of the United States al
leging sufficient causes for failure to make an
early reply to said letter of the 9th July its
rcrting that mo authentic information had
been received in relation to the execution of
Mumford, but measures will be Immediately
taken to ascertain the facts Of the alleged cx-
ccution," aid promising that General Ite
should be duly informed thereof;
And whereas, on the 2Sth of November
last, (18G2) another letter was addressed, un-
der my instructions, by Robert Ould, Confed-
crate agent for the exchange of prisoners under
the cartel between the two Governments, to
Lieut.. Col w. H. Ludlow, agent of the Uni
ted States under said cartel, informing him
that the explanation promised in the said let
ter of Gem Hallcck; of 7th of August last,
had not yet been received, and that if no an
swcr was sent TO the Government within fif-
teen days from the delivery Of this last COM
munication, it would be considered that an an
swer is declined:
And whereas, in a letter dated on the Sd
day Of the present month of December, the
said Lieut. Col. Ludlow apprized the said
Robert Ould that the above recited communi-
cation of the 2Sth of November had been re-
ceiyed and forwarded to the Secretary of War
of the Emitted States, and whereas this last dc
lay of fifteen days allowed for answer has clap
sod and no answer has been received:
And whereas, in addition to the tacit ad-
mission resulting from the above refusal to
answer, have received evidence fully estab-
fishing the truth of the fact that the said
William b. Mumford, citizen of the Confel-
cracy, was actually and publicly executed in
cold blood by hanging, after the occupation
of the city of New Orleans by the forces un-
der Gen. Benjamin +. Butler, when said Num-
ford was an unrcsistihG and nonscombatant
captive, and for no offence even alleged to
have been committed by him subsequent to
the day of the capture Of the said city;
And whereas The silence of the Govern
ment of the United States, and It's maintain
ing of said Butler in high office under its au-
thorty for many months after his commission
of an act that can be viewed in no other light
than as a deliberate murder, as well rs of nu-
mcrolls other outragcs and atrocities hcrcaf2
ter to he mentioned, afford evidence too con.
elusive that the said Government sanctions
the conduct of the said Butler, and is deter
mined that lie shall remain unpunshetl for
these crimes
Now, therefore, !, Jefferson Davis, Pycsi-
dent of the Confederate States of America,
and in their name, do pronounce and declare
serving Of capital punishment. do order
that lie shall no longer be considered or treat
cd simply as a public enemy of the Ceuieder-
States of America, but as an outlaw and COM
mon enemy Of mankind, and that, in the event
of his capture, the officer in command of the
capturing force do cause him to be Immediate
ly executed by hanging.
And do further order that no commission
ed officer Of the United StScs, taken captive,
shall be released on parole, before exchange
until the said Butler shall have met with due
punishment for his crimes.
And Whereas, The hostilitics wagcd against
this Conftdcracy by the forces of the y. s.,
uitlcr the command Of said Benjamin i. But
Ter, have borne no such resemblance in, such
warfare as is alone permissible by the rules Of
international law, or the usage of civilization,
but have been characterized by repeated at
trocites and outrages, among the large numbos
of which, the following may be cited as ex-
ainples
Peaceful and aged citizens, unrcsisting cap
lives aud non combatants, have been conincd
at hard labor, with hard chains attached to
their limbs. and are still 50 held in dungeons
and fnrtrcSais
Others have Been submitted 10 Ike d,Sr,,-
HIM, ann; .lr,cuI f,r gallino ,nrIucrs IN 1 Lc