Year: 1862

CITY HALL, A pril &c, 1862.
Flag Officer d. q. Farrdgnt, L. S. Flag


Ship Hartford:


SIR: In pursuance Of resolution which we
thought proper to take, out Of regard for the
lives of the women and children who still
crowd this great metropolis, General Lowell
has evacuated it, with his troops, and restored
to me the administration Of its government
and the custody Of its honor.


! have, in council with the city fathers, con-
sidered the demand you made of me yester
day, for an unconditional surrender of the city,
coupled with requisition to host the flag Of
the United States on the pub.c edlfices and
haul down the flag that still floats upon the
breeze from the dome Of this Hall. 1t be.
comes nv duty TO transmit to you all answer,
which is the universal sentiment Of my con-
stituents no less than the prompting my own
heart dictates to me on this sad and solemn
occasion.


The city is without the means Of defence,
and is utterly destitute Of the force and mate
rial that might enable it TO resist an overpow'
erng armament displayed in sight of 1t. l
am no military man, and possess no authority
beyond that % executing the municipal laws
Of the city of New Orleans. Ii would be pre-
sumptuous in me to a tempt to lead an army
into the field, if had one at command; and
| know still less how TO surrender an undcien
ded place, held ms this is, at the mercy OF
your gunners and your mortars. To surren.
der such place were an idle and unmeanlng
ceremony. The city is yours Ivy the power OF
brutal force, pot BY my choice or consent OF
it's inhabitants. 1t is for you to determine
what will be the fate that awaits us here. AS
to hosting any flag other than the flag Of our
own adoption and allegiance, It mo say TO
YOU that the man lives not in our midst whose
hand and heart would not be parayzed at
the mere thought of such an act nor could |
find in my entire constituency SO wretched
anl desperate a renegade as would dare to
profanc with his hand the sacred emblem OF
our aspirations.


Sir. YOU have manifested sentiments which
would become one engaged in a better cause
than that to which you have devoted your
sword. | doubt not but that they spring
fon a noble though deludcd nature, and
know how to appreciate the emotions which
inspired them You have gallant people to
adfuinistrate over during your occupancy OF

this city-a people sensitive to all that can in
the least affect their dignity and selfrespect
Pray, sir, 90 not fail to regard their suscepti'
bilties. The obligations which | shall assme
in their name shall be religiously complied
with. You may trust their honor, though
YOU might not count on their submission 10
unmerited wrong.


In conclusion, beg you to understand that
the people Of New Orleans, while unable tC
resist your force, DO not allow themselves to
be insulted by the Interference of such a'
| have rendered themselves odous and con
temptibe by their dastardIy deselton Of ou'
cause in the mighty struggle in which wc' r(
engaged, or such as might remind them toe
powerfully that they arc the conquered, and
you tho conquerors. Peace and order may
be preserved without resort to measures which
| could not at this moment prevent. YOU
occupying tho city does not transfer allegiance
from the Government Of their choice to one
which they have deliberately rspudiated, and
they yield the obedience which the conquero
is entitled to extort from the conquered.
Respectfully, JonS T. MosRoE, Mayor.