GENERAL ORDERS HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, Each Bank or Banking Company in New Orleans will make, under oath of the cashier, a statement of the condition of the bank, in the form heretofore made to the Board of Currency, up to the 2d day of August, 1862, and stating specifically what their cash consists of and where it is. BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL BUTLER : R. S. DAVIS, Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant Generai. No. 55. New Orleans, August 4, 1862. It appears that the need of relief to the destitute poor of the city requires more extended measures and greater outlay than have yet been made. It becomes a question in justice upon whom should this burden fall. Clearly upon those who have brought this great calamity upon their fellowcitizens. It should not be borne by taxation of the whole municipality, because the middling and working men have never been heard at the ballot-box unawed by threats and unmenaced by "Thugs" and paid assassins of conspirators against peace and good order. Besides, more than the vote that was claimed for secession have taken the oath of allegiance to the United States. The United States Government does its share when it protects, defends and preserves the people in the enjoyment of law, order and calm quiet. Those who have brought upon the city this stagnation of business, this desolation of the hearth-stone, this starvation of the poor and helpless, should, as far as they may be able, relieve these distresses. There are two classes whom it would seem peculiarly fit should at first contribute to this end. First, those individuals and corporations who have aided the rebellion with their means; and second, those who have endeavored to destroy the commercial prosperity of the city, upon which the welfare of its inhabitants depend. It is brought to the knowledge of the Commanding General that a subscription of twelve hundred and fifty thousand dollars was made by the corporate bodies, business firms and persons whose names are set forth in schedule "A" annexed to this order, and that sum placed in the hands of an illegal body known as the "Committee of Public Safety," for the treasonable purpose of defending the city against the Government of the United States, under whose humane rule the city of New Orleans had enjoyed such unexampled prosperity, that her warehouses were filled with trade of all nations who came to share her freedom, to take part in the bene fits of her commercial superiority, and thus she was made the representative mart of the world. The stupidity and wastefulness with which this immense sum was spent was only equaled by the folly which led to its being raised at all. The subscribers to this fund, by this very act, betray their treasonable designs and their ability to pay at least a much smaller tax for the relief of their destitute and starving neighbors. Schedule "B" is a list of Cotton Brokers, who, claiming to control that great interest in New Orleans, to which she is so much indebted for her wealth, published in the newspapers, in October, 1861, a manifesto deliberately advising the planters not to bring their produce to the city, a measure which brought ruin at the same time upon the producer and the city. This act sufficiently testifies the malignity of these traitors, as well to the Government as their neighbors, and it is to be regretted that their ability to relieve their fellow-citizens is not equal to their facilities for in juring them. In taxing both these classes to relieve the suffering poor of New Orleans, yea, even though the needy be the starving wives and children of those in arms at Richmond and elsewhere against the United States, it will be impossible to make a mistake, save in having the assessment too easy and the burden too light. It is therefore ORDERED- Ist. That the sums in schedules annexed, marked "A" and "B," set against the names of the several persons, business firms and corporations herein described, be, and hereby are, assessed upon each respectively. 2d. That said sums be paid to Lieut. David C. G. Field, Financial Clerk, at his office, in the Customhouse, on or before Monday, the 11th inst., or that the property of the deliquent be forthwith seized and sold at public auction, to pay the amount, with all necessary charges and expenses, or the party imprisoned till paid. 3d. The money raised by this assessment to be a fund for the purpose of providing employment and food for the deserving poor people of New Orleans. BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL BUTLER : R. S. DAVIS, Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant General. [Lieut. Field may be found in the room formerly occupied by the Navy Agent.] |