Advices from
Norfolk, to Thursday last, state that
Major Edgar Burroughs, the Confederate officer who was captured a few weeks since, had been tried and condemned to be hung, but had been pardoned by
Butler on condition of his taking the oath of allegiance.
The widow of
Dr. Wright is not dead, nor has one of his daughters lost her reason; but the family are in great pecuniary distress, and are anxious to leave
Norfolk.--
Butler has issued an order requiring all persons holding any office — judges,
justices, sheriffs, lawyers, physicians, teachers, &c., to take the following oath:
"We, whose names are subscribed hereto, do solemnly swear that we will bear true faith and allegiance to the
United States of America, and support the
Constitution thereof, against all enemies and opposers whatever, whether States or individuals; and we give our solemn parole of honor (to be enforced according to military law) that we will hold no correspondence with, or afford aid and comfort to, any enemies and opposers of the
United States, save as an act of humanity, to administer to the necessities of individuals who are in sickness or distress; and we solemnly declare that this oath and parole are taken and given freely and willingly, without any mental reservation or evasion whatever, and with full intention to keep the same."
All sets, doings, deeds, instruments, records, or certificates, certified or attested by, and transactions done, performed, or made by any of the persons above described, from and after the 15th day of December, inst., who shall not have taken and subscribed such oath, are void and of no effect.
The following is the remainder of the order:
It having become necessary in the judgment of the
Commanding General, as a "public exigency," to distinguish those who are loyal and well disposed towards the
Government of the
United States from those who still hold allegiance to the
Confederate States, and ample time having been given to all citizens for reflection upon this subject, and full protection to person and property of every law-abiding citizen within this department having been afforded; and as there can be no such things as neutrality in this war by any citizen of the
United States; and as no enemy of the
United States ought to remain within the protection of the
Government, except as a prisoner of war, either as parole or in confinement; and as no good and loyal citizen can do anything rather than those things set out in said oath and parole:
Be it further ordered, That all persons ever heretofore citizens of the
United States, taking or receiving any favor, protection, privilege, passport, or to have money paid them; property, or other valuable thing whatever delivered to them, or any benefit of the power of the
United States extended to them — except protection from personal violence — must take and subscribe the said oath and parole before their request can be heard or any act done in their favor by any officer of the
United States within this Department, or they can pursue, directly or indirectly, any trade, business, or calling (except manual labor for their own support;) and all contracts, sales, conveyances, acts, and transactions whatever, made or done by and with persons who, having been citizens of the
United States, and living in the eastern part of the
State of Virginia and the
State of North Carolina, or either of the States in rebellion at the time of their secession, shall refuse or neglect to take and subscribe said oath and parole, shall be void and of no effect.
At the
Provost Court, and at the several Provost Marshals' offices, books will be opened and a proper officer will be present to administer the proper oath and parole to any person desiring to take the same, and to witness the subscription of the same by the party taking it. Such officer will furnish to each person so taking and subscribing a certificate, in term following:
Department of Va. And N. C.,
-- 1863.
-- has taken and subscribed the oath and parole required by
General Orders No. 49, for a loyal citizen of the
United States residing in a State ever in rebellion, or who has sympathized with the seceding States.
Headq'rs 18th Army Corps,
Dept. Va. And N. C.,
fort Monroe, Va., Dec. 8th, 1863.
General orders, no. 48.--
- I. All transfers of property or rights of property, real, mixed, personal, or incorporeal, except necessary food, medicine, and clothing, either by way of sale, gift, pledge, payment, lease, or loan, by any inhabitant of this Department who has not returned to his or her allegiance to the United States, (having once been a citizen thereof,) are forbidden and void, and the person transferring and the person receiving shall be punished by fine or imprisonment, or both.
- II.
All registers of the transfer of certificates of stock, or shares in any incorporated or joint stock company or association, in which any inhabitant of this Department who has not returned to his or her allegiance to the United States, (having once been a citizen thereof,) has any interest, are forbidden; and the clerk, or other officer, making or recording the transfer, will be held equally guilty with the transferer.
