The Placer herald., 1863-11-28
HOW THE ADMINISTRATION RECTI-
FIES MISTAKES IN THE ENROLL.
MENT.

other day, addressed letter to his Excellen-
cy, Abraham Lincoln, President of the
United States, Washington, d. c., calling
his attention to certain glaring frauds in
the enrolment of that city, and begging of
him to order correction Of the lists, Here
is the reply:
f. C. Sherman, Mayor; s. s. Hayes,
Comptroller:
Yours of the oath in relation to the draft
is received 1t seems to me the government
here will be overwhelmed if it undertakes
to conduct these matters with the authorities
of cities and counties. They must be con-
Quoted with Governors of States, who will
''of course represent the cities and counties
Meanwhile you need not be uneasy until
you again hear from A. LINCOLN"
The Chicago authorities, however, were
not to be put off in this style. They wrote
another letter to his Exceency, informing
him that they had not been able to discover
in the act of Congress, known as the Con-
scription Act, or in the practice of the
Government under it, any such clear and
distinct recognition of the State authority
as to authorize the impression that such an
application as that which they had made on
behalf and at the request of the Common
Council, would create confusion unless first
submitted to the Governor Of the State.-
Nevertheless, they said they would be con-
tent to seek redress at the hands of the State
authorities, provided the Government would
grant little more time. In that case the
committee said they would try and not be
"uneasy" until they again heard from Wash
lngton. Correspondence with Gov. Yates
and the Provost Marshal from Illinois fol.
lowed. The Governor was willing to do
everything in his power to have the frauds
rectified, but the Marshal was not-insisting
that the enrolment lists were prepared with
fidelity and care, etc, etc. Thereupon the
Chicago committee referred the matter once
more to the White House at Washington,
eliciting the following epistolary gem:
THE PRESIDENTS SECOND LETTER.
WAsHINeroN, Sept 7th, 1868.
f. c.. Sherman and S. S. Hayes:
Yours of August Goth, just received.
suppose it was intended by Congress that
this government should execute the act in
question without dependence upon any other
government, State, city or county. 1t is,
however, within the range of practical con-
venence to confer with the governments of
States, while it would 60 quite beyond that
range to have correspondence on the subj bject
with counties and cities They are too nu-
merous. AS instances, | have correspond
ence with Governor Seymour, but none with
Mayor Opdyke; with Governor Curtin, but
none with Mayor Henry.
(Signed) A. LINCOLN.
The Chicago Committee, despairing at
last of obtaining redress, fired farewell
shot" in communication dated September
18th, addressed to 'Mr. President" and then
let the whole matter drop-as if in disgust
Extract from the final Letter to the President
Had the Conscription Act been framed
upon the theory that the conscripts are draft
ed as part of the m Iitia of the several
States, the State authorities, besides the
clearly expressed constitutional right to ap,
point their officers, would also have implied
the right to determine all questions relating
to the regularity and equality of the enroIh
ment in their districts. But all these func-
tons are denied them under this act, hence
it must have been framed upon a different
theory, viz: that these forced eves are au
thorzed blythe clause of the Constitution
which empowers Congress to raise and sup.
port armies. However obvious it may ap
pear to us that such construction annuls
the other clause relating to the militia, and
that the true intent of the Constitution is
only to authorise the enlistment of men, in
the ordinary way, into armies officered by
and belonging exclusively to the Federal
government, we will suppose the act to be
fully authorized by that section. AS we
have said, it must have been framed upon
that theory.
All the machinery which it provides is
subject to the appointment and exclusive
control Of the Executive Department Of the
Federal Government. To almost all intents
and purposes, the force raised becomes a
part of the regular force Of the United
States. Now, wherever the General Govern
ment has jurisdiction, direct communication
and direct action between the Federal au-
lhorites and the people is the rule recog-
nized by the Constitution, the laws of Con.
gress, and constant usage since the founda-
ton of the Government. If citizen were
aggrieved by the conduct of postmaster, a
land officer or collector of customs, he has
always had audience at Washington.
1t seems to US, under these circumstances,
singular and erroneous practice to forbid
the people in this matter of the conscription,
which involves their lives and fortunes, to
communicate with the Government until
their injuries and petitions have passed
through the hands of the State officials.
The result of our experience in the pres
ent instance has been troublesome cores
pondence, which alone would deter most
men from that indirect and slow method OF
seeking redress, and, finally, positive refu-
sal of a request so reasonable and just as
scarcely to admit of an argument.
We have not yet surrendered the hope
compliance with our request. We venture
10 o1J NTH e;pooro o,ood foolinn ond daforf