Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-08-17
GOV. sEYNous's LETTE

To The President Of The United Stof's:
SIR: At nv request. II number OF persons have
called upon you with respect TO the draft in this
State, more particularly rs il affected the cities OF
New York and BROOKLYN. To avoid m~isappre-
tensions, I deem il proper to state my views and
wishes in writing. As the draft was one OF the
causes of the late riot in the city Of New York,
and as that outbreak has been urged by some as
q reason for its immediate execution in that city,
it is proper that / should speak Of that event.
At the moment when the militia Of the CITY
we're absent. in pursuance of your request, and
when the forces Of the General Government were
withdrawn from its fortIfcations, leaving il de-
fenseless against any attack from abroad, or the
riot within its limits, the Provost Marshal CON-
menced the draft. without consultation with the
authorities Of the State or of the city. The
harsh measure of raising troops by CONSUMPTION
has heretofore been avoided by this Government,
and is now resorted to from the belief on its part
that IL is necessary for the support of our arms.
/ know YOU will agree with me that Justice and
prudence alike demand that this lottery for life
shall be conducted with the utmost fairness and
openness, so that all may know that il Is impair
tial and equal in its operations. 1t Is the right of
every citizen to be assured that in all public
transactions there is strict impartiaIity. In a
matter so deeply affecting the persons and happi-
neSs-of our people, this is called for by every
consideration. | am happy to say that in many
of the districts in this State, the enrolled lists
we're publicly exhibited, the names were placed
in the wheels from which they were TO be drawn
in the presence of men Of different parties and Of
known integrity. and the drawings were con
Quoted in a manner to avoid suspicion of wrong.
Az the enrollments are made in many instances
by persons unknown to the public, who are af
fected by their action and who have no voice in
their election, care should be taken to prove the
correctness Of every slip. Unfortunately this
was not done in the district of New York when
the draft was commenced. The excitement
caused by this unexpected draft led to an unjusti
fable attack upon the enrolling officers. which
ultimately grew into the most destructive riot
known in the history Of our country. Disregard
for Law and the disrespect for judicial tribunals
produced their natural results OF robbery and AR
son. accompanied by murderous outrages upoua
helpless race. and for a time the very existence
of the commercial metropolis of our country was
threatened. In the sad and humiliating history
of this riot il is gratifying that the citizens of
New York, without material aid from the State
or nation. we're able of themselves to put down
this dangerous iDsurrectiOn. / do not underrate
the value of the services rendered by the military
or naval officers of the General Government
who were stationed in that city. for the public
are under great and lasting obligations to them
for their courage and skill and their wise and pru-
dent couusels. But they had at their command
anly 4 handful OF good troops. who alone were
entirely unequal to the duty of defending the vast
amount of national property endangered.
The rioters were subdued by the e~xertions Of the
city officials. civil and military, the people, the
police and a small body Of only twelve hundred
men, composed equally of the State and national
forces, who svailed themselves of the able advice
and direction of the disting uished military men
90 whom ] have alluded Ii gives a gratifying
assurance Of the ability Of the greatest city of
our continent 10 maintain order in It's midst, un-
der circumstances 40 disadvantageous, against an
uprising 80 unexpected. and having its origin in
questions deeply exciting 70 the minds Of the
great masses of its population The return from
the war Of some of the New York militia regi
meuts restored peace and security 10 the city. |
ordered troops from different parts of our State;
but | could not get them to the city before the
rio. was quelled; neither could the General Gov
eminent give any substantial aid. 1t could not
even man its own forts, nor had il the means to
protect its own arseDals and navy yards against
any of the vessels which were at that time en-
gagged in burning the ships of our merchants
almost within sight Of our coast. For a time
these very Notifications were the chief danger 10
the harbor of New York. One thousand men
could have seized them all. and have used their
ornaments for the destruction Of It's shipping and
of the city itself.
AT the time that this riot took place ] was
engaged. with Senator Morgan and Comptroller
Robinson, of this State. on the subject Of harbor
defenses, and placed under the direction of Gen
eral Wool the unorganized bodies of national
volunteers, still under nv command, and ] also
ordered bodies of the militia from the interior of
New York into the Notifications, to be under his
control. and ! made arrangements with him for
their reception: but on the 18th ultimo, the day
k.f- /. -. - - Ae 80 ocuDoto ~.
General Wool to countermand nv orders direct
ing the militia TO proceed to the harbor Of New
York. The reason for This, / understand. is.
that the rules OF the service or the laws of the
United States do not permit the War Department
to accept of the services of troops for special or
qualified purposes. The inability OF the Govern
ment at that moment 10 defend its forts and pub
lie property. or to give any substantial assistance
IN pntting down a riot. while the militia Of the
city were supporting the national cause in another
field. will best be shown by the following letter.
which was communicated TO my associates. Messrs.
Morgan and Robinson, and to myself the week
before these outrages occurred:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE EAsrl
NEW YoRz, June 80. 1863
10 Rs EscAzsncy, HordtLo Ssy,rosy, Govs aor of tAs
State Of Nep York
sIx: Allow me 70 call your attention to the defeuseless
condition Of this city. have only $50 men to garrison
q lDtlrs OhN-u1AA VI NAl hot v Nutttt iitt
lists, being very inperfectly instructed in any part Of ar
tillery duty. The Roanoke is ordered 10 proceed to
or at the depot that could be available IN less than ten
days. The militia Of this city and Brooklyn have either
been or are being sent TO defend and protect PennsyIva-
zha, who is now paying dear for her neelectiug 10 take
care Of herself by guarding her frontier. Is Il wise for
New York TO follow her example by neglecting to protect
the city OF New York, the great emporium OF the country.
and Of more Importance at the present moment 10 the
Government than oil Other cities under It's controli II
had q sufficient number Of men TO man our guns | might
from irou-clad steamers. In our present c%ondiiim. from
want Of men 10 man our guns, the Alabama or fny other
vessel Of her class might. without fear Of injury, enter our
harbor, and vi hin a few hours destroy one hundred MIL
lions Of property. have done all 10 my power TO guard
against the present condition Of the city, but have thus
far been unsuccessful. have called the attention Of the
less condition Of the ci y. The Mayor can do but little,
from the fact that the militia have been ordered 10 defend
rssn,srsaD sns . I'VE uJs0 sxn - Ss's - one rn, UT 'S no. iron Sa- ,s,sa
These, with men 70 man the guns Of our forts, would be
sufficient b defend and protect the city. The company
Of artillery raised for the forts in this hsrbor, which I
requested your Excellency TO turn over 70 me, has bern
sont to Pennsylvania. The condition Of the city is an in
~vitston to rebels TO make the sfort TO assail il. | have
the honor to be- very resRsstf9rIly w your ~, serv,s;
While this deplorable riot has brought disgrace
upon the great city in which j, occurred. IL il due
10 the character OF It's population TO say that they
were able to put it down without any aid from
another quarter. TO save their city and the gov
eminent property from the violence OF a mob ~ o
critical moment when they had sent their armed
men 70 save the national capital from falling into
the hands Of hostile arms. For this patriotic
service, they have already received your thanks
and the gratitude of the nation. However much
We may denounce and depIore the violence ofbad
or misguided men. It would be alike uriust and
ungrate;ul TO urge the execution of the draft in
any spirit Of resentment, or to show any unwill
ingDess to see that the most exact Justice Is OBJ
served 10 the execution of the measure and in
fixing the amount Of the quotas. am sure that