Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1863-08-13
Gov. Seymour, OF N. Y. and Presi.
dent Lincoln OH the Draft in N. Y.


Gov. Seymour addressed a letter to the
President, in which he asks for suspension
of the draft, for the reasons assigned, among
which the injustice to the cities of New York
and Brooklyn, is especially urged, inasmuch
as there is great inequality in the proportions
assigned for the rural districts and the cities
named. The Governor, urges that this inc
quality is one of the reasons of the la,e riots
His Excelency, however. is fully aware, that
the rioters and those who urged them on to
the horrible atrocities they committed, were
opposed to any draft, on any terms were OPP
posed to raising men or money for the con-
duct of the war-and consequently the ex-
cuse assigned by the Governor is unworthy
of patriotic Chief Magistrate of the great
State of ew York. The calm, firm and
digniied reply of Mr.. Lincoln will strike
every reafler-and it is at the same time a
severe rebuke to the Copperheads of that
great State. The President courts the decis-
ion of the Supreme Court upon the powers
of Congress to provide for draft tina. there
can be no apprehensions of that Courts de-
cisions averse to that power, those who have
read the finding OF the same body on the sub
ject in former times, are well assured.
The PREsIDENTS REILLY.
Executive Mansion, Washington, dug. 7
1s63--His Excellepcy, Horatio Seymour,
Governor Of New York:-Your communica-
ton of the 3rd instant has been received and
attentively considered.
| cannot consent to suspend the draft in
New York as you request, because, among
other things; time is too important.
BY the figures you send, which presume
are correct, the twelve districts represented
fall into two classes, of eight and four respect
lively. The disparity Of the quotas for the
draft, in these two classes, is certainly very
striking, being the difference between an av-
crage of 220O in one class and 1854 in the
other. Assuming that the districts are equal
one to another, in entire population, as re-
quired by the plan on which they were made,
this disparity is such as to require attention.
Much of it, however, suppose will be ac-
counted for by the TACT that so many more
persons fit for soldiers are in the city than
are in the country, who have too recently ar
rived from other parts OF the United States
and from Europe. to be included in the CEN
sus of 1860 or to have voted in 1869, Still,
making due allowances for this, am yet I'M
willing to stand upon it, as an entirely suffi-
cient explanation Of the great disparity.
l shall direct the draft To proceed in all
the districts, drawing however, at first, from
each of the four districts to 1.-THE Sec
ond Fourth, Sixth and Eighth, only 22O0,
being the average quoto Of the other class.
After this drawing, these four Distric is,
and also the Seventeenth and Twenty ninth
shall be carefully re-enrolled, and, if you
please, agents Of yours may witness every
step of the process. Any deficiency which
may appear by the new enrolment, will be
supplied by special draft for that object, al
lowing due credit for volunteers who may be
obtained from these districts, respectively,
during the interval. And at points, so far
as consistent with practical convenience, due
credit will he given for volunteers, and your
excellency shall be notified of the time fixcd
for commencing the draft in each district.
| don't object to abide decision Of the Uni
ted States Supreme Court, or of the Judges
thereof, on the constitntionality Of the draft
law. In fact, shall be willing to facilitate
the obtaining of it !. but cannot consent To
lose the time while it is being obtained. We
are contending with an enemy, who, rs I'M
dcrstand, drives every able-boded man he
can reach, into his ranks, very much as
butcher drives bullocks into n slaughter pen &.
No time is wasted no argument is used.
This produces an army which will soon
turn upon our now victorious soldiers, already
in the field, if they shall not be sustained by
recruits as they should be. 1t produces am
army with rapidity not to be matched on
our side, if we first waste time to ~ expert.
lnent with the volunteer :, already
deem'"" uy congress and palpably in fact, so
far exhausted as to be Inadequate; aud then
more time to obtain a court decision NJ to
whether law is constitutional whichrcquires
a part of those not now in service to go to
the aid Of those who ara already in it and
still more time to determine with absolute
certainty that we get those who are to so in
the precisely legal proportion to these are not
to go. e.
My purpose is, to be in my action just and
and yet practical in perform
ing the important duty with which am
charged. of minimizing the unity and the
free principles Of cur common country.
Your obeJirut setvaii; a. LINCOLN.