Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-08-21
Address BY Mai. Gen. Dix to the Citizens
Of New York.
lIEADo TIERS DEPARTMENT or THE EAST,
New York City, Aug. IL, 1868.

partment, | have thought IT not out OF place e
present TO you some suggestions for YOUR consld-
Grafton as friends of the Union and Of the good
order Of society.
The law under which the draft Is 10 be made
i for enrolling ana calling out the national
forces. 1t is founded on the principle that every
citizen, who enjoys the protection Of the Govern
ment and looks to it for the security Of his prop
erty and his life, may be called on in seasons Of
great public danger to take up arms iur the COM
mon defense No political society can be held
together unless this principle Is acknowledge as
one TO which the Government may have re-
course when its existence is in peril. There Is
no CIVILIZED country in which it Is not recognized
The law authorizing the draft has been per-
siStently called Consumption law by those who
desire TO make it odious and defeat its execution.
II is in no just sense consumption Ike that
which was in force in the sixth year Of the
French Republic, and abandoned on the restOra-
ton Of the Bourbons, on account Of its oppres-
sive exaction. 1t is simple law for enrolling
and calling into service the arms-bearing popu-
lati0n Of certain ages and differs in no essential
principle from the law authorizing the militia 10
be called out, excepting that in the latter case
complete organizations are brought into the field.
The object Of the very provisions Of the law
which are beneficial 10 individuals has been most
grossly perverted. II drafted man finds II III
convenient 10 serve, be il allowed 10 furnish sub
stituie, or TO purchase his exemption from ser
vice by paying the smallest sum OF money for
which substitutes are ordinarily obtained. Both
these provisions have the same purpose-to pro-
vide for cases Of hardship; and If either we're
stricken out, these cases would be propOrti0uably
increased in number.
The draft about 10 be made Is for oue-ifth
part Of all persons betw en- - and 80 yeirs If
age, and Of the unmarried between % ui a.
] The entlre cia-s between Is and 50 was long
81 &c drafted in the seeded States, and the drlit
/ has recently been extended 10 the whole arm-
bearing population. Compared with the burden
they are sustaining, ours Is as nothing The
I contest on our part Is 10 defend our nationality,
to uphold the institutions under which we have
/ lived and prospered, and 10 preserve untarnished
/ the proud memories Of our history, brief, it is
true but full Of high achievements in science, in
art and in arms. Shall we, in such a cause,
shrink from labors and sacrifices, which our mis-
guided brethren in the seeded States are sus-
tanning in the cause Of treason and social disor-
ganIstion For the honor Of New York, Jet Us
take care that the history Of this rebellion, more
vast than any which has ever convulsed anatiOu,
shall contain nothing to make our children blush
for the patriotism Of their fathers.
Whatever objection there may be 70 tie law
authorizing the draft. whatever defects II may
II Is revolt against the constituted authorities Of
the country If one law may be set at defiance
any other may be, and the foundation Of al gov
eminent may be broken up. Those who. in the
history Of political societies, have been the first
10 set themselves up against the law. have been
the surest victims Of the disorder which they
creased. The poor have a far deeper interest IN
maintaining the inviolablity Of the law than the
rich. Property, through the means II can COM
mani, Is power. But the only security for those
who have little more than life and the labor OF
their own hands 10 protect, lies 10 the supremacy
Of the law On them and on those who are de
pendant on them, social disorder falls with fatal
effect
The consttuuouality Of the law authorizing
the drait has been disputed Near the close Of
the year lel4, when the country was engaged
IN war with Great Britain. 4 similar law was re-
commented 70 Congress by the government, %
drat men 10 I'll the ranks Of the army, which
VS.. calamity battling, as our armies are now.
fr the nation honor and life. Madison. one 90
the great eXpouniers Of the Constitution. which
be took prominent part IN framing. WAS Pre-i-
dent. Monroe. his successor, d 81 acting both
as Secretary Of state and Secretary 0. War. aI- .
dressed 10 the House of Heprescrtititt- 81 lucid .
argument ia support OF the right oi Congress Co .
pass suca a Law. Alexander J. Dallas w., Sec .
rotary Of the Treasury William Jones. S-cretl- .
" Of the Navy Return J. Meigs, Postmaster
General, and Richard Bush. Attlrnev General
The measure could not vel have received a
higher party sanction. Al laws passed. Ftl the
established legislative forms are valid until de-
c.arvd otherwise by Judicial tribunals " COM
potent Jurisdiction. What would become Of
pegl.e .n critical emergencies If no lsw could be
carried into elect until 10 hal passed the ordeal
oi the courts or Il State or municipal aujhori-
question Us c0uilrmlty 20 the provisions .f the
Constitution The President has promptly con-
seutci TO have il tested by Judicial Interpretation
but while the car OF victory Is moving ol and
treason i flying before 10, God forbid thar Oh,
State u New York, OF It's constituted author
tie, should attempt 10 stay It's progress uuul
the iuiic.al process can be consummttel.
The accuracy Of the enrolment IN the city
districts has been impesched. ami d revision was
Immediately ordered by the President, on q re-
lresen tation frUm the Governor Of the State
But a. the men are needed for immediate s,r-
wee, and as the correction Of the return. ne
luirts time, the quota WIS ordered o. be- r-lu.e
n all the llstrlcts-in some more than hall To-
: hole amount leaving the account for future All
ustmeni The reduction n the quota exceeds ID
lrupUrtluu the alleged Excess Of the enrolment.
% that no personal injustice can PISS 0iy occur
Under these circumstances, 10 good citizen ,
vll array himself either by wori or deed
gailst the draft. Submission to the law in
easons Of tranquility is always the highest Of
'olitical duties. But, when the existence Of the
government is in peril. he who rssists its author
~ commits q crime Of the deepest turpitude-
lie Is the voluntary instrument Of those who are
eeking TO overthrow it, and becomes himself
uolc enemy. Moreover, resistance TO tie Gov
rnment by those who are living under rs pro
oction, and are indebted to il for the daily ten
re Of their property and their lives, has not
ven the pSllatiOn under which those Who lead
be instruction AZ the South seek 10 shelter
lemselyes; that they are acting under color Of
lihority derived from legislatures or couven-
ons of the people in their respective States
18th Us, resistance 10 the constituted authorities
both treason and lawless violence; aud if
lere are any who thus combine 10 re-enact the
enes Of cruelty and devastation by which this
~ has recently boen dishonored, and 70 defeat
? force Of arms the execution Of the permanent
" Of Congress, they viii be treated As enemies
the country and Of mankind
Returning among you from distance, fellow
tizens, after more than two wears Of military
rNlce IN the cause Of the Union, 10 uphold
nch TIN. city has, IN all emergencies stood
rth with manly patriotism worthy OF her
gh posiiion-having no feeling but To see her
I'd name preserved without benish. no
sh but that she may continue as she has ever
en-. the most orderly Of the great Commercial 10
WIS Of the age-l have ventured to address 10
u these suggestions; TO exhort you to the II
'lntenance Of order. to obedience 10 the laws
d to the quiet pursuit Of your accustomed avo-
lions, while the draft is in progress.
Should these suggestions be disregaryied bv
= among you, aud renewed attempts be made
disturb the public peace, to break down the
rrlers which the law has set up for the security
property and life, and to defeat the execution
law which II Is my duty 10 enforce. I warn
such persons that ample preparation has been ~
de to yindicate the authority Of the Cover "
IT and that the first exhibition Of disorder or
lenoe viii be met by the most prompt and In
orous measures for their repression.
JoHy A. DIX, Major General. "
y.