Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-08-21
The Draft lin New York.

| The tail of Seymour's kite, swinging lower
down the Avenue, has found mares nest in
the inequalities of the draft in New York.
The letter of Governor Seymour, written in
behalf of his " dear friends" who believe in
the Constitution as it is and the Union as it
was, and addressed to the President, is pub
lished by the Democratic press as a knock
down argument to demonstrate the evil in
tentions of this Administ, alton towards the
Democratic party. 1t is alleged by Governor
Seymour that the "quotas now demanded
from the Congressional districts of New York
and Kings counties, are glaringly unjust
That the quota of the 4th district, with a
population of l34, ,S34, is 5,SSl. That fixed
upon the 10Th district, with population of
49,, ,232, is only 1850" This estimate of
population of the several districts enumerated
by Gov. Seymour, is based upon the census
returns of 1860. We need not state to any
intelligent mind the fact that the counties of
New York and Kings, including Brooklyn,
Williamsburg, &C., are constantly increasing
in population-that with a foreign emigra-
ton into the port of New York, of from two
to ten thousand per month, the increase of
the foreign population in New York alone,
since 1860, must have been very great. To
say that since the census returns of 1860,
New York and Kings counties have increas-
ed in population 100000 is moderate est
mate.
| But Gov. Seymour is not content to rest
his charge of injustice upon the basis of pop
ulation. He says if the comparison is made
by the number of votes cast at the last cleo
ton, when the vote was very full, it will be
seen that the call upon the city is 1881, upon
vote of 1868, while upon the country dis
trict it is only 2,260 upon vote of %, 165
Now for Gov Seymour, or any other man Of
intelligence, to take the vote of any given
year as the basis for fair draft in an old
State like New York, is most absurd. The
draft in New York, as elsewhere, has thus far
reached only the first class, embracing all
persons between the ages of 90 and 35 years.
Let an individual of observation go through
the counties of the older States, and he will
at once be impressed with the number Of old
men. and he will also discover the dispropor-
ton between Old men and young Let him
90 to the larger towns and cities, and he will
at once notice the difference. He will find in
4 the course Of his observations, especially in
New York, Boston, Brooklyn, Chicago, &c,
that hundreds-yes thousands--of young
men have left their country homes to become
clerks and book-keepers, &C., in the city.
Let the traveller walk up Broadway in the
morning or down at evening, and where his
eyes rest upon one man advanced in years he
vii! meet ten young men. New York and
Brooklyn are the great centres of attraction
for the young men Of the East, while the
I quiet country presents no attractions compar-
ed with these busy marts. What we wonld
desire 20 impress upon the minds of the Sey-
mourites is, that go,into any Congressional
District in the old States and you will find
comparatively few men under 40, while in
the large cities, such as we have named, those
under that age are far more numerous. In
the country to see centennarian going to
the polls to vote on election day creates no
surprise among the bystanders-s we in
) the West seldom if ever behold.
Taking, then the fact of so large proper
ton of young men in the cities of New York
Brooklyn and Williamsburg, who are voters,
and the large increase in population since
1860, the reason why the Congressional dis
} tricts embracing those cities should furnish a
larger quota than the country districts, is at
at once seen. We will 60 with Seymour up
the Hudson River, Harlem and New Haven
Railroads. and stop, ifhe pleases, at the many
cosy rural retreats in the shape Of commu-
tation villages within the counties of New
York and Kings, and challenge him to find
one man over forty five years ofage where he
will find twenty under thirty-fve years.
I These are the reasons why the Democratic
stronghold of New York is required to furn.
sh, what at first sight seems unjust quotas
But for an intelligent Press to allege that
the Administration, too timid to use bayonets
had therefore resorted to drafting Democrats
in order to secure the city and State of New
York for the Republican ticket, evinces very
small soul, in a very mean political dema
gogue. We believe another reason can yet
be given for the disparity alleged to exist ir
| +bok ,e tioy
to the war. Thus, while the country has
, responded with alacrity, the large cities have
rot responded in the same proportion. The
Democracy in New York city is, to very
) great extent, opposed to the warmly, then
should they enlist? Honorable. exceptions
. we know there are. But one thing cannot be
gainsayed-that the Democratic stronghoids
5 of the Five ts-Mackerelville, Corlar's
| Hook and other POINTS containing the friends
of Mr.. Seymour-rolled up vote last Octo
: ber, which showed a wonderful DEVOTION or
the part of the inhabitants to DEAR HOME
The vote of these strongholds of Democracy
t told plainly enough who had gone to war.
J Let the Democratic press be truthful ir
3 this matter, and not prejudice the public mint
f unnecessarily in relation to the draft. The
l quotas are assigned according to the number
/ enrolled in each class, and not according tt
Democratic majorities. If New York City
E contains more men under thirty five than tht
e country, let not the Government be blamed.
4 '.
How To GET CREDITS FOR VOLUNTEER
FURNISHED. Under the instructions of let
fer from Provost Marshal General Frv Gov