The New York herald., 1863-08-29
THE TROOPS IN TINE CITY.

| GENERAL DIX TO GOVERNOR SEYMOUR.
! HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT or rHE Fast,
/ NEw YoRK Cry, July so, 1s63
His Eaceency HoRAno ssrsoUa, Governor Of the stat
| Oe New York.
s. 1863 for enrolng and calling ont the national force
win probably be resumed In this city at early day.
desirous Of ksowng whether the military power o
n c,sSe @
anxious that there should be perfect Of actor
between the federal and that OF the state
New York and H. under your authority 10 the lawi
faithfully executed can feel aRsnred that the act refer
red 70 win be enforced need not ask the War DepaIt
put at my dsrosal for the purpose troops IN The
service Of the United states am the unwilling u
mako such request as they could not be Withdrawn 10
considerable number from the Geld without prolongnf
the and giving aid and the enemies
" the Union at the moment when
the rebellion have the honor 70 Be, very respectfully
| your obediens servant, JOHN A DIX, Major General
GOVERNOR SEYMOUR TO GENERAL DIX.
| TO Major General JOIN A. D1, Commanding Eastern Dc
SIR received your letter on Saturday have this day
TO the President OF the United States communica
tion In relation the draft in this believe his
viii relieve you and from the rainul questions
law in this patriotic State which has contributed SC
largely and freely 70 the support Of the national cause
answer viii write to you again upon the Subject OF your
| letter. Truly, yours, &c, HORATIO SEYMOUR
GENERAL DIX TO GOVERNOR sEyAoun
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT THE EAST,
New YoRK Cry, August 8, 1883.
His Exceency HoRAro SEYMOUR Governor Of the state of
had the honor to receive on tho evening of tho
5th inst your letter OF the Sd, in reply to mne OF the
3oh ult, Informing me that you had made communca-
the draft in this state and expressing your belief his
would relieve you and me from the painful qes
ons growing out OF an armed enforcement Of the Con-
scriptiou act,'' &c.
Your ExcelIency promises 10 write me again the Ssh
ect when you shall have received the Presidents
II will afford great pleasure TO hear from you and to
affirmative tho inquiry contained In
my letter. But owe It TO my position as commander Of
this military department to anticipate his reply by somc
suggestions arising out Of your answer to me.
You are doubt aware that the draft has been nearly
also been completed in several districts and is in
ful progress others In the central part Of the State.
under the orders Of the Provost Marshal General. Is
my duty commanding officer Of the troops in the
service Of the United States the department. If called
by the enrolling officers 10 aid them In resisting
forcibe opposition TO the execution Of The law and II
from earnest desire to avoid the necessity OF
noyng for the purpose any OF my forces which have
he
by the military power Of the State n case Of armed and
organized resistance to T. But holding such resistance
to the paramount law OF Congress- TO be s0rganizng and
revolutionary, leading unless eectualy suppressed 20
the overthrow Of the government self TO the of
the insurgents IN the seeded States and 10 univers
anarchy, designed, II operation could not be
relied ask the general governments for force which
should be adequate to insure the execution OF the law
and TO meet any emergency growing out Of Il.
The act under which the draft 10 In progress wNs a.
your Exceency is aware paed 70 meet the difficulty sf
keeping the army through the system of Volunteering
10 the standard OF force deemed necessary suppress
the nsurrectcn Tho service Of man capable OF
power s responsible TO the people, due the govern
ment when It's existence Is peril This service ia the
gusrds with which the law surrounds him in the enjoy
ment OF his property and e The act authorizing the
dra is entitled IAN net for enrolling and calling out the
national forces" regret that yoir Excelcncy should
have characterized It as "the Conscription act"-a
phrase borrowed from foreign system of enrolment,
free originally nppsicd 20 the Law question BY
those who desire 70 bring II into reproach aud de-
such purpose On the contrary assume i
altogether nadvertant But regret because there In
danger that in thus designating and deprecatng tan
armed enforcement OF u, you may be understood to
gard II obnoxious law which ought not to be
ried into execution thus throwing the influence Of your
high position against ihc government conflict for its
The cali which has been made for service rs FOR one.
nth part of the arms bearing population between twenty
thirty ve of and Of the unmarried
thirty. five and forty -nve years. rnl
The insrgen authorities at Richmond have mt only
called service heretofore the entire class between
eighteen and thirynvs but are now extending tho
whh the loyal states called 10 sustain Is not In
pro, orton to population, tenth part
that which has been assumed by tho feceeded States
shall not we II necessary, bc ready to do much
the preservation of our political institutions, az they
doing TO overthrow and destroy ihemas much for
the Of stable government they for the cause OF
treason and for tho dsorganizaton society on b
tincnt say the dsorganization Of sccety FOR no
reflection can doubt where secession would end if
Southern confcdcracy should be successfully established
IL cannot doubt TINT the people Of this patriotic state
which YOU Justly say has done much for the country
during the existing w respond the cali made
them The nacrity and cnthusias with which they
have repeatedly rusLod to arms for the surort N the
government and the defence Of the naonal dag
suit aud degradation, have exalted the character aud
siyen new vgor to The moral power cf tho Stato and viii
inspire our descendants with mngnapimous resolution for
generations This example of fidelity 10 all that
s honorable and elevated in Public du'y must NOT be TAR
they we're with The most atrocious and rsvotn
crimes, have shadow II the moment. Bu
the promprdc With which the maiosy Of the law wa'
vindicaied and the with which high sdica
fnnctionary pronoun0ng judgment uncns the guilty
have done and are doing much % cince what nndcr
different course Of action might have beea inlelibs
stain npon the reputation OF the city II remains only ~
the people tcyinuca'e ,hemseve. from rspranh in tn,
eyes of the country and the world by the cheerful ari
escence 10 the law That II has defects Is generally
coded That VIII involve of pcrsonnl hardship Y
not dsruted War when for self defence, fer TIN
sptenancc or great principles and Tor the national life
IL not exempt from The suffering nx-parabs from oil
nlos which decided by the shock Of armies; and Il
cas of the country upon achieve victcrJ
and prove ourssves worthy oft aud the in which
| toll aud suffer. At
whatever defects the &C, ,uthorizisg the snro,mcn
and DRAFT may have, u is the law ot the land, framed
good faith by the representatives OF the people, and
be presumed 10 be consistent with the provieon
OF the oopstuon until pronounced be IN conflict will
them by tsmpotent judicial tribunals Those, therefore
who array themselves against ii are obnoxious 70 ri
ccnsure than the ambitious and misguidod msl
who .s :, ~ %s 70 srSger, y %, .r ne -
eooven.Ionsof Of The psopls the states thsy rspresent
AmsuG resistance 70 the law by those wE0 claim ~
enjoy the rvcerton cf the has no pemblanc
Of tacation becomes the vcry BLACKLIST of pot
cal crimes, not only because revolt against the
etituted authorities OF the coInry but because II wou
- practically striking blow for treason and arouspg
renowed efforts and new crimes those who staggerin
to their fall under the rcsstles power o. reccn
| victories
In CONCLUSION, renew the expression q my anxiety
b assured by Excesncy the eae,est day praf
tcable that the military power of the 6tate will IN
Of nced, be employed 70 enforce the draft desire
ceive the assurance because under a mixed system
government hke ours s best that ressancs 20 the Ia,
should be putdo blythe authority 0f De s&ate In whc
II occurs. desire also, because shall Otherwise dees
tiny duty 20 call on the general govspncnt for rsrc
whh shall only bc adequate 70 ensure the cxscuo
OF the law. but which shall erabh me 10 carry sue
decive measures as shan eave their impress upon h
mind OF the country Tor years % come have the homo
70 be, very respectfully ycrrr,
ng JOIN A ok, MAJOR General.
| GOVERNOR SEYMOUR TO GENERAL DIX. lN 81
ExEvrvs DEPARTMENT, AtRASr, Auguse rs. 1853.
TO MAJOR General JoHS A. pr, z. 8 A.. Commanding N
| partrnent OF the Fast