The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-08-10
Letter from Governor Seymour
to tho President.
Mr.. LincOln's Reply to the
Governor.
The Draft, the Militia, State Rights
and Harbor Defences.
THE DRAFT TO BE ENFORCED.
Some Of the Districts to be Re.
Enrolled,
kc., TO-. kA

&C., TO-. u.
GOVERNOR SEYMOUR'S LETTER.
STATE NEW York, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
ALBANY, August 3, 1868. !
10 THE PRnuDnNT OF rHE UNITED SrAfR:-
SR-At my request number Of persons have called
upon you with respect 70 the draft this STATE
particularly IL Affected the cities Of New York and
Brooklyn. To avoid misapprehensions, Ideem proper
70 state my views and wishes in writing Al the dram
Of the Of the late riot tho city Of New
York. and that outbreak has been urged by as
reason for is immediate execution that city, proper
that should epeak Of that event.
At the moment when the militia Of the city were alb
ssn In Of your and when the forces OF
the gensra government Withdrawn from ito fort
ncations leaving deenceless against any attack from
abroad or the riot within its limits the Provost Marshal
commenced the draft without consultation with tho
ahorles Of the State Of the city The harsh measure
q raising troops by conscription has heretofore been
avoided BY this government, and resorted 70 from
ths belief on Its part that 10 necessary for the support
a our arms
know you viii agree with me that Justice and pru-
Asnce alike demand that this lottery for life sha be
conducted with the fairness openness that
all may know that is impartial and equal in s opera
sons is the right Of every citizen 70 be assured that
ID
matter deeply affecting tho persons and happiness Of
our people, this is called for by every consideration
am happy to say thatli in many Of tho districts
b this State, the enrolled lists publicly exhibit
~, the names placed 10 the wheels from
which they were 70 be drawn in the pre-
sencs OF men Of different parties and Of known
integrity, and the drawings conducted manner
- avoid suspicion Of wrong. Az the enrolmens arc
ade In many instances by persons unknswn TO the pub
Nc, who affected by their action and who have no
voice in their election should taken 70 prove the
correctness Of every SLIP Unfortunately this
done IN the distrc. Of New York when the draft was
commenced. The excitement caused by this unexpected
draft led 70 unjustnable attack upon enrolling on
which ultimately grew the destructive riot
known in the history country. Disregard for law
and the dsrespect for judicial tribunals produced their
natural results Of robbery and arson accompanied by
nurdcrous outragss upon helpless race and for time
she very existence tho metropolis Of our
eoantywas threatened In the sad humatpg history
q this riot gratifying that the citizens Of New York.
without material sd from the State nation, able
q themselves 70 put down this dangerous insurrsction
do not undsrrate Of the services rendered by
she military or naval officers Of the general
who stationed that city, for tho public are under
great and lasting obligations TO them for their courage and
yxnr s5d their wise and prudent counses But they had
n their command only handful OF good troops who
alone were entirely unequal TO the duty Of defending tho
vast amount Of national property which was endangered
Tho rioters were subdued BY the exerons Of the city
4ecials, civil and military, the people, the police and
A0sy Of cnh xsirs hundred men composed equally
q the state ad icass rss E ,s.,'sa themselves
- The able advice aha direction Of the dstlgushed mill
,ary men TO whom have alluded Il gives gratifying
assurance Of the ability the greatest city Of our con
sent 70 maintain order in It's midst under circumstances
70 disadvantageous, against an Uprising SO unexpected
and having It's origin in acstons deeply exciting the
minds Of the, Vfcat masses Of its population.
The r6 the Of some Of the New York militia
regiments restored peace and security 10 the city or
dsred troops from different parts Of our State but
could not get 10 the city before the riot was queed
neither could the general government give any subsan.
tial aid II could It's own forts nor had IL
The means 70 protect arsenaIs and navy yards
asans, any vessels which were at that time engag
ed in burning the ships OF merchants almost within
night Of our coast For time these very fortincatons
we're the chief danger the haroor or New York One
thousand men could We ized them all aud have used
their armamenis obstruction Of Its shipping and OF
sho 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 deenccs, and placed
under the direction OF General Wool tho unorgani2cd
bodies Of national volunteers stii under my command
and also ordered bodies Of the militia from the interior
of New York into fortcaons, 20 be under his
trol, and made arrangements with him Tor their
cepton but on the 18th Instant the day before tho riot
broke out was requested BY General Wool to
mand my orders directing the militia proceed to the
harpor OF Now YORK. Tho reason for this,
understand, is that the rucs q the service or the
laws OF the United States DO not permit the
War Department 10 accept OF the services Of troops Tor
special or qualified purposes. Thenabty q tho govern
mcnt at that defend It's forts and pubic pro-
perty or give any substantial assistance In putting
down riot while the militia Of the CITY were supporting
the national another eld will best be shown by
ahe following letter. which communicated 10 my asso-
caes Messrs Morgan and Robinson, aud 70 mydch thc
week before these outraxcs occurred -
HxAosuAnrnRs psrssTsxsr ysrs 1no or sgS ~ ia. Ear
70 Hh E,ceIesey HoRAro sxrsoua GoverHor Of the
%s% sasIa . eight io rsss ss.s
par, Of srery day The sosnoss i ordered proceed
% nsa s sp1 aosss % could 4 nS s han m s Ten
ns ssas % 9a y % po I .ss and aSssssrp s ssTs sss es
laying dear s, for hsr neEess . M s ss q here,
.Is@g. ~ ssSes;Gs 6 e gr2,ss IA ne % q Mes
. ,hs gsssa n. z ne h,n !.
sasy ss Of s' ssSsS. ss @ GT
% s'iss1, s S,.. ss.. ssr ... %sS.
wihout Of injury enter ourharbor and hour
Neslrov one hundred millions Of property nj
IN mypowero guard AGAINST tho present eondI,ioe Of h
fhs alteration the Mayor ~ wrl Others again
sran 10 Inc defenceess condition of ths city The Mayo
de 6tl little the fart that the militia have
ordered defend Pennsylvania Wspught 70 have ons o.
two irnu dad several gantAs To- gsard
hs.bor rbesr, with men % man The guns q our fcrts
sas sus r ;. ss ssay 70 9s sSef fsr 8. ss w. ;s ksros
-. y i:s1 The s q
tnvitston y rsbes msAe the effort Y .s.aii hss
aha hssor respecifuliy. obedut sepvan
JbHN =. WOOL xsjss General.
whns this AsplorsbIs riot has brought d~srace upos
ihs great cty IN wsscSx occurred "a due 70 ihs charss
YER d " popusson 10 say that they we're ase 10 put