The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-08-14
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN
GOV. SEYMOUR AND PRESI-
s-ssszs DENT OLN,aREGARD.sa
t.suC.F ING THE DRAFT, go e

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9.-Gov. Seymour,
under date Of Albany, Aug. Sd, writes to
the President with respect to the draft in
New York and Brooklyn. fsixaNatM
He condemns the course of the Provost
Marshal in commencing the draft without
"a consultation with either the city or
State officers, and at time when the mil
itia were absent at the 8 at of war, and
while there were not even soldiers enough
to man the Notifications in the harbOr.
Gov. Seymour complains of unfairness
in the enrolment, and thinks that in this
lottery for human life, as he terms it, the
strictest impartiality should be observed.
In several districts the draft has been ex-
ecuted with impartialitJ and ju-tice, and
conscripts have accepted their fate with
out murmur, and sometimes with salts
faction.
In the Districts of New York
however, with a population much less, the
number to be drafted is in some cases
double that Of the former. 4 ~ iss1la5
The attack on the enrolling officers
which subsequently grew into the most
destructive riot known in the history of
the country, he pronounced unjusti6able.
Speaking fnrther of riots in the United
States, he says, disregard for law, disres-
pect for the judiciary tribunals produced
their natural results of robbery and arson
accompanied by murderous outrages on a
helpless race, and for time the very ex-
Istence of the commercial metropolis of
sour country was threatened. It is graft
flying that the citizens of the United States
were able without material aid from State
or nation to put down this dangerous in
surrectiOn.
For time the nation had not the means
to protect its own arsenals and navy yards.
One thousand men would have seized them
all, and then used the ornaments for the
destruction of shipping and the city itself,
to say nothing of the vessels which were
at that time engaged in burning our mer-
chant ships at least within sight of our
coast. 8, ~
The Governor also complained that no
credit has been given to the city for the
number of volunteers sent, and the noble
exsrtions Of the militia in this hour of
peril. He therefore asks for suspension
of the draft till its CONSTITUTIONS ,ty can be
tested. r
The President in reply u-Jer date OF
August 18th, says he can't suspend the
draft in New York, because time is too
important. He admits the disparity of
the quotas in different sections, and ac-
counts for it by the fact, that SO many more
persons are fit for soldier, are in the city,
than in the country, who have too recent
ly arrived from Europe, to be in the GEN.
sus of 1860, and still he would not con-
slider that reason sufficient.
He would direct the draft to proceed
drawing only the average quota OF al dis
tricts.,,.s - sgsale !. l.ss II a6ftsfse
& After this drawing, the city districts
shall be carefully re-enrolled and govern
ment agents might, witness every step Of
the process.
Due credit will be given for all volun-
teers. The President would not object to
abide the decision Of the, Supreme Court.
He would be Wiling to facilitate it, bat
conld not consent to lose the time.