The New York herald., 1863-07-15
MAYOR 0PDYKE AND THE CITY AUTHORITIES.

The Mayors Office Guarded by the PO
lice-Proclamation from the Mayor
He Calls for n Suspension OF Sales ol
Arms and AmmunitIon-Action OF the
Board or Aldermen, &c., &c.
Mayor Opdyke was at his quarters IN the City Hall al
carly hour yesterday and used every exertion, IN
conjunction the other city auhortes to check hs
outbreak OF the people. As some threatening demon
stratons began TO manifest themselves the early part
OF the morning, the Mayor found IL necessary make
some provision for his personal safety and ne accord
ngy despatched messenger 70 the police headquarters
for hfty men 70 act q guard around his Office
Mr.. Acton promptly granted tho request and sent
down force OF fifty policemen, who remained there
guard during the day. The greatest caution was OBJ
served and no permitted to visit the Mayor or
70 learn anything Of his without furnishing
some good and valid reason for doing. About twelve
O'Clock the Mayor issued the following proclamation in
reference TO the sale Of arms and ammunition
PROCLAMATION OF THE MAYOR.
MAYORS OTvicE, NEW YORK, July "a, 1858.
1t s highly important 70 the peace or the city and the
OK the existing riot that the rioters shall
be allowed TO furnish themselves with arms and ammu
milton, and do hereby accordingly enoin upon all per-
who keep and ammunition Tor sale that they
will at selling 70 private persons and close
their places Of business.
GEORGE oPDYKE, Mayor.
Meeting or the Board OF Aldermen.
THE CoNsCRIPTIoN ACT.
special meeting Of tho Board OF Aldermen was called
for Monday; but there was quorum present. Alta
subsequent informal meeting Alderman jeremiah was
called TO the chair TO l the place of President Walsh
The roll being called and quorum not appearing, the
CHAIR asked the pleasure Of the Board
ALDERMAN FARLEY's SPEECH.
Alderman FARLEY arose and said
Mr.. President, l much regret that there Is not
quorum present had hoped that the Board would be
able 10 Ike some acton to-day in regard TO the
general government act for making draft. In my
district understand the officers engaged in maxi ng the
draft have been driven from their duty, and serious
riot Is in progress regret that disturbance OF the kind
should be initiated In the city in my district because the
bsy Of IT, But she fault Is no. shers; for they
are as orderly and law abiding as any community
in the whole country The persons creating the riot and
who responsible for It's consequences from New
Jersey They crossed the river this morning from Wee
hawken and Gutenberg in crowds aud to the
Ia progress They marched along the streets 10 q
body, and their way they forced workmen wherever
the draft You therefore, understand, Mr. President
that tho fault OF opposition 10 the draft originating in
my district was wholly owing TO the fact that the en-
forcement OF the Conscrpton act was begun there. To
this alone may be attributed the unfortunate crcum
Of the first open opposition to the law being shown
in my district. The persons who melted the trouble
doibt had been organized for the occasion, and riot
would have been set foot by them In any other 10
cauy in tho city, had the enforcement Of the draft
b,en first attempted elsewhere than in tho district
have the honor to represent in this Board must repeat
my regret at the absence Of quorum Of this
Board for had hoped that every member would rise in
his seat and talk The people excited and is
necessary that their excitement should be calmcd down
degree OF respect for enacted laws Then let them
the TO decide grievances. The I'm
preston strong that the drafting act Is unconsttn
tona and until the question OF its legality decided by
the proper judicial tribunals they will regard any attempt
OF harsh and arbitrary. We should,
people TO ascertain whether the law which is 81 gene
rally regarded offensive and undemocratc, In In legal
harmony with tho fundamental law o. our osaniza!on
could be reached by any conscript getting out writ
Of habeas corpus ! have a paper 10 my hand
proposing a method whereby we should spcedi
ly test the question Of the legality Of the law. had
designed 10 offer II at this meeting but II is Of
hope. however that every member Of this Board
win preach up peace. Let IL be understood that the
citizens OF New York for law and order and in favor
OF lust test OF every measure that s obnoxious ~ them
The Of the riot to-day is unfortunate because 1t
will affect the reputation or tho city, and ssbly be a
pretext fer declaration Of martial law here. II affords
the excuse probably desired by the administration for
supplantng the civil by The military law in this demo
cratic city, The enactments Of Congress and the acts Of
the aama.sra.!ep are already sufficiently burdeso%s
OF authority that But We cannot say TO what extent
our rights may be interfered with Perhaps those in
position 20 seize upon sue such 40 authority wOus Say be
hibttpg us from meeting here
No other remarks were MADE and the President pro
TIM declared the Board sdjoaued for want OF quorum
ill tho nrst Monday in August.
Tho paper 70 which Alderman Farley referred contained
tie following preamble and resolutions
Whereas, u is apparent 70 all who In any way con
versaa, with the feelings and opinions Of the population
o this city that deep seated and Inc adcabe Opposition
per Ades al classes against the provisions Of the act OF
tho late Congress- OF the United States, known ~ the
Whereas, IL is equally apparent that such opposition
taking ioIm sna snare sna WI n manass, anu ,.se a. an
nortcs Of the general government 10 force citizens Of
hs State against their convictions and against their
viii out OF the limits jurisdiction Of their State;
Whereas the mu,serings Of the corning storm mpera-
tiyeiy demand that the authores Of this city should
hourly increasing BY mild and sanitary measures to
assist 10 abating the popular indignation against the
manifest Injustice about 70 be inflicted upon citizens
nsequent upon enforcement Of the provisions Of the
aforesaid act OF Congress. be u therefore
Resolved Tha. the Counsel to the Corporation be- and
he hereby authorized and directed Immediately to take
the necessary legal measures 70 test the legality Of The
the late Congress Of the United States known
Copscrpton act with reference 10 its application L
| this State
Had It not been understood beforehand that thss,
would in all probability be quorum, Alderman Hal
would have been on hand 70 osr the following a. sub
s,itute for Alderman Sarieys papsrs-
whereas u 10 spparcn< that the hree hundred dollar
clause In the national enrolment act Of tbe ts Congress
calculated TO nict great privasoos upoa ,se pcore
\ classes Of our ctizonD therefore be
and they are hereby ssruoscd 70 report 70 ,ns osrd
plan whereby an appropriation can be made 10 ray III
commuaton of such OF our poorest citizens Likely
10 bc most sorely aectsd by the enforcement Of
| scripticn.
This plan was submitted by Alderman Hall 70 scvera
OF the denocrasc members, and all Who oonsulte
| about u unhcshstnsy declared themselves favorab,
I ton.
The following shs ordinance and report Of the epecis
| committee 10 relation TO thu matter
| an oxnisArr rso,ms vo~ TIVE soxrrTA,ioS oy TN
rr-lt Quors %. CALLED rus ooSrcair
rcs-AtY srov' Tu CRY NEW YORK.
Pc yrafrsd b. ~ Eoyoy, Aidemen and cosanonaity
Meg York, ~ Common Octncu convesed
sksricr l. The sum or three millions hundred an
Gf.y thoa-,ud dollars 600 Is hereby srrroi
~, ,c pnrt ore providing Tor the coWusaop OF III
fr uuoss Al couscrrs cae< for from the city and count
| OF Sew york under tie lmlcnd,ng drafi.
sg, 1hs ,oanptn.cr hcre&y Authorized to borrvw
or tna e,eJ,t .t dc Aer of TIE city of New York
lie som x ~ 100, aad u DvnAs u Tho Corpora
Ton ss-rsssr. 10 ,se rsss 'dsn - desxaase