Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-09-01
The Draft in New York.


Mayor 0pdyke, Of New York, Las vetoed the ord
nance Of the Council appropriating 100000 commu
taton money for the poor, who may be GRATED IN that
city. The veto message was seat in Oh the 25Lh ut
lust the day on shch the draft had been completed
The principal ground which this action based
was the influence Of this Communication in neutralzng
the conscrp law By erempting from its operations the
class of men qualified for re'vice.
We take it that this veto will prevail, and that the
Council will find it convenient to back down from their
avowed determination TO pass TIE ordinance over the
Mayors veto. This avoWal having served lis purpose
in causing peaceful submis lion to the draft, with
quietly ignored under some plausible plea which Yankee
ingenuity will be at 10 loss to devise. Some members
OF the CCuaci is probable, will be found conveniently
absent when the veto comes to be acted upon. The
draft is now complete The men are under charge Of
Federal troops, and farther danger FROM revolt is
apprehended. To appropriate S3OOO,0OU would be to
set free from service lat time Of great need, probably
seven or eight thousand men, 10 be supplied at the risk
of another outbreak To retain those who are now
drafted would be = remove all Incentives to revolt on
the part of exempts To buy them Off and to resor: to
another draft would be to excite Jealousy in the minds
of the latter aud goad them on TO resistance.
This act of treachery is apece with the order made
BY Lincoln for suspension Of the draft during the
prevalence of the riot The passage of the ordnance
making the appropriation we'll calculated to
deceive people far less confdOg than the Ingenious
class who constituted the chief elements in the New
York riots The unauimiy with which it passed both
branches of the Council forbade in their vew the pos
sib ity of ultimate deception and quiet submission to
the draft was natural sequence. They have realized
doubtless BY this time how their confidence be.
trayed and how vain and deceptive are any promises
ma Re by Yankees Tne truth il, the Yankees ca1not
be honest.
But the wonder IL, that any p2opl, who have lived
among them be uniformly made the duPes OF
their treachery. Yet, so it is Experts in hypocrcy
they at loss for proper devices by which
conceal it. WithOu. this faculty, the art would be in
effective, and cOncealment of the intent impossible
oae thing may be safely presumed, in view of this
act Of deception that another draft will be ventured
upon only at risk Of exciting general rebellion. Cen
ding the people may have been, they hardly be
duped by any future promises however plau5bly made
Whatever mOiety OF strength be added to the Ysn-
kee army through the agency of this draft vii svail
little imagine in the work o: our slbjugaton. Men
who Made the victims of gross treachery can
hardly be expected to render good service. They will
prove active elements of Generalization in army
already seriously dsaIeCted aud will for long
time at leas but poor purpose il the work of South
ern subjugatoD.
The draft at the North will exert for US favorable
influence in the future. 1t has nauguratcd spirit of
revolt which viii not readily die out. As first expe
riment, the late outbreak decidedly oreditabe.
This spirit will mature to fair proportions as the incen
tives revolt increase. It becomes more sensitive as
its capacity for resistance increases and the next trial.
is to be presumed will find it equal to whatever emc
gency may arise.