Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-08-14
THE DRAFT IN NEW YORK.
Important Correspondence between Gov.
Seymour aud President LiUcOIn. .,i

Seymour and President Lincoln. .i
INFAMOUS INEQUALITY AND PAR.
TALLY OF THE CONSCRIP TioN.
n fu - W-I
ATS BASE PAH1 ISAN CHARACTEH
GOVERNOR eEYnoUas LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT
WAHiEoroH, Ang g..
The folio wing Is Governor Seymour's letter
to the President on The question OF the draft ir
New York: 10 .,
. STATE OF New YiRK .rn
,a'a... 800 EXECUTIVE DEPARTnEnT,}
'Ht ALBANY, August 3. 1868 .L
To the President of The Unit,d States:
sR: At my request number Of pereops have
called upon you With respec. 70 tbs drsit IN this
Sta'e, more p,rticulsrly as it nff.cted the cities
Of New York and Brooklyn. To avoid misap.
prehersions, deem it proper to state my views
and wishes 10 writing. As the draft was one
nf the cIuees of the late riot in the city OF New
York, and as that outbre k has been urged by
some 90 o reason for its immediate execution
In that city, it Is proper that should speak of
that event. At the moment when the militia
of tie city were absent, in pursuance Of your
requett, and when the fovces OF the General Gov
ernment we're Withdrawn from its Notifications,
leaving 1t deieneeess againtt any attack from
abroad or the riot within its limits, the Provost
Msrahal commenced the draft without consult.
ing with the authorities Of the State or o. the
city. he harsh measure of raising troops by
compuleiOn has heretofore been avoided by tais
Governments, and is now reeorted to from the
belief on Its part that IL is necessary for the
support of our arms, know Jcu will agree
with me that ju, tice and prudence alike dena
Ia at this losleiy fer lfeehall be ccndpcsed With
the utmost fairness and opsDnees. 20 thpt oil
may know that IL is impartial aud "a ,ll 10 It's
OPERATORS 1t 10 the rishtof every ctan to
be a.su Q that in all public !rausactons there
ID stric. lmpsi tally IN matter 80 deeply at
iecuDg the persons and happiness of our people.
This is called ter by every consideration. [ am
happy t. cay that III many OF the districts iu
shis State the snrj'led lists we're publicly ex
hibl'ed, the names we're placed 10 the wheels
from Whcn they were TO be jrawn in the pres.
ence OF men of fsrens parties and OF kpown
integrity, aud the ORA wings were Conducted 10 u
mauaer 10 avoid suspic OF OF wioIg. Az the
eLrjllmetts are mAue in many ihttarces By
per Ons unknown TO the public, VI no are affected
DS their action aud who have o voice in their
selection, care should be tax n to prove the
corr, ctness of every ep. Unfortunately this
was lot done 10 the district OF New York when
the draft was commenceJ. Toe excltemenl
caused BY this unexpected drafG led 20 su un
jlaglh Able attack up1n toe enrolling Off 3ers,
which ultimately grew into the most dest, uc.iVe
ri t known in the history VI our cvun Ty Disre-
gard for lsS aud the tistestect Tor judicial
tribunals produced thtir natural results OF rob.
Dery aud arsJn, accompanied by mutderous
ouuages upona a heipess race, ana Tor time
the very txisteGce OF the commercial metropo-
lie Of our country WAS threatened. ln the cad
and humiiatiDg history OF this riot, it ia graft
fyipg that the cit z MS OF New York, without
mattfial aid IRON tue Safe or nation, we're
able of themselves 10 pul down this dagger
ous in .urIectiCn. do not undeirate the value
Of the services rendered by the military or naval
oficers of the General Government who we're
,ta!ioned 10 that city, for tue public are
under great aud lasting obligations 20 them
for their courage and skill, and their wise
and prudent counsels. Bat they had at
their commInd only handful OF good
troops, who alone were entirely unequal to
the duty Of defending the vast amount of ma
tional property which was endangetet. The
rioters we're subdued by the exertiOns of the
city tfcials, civil and military, the people, the
police, aud a small body OF only twelve hundred
men, composed equally OF the state and nation
al forces, who availed themselves Of the able
advice and direction Of the distinguished mill
tary men TO whom have alluded. Ii gives a
gratifying assurance of the ability Of the gtea :
est city OF our continens to maintain order in
its midst uoder circumstances, 30 disadvanta-
geous, against an uprising 80 unexpected, and
having its origin In questions deeply exciting to
the minds of the great masses OF the popula.
lion. The return from the war of some OF the
New York militia regiments restored peace and
se curity TO the city. | ordered troops from
ffsrent parts of our State, but could not get
them 10 the city before the riot was queled,
neither eould tue General Government give aay
substantial aid. IL could NOT even man its own
forts, nor had it the means to protect it's OWn
arserals and navy yards against Any of the
yessels which we're AZ that time engaged in
burning the ships of our merchants almost With.
In aipbt of our coast. Fur q time these very
forli6c.sions we're the chief danger to the
hatbor of New Yuik One thousand men could
have seiz I'd them all, aud have used their al a.
mept, for the destr rucGion of its ehippirg aud Of
the CITY itself. Al the time that this riot took
place / was engaged with Senator Morgan and
Compiroll,r Robinson, OF this S ate, On the
suffice OF hsrDor deienses, and placed under
the direction Of g eneral w DOL the unOrganlzsd
bodles of national volunteers It'll uLder ny
com pand, and also ordered bodies OF the mill
tia from the interior OF New York ilt1 the
Qualifications, to be under his control, and
made arrangements with hin tor their reception
but on the l2 b inst, the d'y before the IioI
o. oke out, 1 was requested BY Ginsrai Wool to
untermand my orders, duectpg the militia
60 proceed TO the haib1r OF New York. The
rt ason for this unders,and 10 that tne rules oi
the service, or the laws OF the United Stases,
do not termit The War Department TO accept OF
the 90, vices OF tioJps Tor special or qualified
pur poses. The inability OF 'ne Governments al
thai moment TO defend is fol Is aud public prop
eriy, or TO give any substantial a'sistauce il
putsiug down riot while The militia OF the city
we're snpportng the national cause 10 aoolheE
field. will be- ehown by the following letter
-hioh Was o3mmuaicased to my Associated
Messrs. Morgan aud Robinson, and 70 m.seit
the week before these ousrsges occurred:
II BrApeuARTrRs DEPARTMENT OF THE EAsT,l
NKw YORK, June 81.
To Ills Epcsllency, Hordtio Seymour, Gope'aor of III
| State or Neeo l0r6: "A 81 -
s,R; ALLOW me to caliyour attention to the defense
less oopdiuon OF this city have only i've hundIe
and ATTY men to garrison eight ioI One half OF thes
cannot be called arlleriss, being very impefectly il
at,ucted In any part Of artillery duty The hoanoke
10 eed TO Hampton Roads leaving NO vesss
~ in he harbor or at ine depot that could be avail
she ia less than ten days. The militia of this ely
-, haya aith.r been being sent to pfotet