Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-08-06
Letter from Gov. Seymour TO the
Secretary of WAR.


| ALBANY, Aug. 5.--The following is Gov
ernor Seymour's letter to Secretary STAN
ton, relative to the quotas in the first ten
districts:
STATE OF New YORK, EXECUTIVE DEPTH
ALBANY, August 3, 1864.
Hon. d. M Stanton, Secretary Of War
SIR:-lt is my duty to call your attention
to the enrollments made with view to the
draft, lately ordered by the President. In
some of the congressional districts they are
| especially excessive and injurious. The
average quotas in the thirty-onc Congress-
ional districts of New York, are 2,S8l: i'm
Massachusetts and New Hampshire they
are 2, lG7; in Pennsylvania, 2,57l.
| 1t will be seen that the average demand
made in every Congressional district in this
State is for $40 men per district, more than
are required in Pennsylvania, and for ia
men per district more than Massachusetts,
and New Hampshire. name these States,
as have not been able to procure the quo
tas assigned elsewhere. There are no diff
| ferences in the character of the population
of these States to account for these discrep-
ancies. The most oppressive enrollments
appear in the Congressional districts in the
cities of New York and Brooklyn. The
average demand made upon these is for 1867
men each, while in Massachusetts the
average demand made upon each district is
| for 2l67 men.
The census returns show that the proper
ton of aliens and females in the large towns
should make their quota less, not greater,
than in other sections. These returns are
confirmed by the character of their respect
i've populations. Not only are aliens nu-
merOus In New York and Brooklyn, but
females make larger prcportionate num-
ber than elsewhere, as they find more en-
ployment in workshops or as domestics, and
if comparison is made between cities Of
different States, the disproportion of men
demanded from New York and Brooklyn is
still more startling. While in these cities
26 per cent. of the population is enrolled, in
Boston only l219 per cent, or less than one
half that ratio, are made liable to be draft
ed.
The ten congressional districts of Mas
sachusetts are required to furnish under the
last call only 2l,670 men; the first ten con-
gressional districts in this State are called
on for 1884, making an excess of 1924.
tis clear that Justice is done under these
enrollments. | do not mean to find fault
with those who made them in New York
and Brooklyn. / know that what they
state is true, that it is not possible to avoid
enrolment therein of persons who are not
liable to be drafted, because they are aliens
or non-residents. Those whose names are
thus enormously put down, have no inter-
est in correcting the lists, while the fact
that they swell the enrollments bring griev-
GUS burdens upon the districts to which
they are charged.
The draft makes heavy drain upon all
parts of our country. In our cities it is a
terrible atliction. A great proportion OF
their Inhabitants live upon daily wages,
which they must receive with regularity to
enable them to give food, fuel and shelter to
their families. These can only be obtained
by cash payments. The pay of soldiers,
which is made at irregular times, and per-
haps at comparatively long periods, will
not provide the necessary support to their
families in cities like New York and Brook
lyn, and they are frequently broken up and
ruined. Every consideration of justice and
humanity demands that unequal burthens
should not be thrown upon them.
1t is proper should say, that since the
beginning of this civil war, these cities have
not only furnished their full quotas, but are
to-day entitled to credit of about 5000
three years men. 1t would be an act OF
Justice to count each of these men against
three men under the present call for service
for one year. But these cities have done
more-they have, on repeated occasions
promptly answered the call of the Depart
been able to do this. At great expense they
have kept up well disciplined militia. The
cost of this has been as much for the ad-
vantage of the United States as for the city
governments.
These excessive enrollments also subject
to heavy taxation those who have beer
foremost in filling the national treasury
and giving to the Government the money
which has enabled it to pay its soldiers.
know that you will agree with me that New
York and Brooklyn have strong claims, moi
only upon equity, but upon the gratitude
of those who are administering national af-
fairs.
In answer to an appeal which made tC
you last year, to correct similar wrongs
you appointed VIM. f. Allen, of this State,
Chauncy Smith, of Mass, and John Love,
of Indiana, a commission to examine into
the enrolment of 1868. They submitted an
able report, showing its great injustice, and
you relieved these citizens from a great
wrong. | urge that some similar plan be
adopted now, whereby the quotas of this
State; which especially in the districts
have named, New York city and Brooklyn
appear to be unequal and oppressive, may
be adjusted equitably in proportion to the
demands made upon other parts of the
country.
Since the enrollments were made there
has been no opportunity to correct them
Neither can this be done in time, while
names may be added to the lists and those
which were improperly placed there cannot
be stricken off. In large cities the excess
of names cannot be detected, as citizens
are not familiar with the names and condi-
tion oftheir neighbors. In the country dis
tricts it is otherwise. Truly yours, &C.,
Hon ITO CuvMnuD