Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-13
GOV. SEYMOUR AND THE MOB.
An Explanation and VindicatiOn OF
hGs Course During the New YeFk
Riots He dfd not call the Mob
;. Erienda.''

An Explanation and VindicatiOn OF
hfs Course During the New Yerk
Riots - He dfd not call the Mob
Friends
SENECA FALLS, \. Y, Nov. %, 1866
To the Editor Of the Springfield Republican
/ find the following floating through the pa
pers Of this State, credited to 4 New York
correspondent of the Republican:
Speaking Of politics, reminds ne of an
incident Of the riots Of 1853, related to me
bg an eyewitness. You remember the Ifi-
5uHe Office had been threatened, and was
defended by armed men. The afternoon
that Gov. Seymour addressed the mob from
the steps Of the Astor House, ore of the de-
fenders Of the Tribune, dead shot, stood in
the editorial room window with telescopic
rife aimed at Seymour's head. II the I'M
scrupulous demagogue had said anything
to excite the mob, the intention of the rife
man was to shoot him dead on the spot,
and he would have done it beyond ques-
ton. Fortunately for Seymour, he sought
only to conciliate the insurgents, and 50
escaped with his life. II is not probable
the crafty politician ever knew how near
he came to having ball lodged in his
skull, and it may be that his good genius
stepped between him and his natural dis
position on that memorable and melancholy
day"
Aside from the murderous intent at
tributed to the editor Of the New York
Tribune, an intent foreign to the nature of
the editors of that highly respectable
! jorurnGl, the writer Of the paragraph quot
! ed gives currency to other errors, which
ought to be effectually exposed before pass
| ing into the domain of undisputed history ;
and appreciating your liberal treatment OF
| political opponents, l submit to you the
| following facts: First, Gov. Seymour did
not address "the mob" or anybody else,
" from the steps of the Astor House.
| during the riot week second, Gov. Sey-
| mour did not address the rioters, or any
/ portion of them, from the Astor House
steps, or from any other place, during that
week; third, the whole of his celebrated
speech "to his friends" 30 widely eircula-
ted and 80 generally believed to have been
made was a coinage of the reporters of the
| New York press, a Bohemian romance,
| having no other foundation than the occur
renee which 1 am about to relate.
On and about the 18th day of June, 1868,
| President Lincoln, Secretary Stanton and
| Gov Curtain severally telegraphed Gov.
| Seymour for assistance to repel a COnfede-
rate advance into Maryland and Pennsyl-
vania, and which it wasthought endangered
| Washington The Governor promptly
answered these kilograms by ordering to
| the front every available regiment of mill
tia in the State, following this up by per-
sonal inspection Of the defenses Of New
York harbor, and by organizing new Tegi-
ments of militia to defend the harbor forts
during the absence of the national and
State troops. Worn out by his severe labor
in the premises, on Friday, the Sth day of
July, the Governor sought few days rest
at the house Of a relative in New Jersey.
On Monday morning, July 18th, before the
return of the Governor to this State the
celebrated New York riot was inaugurated.
OF the causes of this riot it il not my pur-
pose to speak; suffice it TO say no friend of
Gov. Seymour, and indeed no man Of any
party of any social or political prominence
was connected with it. The riot COM
menced in the 9th Congressional district,
more than two miles from the Astor House
and City Hall, and only the echo was heard
down town.
About twelve O'Clock on Tuesday, July
IA. the Governor returned to the city, stop
ping with Mayor Opdyke and General
Wool, at the st. Nicholas hotel Finding
the riot progressing, and that the police
were entirely inadequate to preserve order,
and that there were neither national or
State troops in the city sufficient for the
Governor conceived the idea of organizing
citizens volunteer force to supply the
deficiency To this end he issued his proc
lamation, and in conjunction with General
Wool, Mayor Opdyke, Sheriff Lynch and
others, invited well disposed citizens to
meet at the City Hall, in the afternoon of
that day, for the purpose of providing for
| the public safety, At the hour appointed
| the hall was filled, and there was a large
concourse of good citizens on the outside,
| unable to get access to the building. A
| meeting was organized in the hail over
which Supervisor Tweed presided, and it
was deemed advisable that the objects and
doings of the meeting should be explained
to the people outside.
The Governor was selected as the proper
person to make that explanation, and on
being invited to do so by members present,
assented, and accompanied by the Mayor
and Sheriff, he took position in front OF
the City Hall, and briefly explained the
/ action of the authorities, announcing the
measures being adopted to restore peace
and order in the city, and advising all per-
sons not employed to assist the police, to
| return to their homes, in full confidence
| that their chosen magistrates would see the
| laws enforced, and the persons and property
of all classes Of citizens protected.
Such was the speech, and the only speech
made by Governor Seymour in New York
| during the riot week 1t was wholly un-
premeditated but it had the happiest effect.
| All who heard it seemed satisfied The
Mayor swore in his special police, the citi-
| zens' volunteer force was organized, armed
and assigned to duty the crowd-a crowd
convened by the authorities to assist the
authorities dispersed; and it is not be-
lieved = single person who heard the Gov
ernor upon that occasion engaged in any OF
the subsequent riotous proceedings.
The romance about the Governor having
| addressed bloedy-handel rioters as "his
friends" having served, and more than
served its party purposes, | submit TO you
| il the truth of history does not require its
correction. | may add, that it is a Fixed
rule of Gov. Seymour's life never to notice
a personal assault Hence many cruel ac-
Cusations have gone forth unquestioned.
Those who know Horatio Seymour are
never misled. His public and private
character is as spotless as the most ardent
| friend couldWis To the high qualities
of an accomplished orator and an enlight-
ened statesman he unites the holier attri-
butes Of a Christian gentleman and an un-
| selfish patriot. Daring the rebellion, much
| as he was misrepresented by opponents, and
misunderstood by many frinds, the Union
had no more earnest advocate, the consti-
tuition no more devoted supporter, the
country no trueT son, the soldier and the
soldiers family no more efficient friend,
Very truly, your obedient servant
JOSIAH T. MILLER,
Late Inspector General Of New York.