The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1868-07-22
Governor seymour and the Jnly Riots.

! The Radicals iElvc much TO say about Cow
ern or Seymour and the ''July Riots" in New
York, asserting that he was responsible for
I lie fearful scenes enacted in that city, and
that he made none but feeble efforts 10 stay
the course of the rioteFs.a This charge has
been made before, and ii will very likely be
repeated during the canvass which, has just
opened, it is best, perhaps, to mail the lie''
at once. Fortunately, we are enabled todo
so with testimony 80 strong that not eyeRsa,
Radical will doubt II If he will but read. The
Mayor of New York at that time (lS63) was
George Opdyke, Republican. Mr.. Opdykc
not only acknowledged Governor Seymour's
services at the time of the riot, but has since
made the acknowledgment matter of rec
ord In an official letter, dated July Is, 1868,
speaking of the riot and of Governor Sey-
mour, Mr.. Opdyke says:
"% As GOVERNOR OF THE
STATE AND CONAANDER-IN-C CHIEF of IFS Mill
tary forces, he superseded me in authority
over the State militia commanded by Gener-
al Sanford; but General Wool, command
ing the United States military forces, contin-
uCu 10 llllilSGll ~ NlllNiGl
subject, of course, To the approval of his
own military Judgment, and the commands
of his superiOrs AT Washington. II affords
me pleasure to add that among Ak. those in
authority no diversity Of sentiment manifes-
ted itself ALI CO-OPERATRD IN EARNEST EF-
FORTS to restore the wOnted peace and quiet
Of the city by the earliest possible suppress
sion oi the outbreak"
This, be it remembered, is the testimony
of Rebublican, given in his official capaci-
ty as Mayor of the city wherein the riot oc-
CURED, IS To FACTS wlnCn CAME WITHIN Ills
ow.; PERSONAL KXowLEDeF. Such testimo-
ny is not to be despised,' .nred, or explain
ed away On the day following, Mr.. OPP
dyke sent the following telegram to the Sec
rotary of War: -:a
'.NAYoE's OFFICE, July II, 1868.
''Hon. Edwin VI. Stanton, Secretary of War:
''SIR-YUur dispatch received. Demon
strations very threatenias Gov. SEYMOUR
is with us, and all the authC.;si9S, United
States, STATE, and city, are cooperating TO
suppress them. But our military force at
command is altogether inadequate. If you
can render any assistance by sending mill
tary force, please do so. l will keep yOu
advised. GEORGE OPDYKE,
Mayor
Here, again, Mr.. Opdyke volunteers TO
tell Secretary Stanton that ALL THE AUTHOR
tiles, State, as well as national and munich
pal, ''are cooperating in efforts" TO put
down the rioters and restore the peace of
the city.
Afterwards, when the riot had been sup
pressed, Mr.. Opdyke wrote of those who
had co-operated with him to put down the
mob:
"Party interests and prejudices were ig-
nored by them their action was united and
harmonious and the riot was speedily SUP
pressed
Among the men complinented was Gov
ernor Seymour and Il large number of lesser
officials. 'In all my efforts" continues
Mayor Opdyke, II was ably and steadfastIy
seconded by those heads of the city depart
ments WHO MAY BE REGARDED As TIE REPRE-
sFSrArIvEs OF TIE DEMOCRATIC PATTY. By
such testimony do we mail the lie" that
Governor Seymour or the Democracy of
New York were responsible for the ''July
Riots"