The New York herald., 1878-11-04
power that appointed them and that too. At time of

greater than it now Is. Even now" the Governor
insisted dwelling upon subject the facts in regard
TO which have never heretofore been explained, mo
stands to defend the honor of the city when it
is attacked in connection with that most important
part OF its history. Men of the highest positions
j der government allowed to hold mistaken
views to the events OF that period. No places in
bers to uphold the government during the rebellion
New York and Brooklyn. Even after their quotas
corrected they Mere in excess Of those Of every
showed that the mere excess beyond fair quota
ceeded the whole number called for from Vermont
and New Hampshire
Governor Seymour's eyes began to twinkle and his
voice assumed earness tone. that he
approaching the subject Of the famous New York
draft riots, and listened attcntively.
as great reproach to that city and they cannot be
condemned in terms too strong But there were some
facts connected with them which showed . local
history. The riot caused not only by unjust
enrolment but by the way the draft was made. 1t
in command Of the United States forces TO Mayor
Opdyke. to the Governor Of the State. 1t was at
vana. volunteering to defend that State from the
attack of Lees army The United States soldiers
tary force was concerned city was almost in
defenceless state. have nothing to say here. said
can speak Of what done by the police without
suspicion OF party prejudice since. as is well known.
they showed an unfriendly spirit toward me in their
acts and reports That shall not prevent me from dol
ng them justice. They put down the most formidable
riot in history with the aid Of few soldiers who
| were left in New York. and at the time
they protected vast amounts Of government stores
and government treasure. To do this it is shown by
their reports that they shot down nearly thousand
of the rioters. They broke the whole force Of the
mob before the general government could send any
| forces to protect its own property"
..some citizens took . hand. did they not %
''They were aided by citizens supplied with arms by
the State and by the small number OF United States
| troops under General Wool. There is instance in
the history Of cities where great disturbance
put down by the local authorities with vigor.
l N.,w asxaA ,1o~a 10
ernment by any other city rendered by New
York when its local regiments went out to defend
the cause of Union at moment Of
extreme peril An officer Of high rank in
said Governor seymour "that nothing discouraged
them much when they learned the spirit Of the
tho By ss ss on a s &
| President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton show how
grated they Thus the city authorities not only
put down great riot, excited by great wrongs. and
helped to defend the stores and treasures
but at the very time when its military organizations
| against rebellion when it had assumed its nlost
threatening aspect"
| I thanked the Governor for shedding this light
| upon events SO clouded with Misrepresentation.
| MISTAKE OF PRESIDENT GRANT.
surely It would Se is he eGntinged that
in this display Of its patriotism Yet not one word
has been uttered when grave misstatements have
| Grant spoke of the riots in New York occasion
where the United States army had been used to sup
dent to show that they might be rghtfully used for
this purpose. This did not call out correction by
q Of Sose
stood by the President. I do not here
hss 70 allowed to s%p SS s.d
against it without answer. 1t s due to him to say
that when letter was sent setting forth the facts he
treated it with that courtesy which every true
shows when an an error into which he has fallen is
| pointed out"
president Grant believe was not the latest pub
Lie man in high station to make similar statcmentY
| "No distinguished Senator from vermont*. who
other causes reduced its quotas to so low figure dur
ing the rebeionassais the patriotism Of New York;
yet single Congressional districts in the city sent moro
men the army than the State which he represents.
down the riots There is no doubt they would have
done their duty in any field Of action
ELECTION OF 1868.
I may be mistaken. but think the Vermont men
| were in New York under direction Of General Butler
to supervise election in the fall Of 1s03 do not
think that the Senator would feel that it COM
pmentary to the character Of any soldier TO be called
from the front OF battle to manage election with
force and in the peculiar ways for which General
rhts OF electors nrs loudly now by All
parties. But there has been none disgraceful as
that attemptedin 1853 In New York after II had pro-
tected the treasures from rioters and had
sent out its volunteers to uphold the government
the darkest hour Of the rebellion.
"And the citizen " resumed the Governor touching
again upon the point which all his remarks in
tended to set forth. "A shameful indifference to
the rights and character Of their city by leading
Of wealth and business influence lcd the general
and State to treat its interests with
tempt While people laugh at the provincial conceits
stand up in manly way for their rights and they
make themselves felt in the legislation Of the country
They do not allow their town to be decred The
trast betwccn the two cities is best shown by the way
they have dealt with those who tried to resist
ernmen %he rsSssancs BY ths mob
New. York was by. ignorant men stung
made in an hour Of disaster. but When victory at
Gettysburg made clear the success OF the Union
They were shot down by hundreds and the city Of
New York helped to swell the public voice in their
condemnation. Its citizens do not even tell of its
patriotic action as more than an offset to this sad
Affair.".
/ oRrGINAI. SECESSION SENTIMENT.
'But this is not the first time in the history Of our
During the last war with Great Britain" said Cover
nor Seymour, sterny. 'in dark hour, when IN
enemy was upon our SOIL when the walls Of our Capt.
| tol in blackened ruins from flames kindled by
the torches Of enemies met in convention to
counsel resistance to drafts to hn the ranks Of
our armies. They were not ignorant men
were the leading citizens q that pTt Of Union
nouncing the general for attempts to rc-
inforce its army by . conscription they said this
Here the Governor turned to book upon his tablo
and read the following paragraph from the proceed
ings OF the Convention Of which he spoke:-
yenton discern total d1resard the esns.I.aton
e n. sn from tho
''The spirit Of disunion and secession" no pro-
ceeded. lis shown through all their proceedings
that the people Of the South have not the poor
privilege Of feeling that they fought for and
beaten in contest for principles which their
own. They were borrowed mainly from the city Of
Boston.
"Now. the citizens of that place." Governor Sey-
mour said, do not allow their city TO be cried down
because George Cabat, Nathan Dane. Harrison g.
Otis and others OF like high social positions thus
counselled resistance. They point with just pride to
our people for all they have done In behalf Of our
| country. When turn to New York find very
/ different spirit. We SEQ no such proofs Of local
| patriotism"
| LACK LOCAL. PRIDE.
| 'You find an absolute lack there, then, Of local
| pride and local patriotism. both r.
| "And more The citizens of New York do not
| sert their own rights with spirit enough to make
themselves felt. In the State they wronged out
Of their share Of representation by cool violation
of official oaths OF constitutional duty. BY the gen.
eral government they robbed OF the benefit of the