The New York herald., 1878-11-04
Lack OF Local Pride and Pat
riotism Illustrated.
METROPOLITAN RIGHTS.
The Draft Riots, the Tweed Ring
and the Present Situation.
OLD FALSEHOODS NAILED AT LAST.

UTICA, N. Y. Nov. 2. 1878.
Returning from the West. about two weeks ago.
stopped ut Uticaas always try to do when passing
through the State-to call on Governor Seymour. at
his farm in Deerheld. No other hours so profit
ably spent in getting ideas American political
history and statesmanship applied to American affairs.
those thus occasionally enjoyed in the society of the
venerable and respected democratic leader. whose
active and original mind is still all alive with thoughts
and projects aiming at the best interests of his State
and country. No one who is good listener call
at Deerneld farm without carrying away with him
brain freshly invgorated-a sense Of having intel
lectually "dined."
The Governor was writing the letter to Mr.. Brooks
of the Democratic State Committee. which has since
been published He spoke very freely about the
topics Of that letter. which did No feel at liberty to
report to you in advance of i publication He dwelt
particularly the failure to do their duty on the
part Of the men of wealth in the city Of New York.
and with such pertinence that solicited and obtained
his promise to talk at length ON that subject
pending the election next Tuesday. He has fulfilled
that promise to-day and his views. partly RETROSPECT
tive have direct bearing the approaching duty
of New York city voters at the polls that they will not
fail to be read with general interest.
THE DUTY OF BUSINESS MEN.
Governor Seymour has an admiration for the power
'No government in Europe" said he, "has done as
much as they in making railroads shown much
ability in the conduct Of manufactures in the promo
ton of industry and in building up the material power
of nation. Yet while they thus excite the admiration
Of the world and should feel pride and interest in the
conduct of public affairs in the States and the general
beyond any other class they neglect their
political duties This is strikingy true" continued
the Governor of the Of wealth living in the city
Of New York. ALI who have held public office In
our State have felt this want Of care and
Intelligence their part In matters which concern
their city and which in many ways affect the value Of
their own fortunes. While merchants and bankers
and others easily excited about the rights Of prop
erty they very dull with regard to its duties"
HAS this been the rule" Iasked. within your
experience r
.Most certainly it has," responded Governor sey-
mour In great degree this class Of citizens are re-
sponsible for the evils Of which they have COM
planned Rights and interests Of property be
safe where the rights and interests Of not
held in equal regard. Business men, rich men, COM
plain that others do not govern well. yet
they neglect the honor and interests Of New
York city. They allow its and business to
be crippled they have suffered its citizens ut times
to be wronged in wavs that would not be borne by
the inhabitants Of any city in Europe without pro-
test. While they thus guilty Of neglect. they
have no influence have they right to any. with
the mass Of the voters.
REanNIscRNcR OF THE DRAFT.
IT will show you." the Governor went on to say 'a
strong proof Of this in these Documents extending
some papers which he held in his hand. He further
promised by deprecating any notion that he might be
influenced in what he was about to- say by personal
or political prejudice since the facts he would re-
cite were in high degree honorable to his political
opponents. "When enrolment for draft was
ordered during the rebellion" he proceeded.
.'evcry consideration of Justice and duty
called for its honest execution. It was lottery for
life and it great crime to make it unfair When
1t was completed 1t found to be cruelty unjust
The quotas Of Vermont and New Hampshire; whose
forty thousand and who had six representatives and
four Senators in Congress- less than the quotas
of two Congressional districts in the city OF New
York. whose populations were less than three hun
drcd thousand Az there more aliens and others
who We're ere, exempt IN the city than IN the states
the quotas asked of New York, as q whole, more
than those Of any other Atlantic State. but this excess
was imposed in cruel way upon the city"
Il remember"
.But how many other residents Of that city. save
those upon whom the hardship of the draft descended
do remember p asked the Governor. "The matter
the subject Of correspondence with President
Lincoln. which resulted in the appointment by tho
President Of two men, and of one man by myself rs
Governor to, to conduct an inquiry. The two COM
mssioncrs named by tho President from other
States, were OHiccrs OF the army anu were NATURALLY
inclined to disrust the charge OF unfairness. They
spent long time in laborious search into the facts
Rising above all prejudice. they decided that the
quotas of the cities OF New York and Brooklyn
erroneous and excessive and should be reduced"
"And wherein the default Of the citizens in this
matter?
II am coming to that. draft was necessarily
more hurtful in the city than in the country. When
able bodied men taken from their families i'll
large towns, those families had to pay with money
for rent and food promptly than the pay of the
soldier could be given to them their suflerings and
exposures were much greater than would fall upon
those living in rural districts where their condition
would be known and where care would be taken to
save them from want. During all tho time that the
inquiry by the Commissioners was going on not one
merchant, not man OF wealth ever gave tho
least heed to the subject looked to SEQ
n those whom such citizens were bound In
duty TO protect had ~or had not been wronged.
When the commission had finished its work
and its report sent to tho legislature although
q majority of the members of the Legislature were
republicans who had made severe attacks upon me
with regard to the matter. when they saw that
wrong had been done they dismissed their party feel
ngs and passed unanimous vote of thanks to those
who had exposed and corrected that wrong. Yet the
city who were under every religious moral and po-
ltical obligation to secure their fellow citizens from
oppression. Had they done their duty on that occa
sion they would have gained strong influence among
those who have since felt, and now feel. that
they have TO respect the opinions inter-
ests OF men who tid not care for the rights or well
fare Of Others"
NEGLECT OF WEALTHY CITIZENS
did none of the wcalthicr class of citizens ever
display any interest In the government OF New York
city during your administration p
II recall circumstance which occurred soon after
the affair just referred to-, responded Governor Sey
mour "a Acommittee from New York called upon me
ut Albany In relation to action of the Legislature
which threatened tax upon property. Az their
duct was honorable feel justified In mentioning the
Of such as l recollect. Among the members Of
the committee the late William u. Astor A. T.
Stewart and others of the same high grade. spoke
to them with entire frankness said that felt
that the leading men of the city, beyond all
others had failed in their duty and had thus led the
I'm tlp fla pf fhatr lneu ola
Of the enrolment and of the action of the commission
which had relieved the workngmen of New York. and
asked the committee II they could tell the Of
the who composed that commission. or II in the
course of its labors through many weeks they had
done thing toward learning the facts in the
They frankly admitted they could not and that they
had failed In their duty citizens. After the inter-
view Mr.. Astor and some of the others returned to
the Executive chamber and said they felt that it
to protect the rights of persons. They
asked for the names OF the Commission.