Year: 1863

tiong The President has promptly consented TO
have it tested by judicial Interpretation; but
while the car Of victory is moving on and treason
is flying before it, God forbid that the State OF
New York its constituted authorities should at
temp. to stay its progress until the judicial pro-
cess can be consummated.


The accuracy OF the enrolment In the city dis
tricts has been impeached, and o revision was i'm.
mediately ordered by the President, on represen-
.tation from the Governor Of the State But as the
men are needed for immediate service, and as the
correction Of the returns requires time, the quota
was ordered to be reduced in all the distrcts-in
some more than half the whole amount-leaving
the account for future adjustment. The reduction
in the quota exceeds in proportion the alleged ex-
cess Of the enrolment; SO that no personal injus-
tice can possibly occur.


Under these circumstances, no good citizen will
array himself, either by word or deed, against the
draft. Submission TO the law in seasons of tran
quility is always the highest Of political duties
But, when the existence Of the government is in
peril, he who resists its authority commits crime
Of the deepest tnrpitude. He is the voluntary in
strument Of those who are seeking to overthrow it,
and becomes himself public enemy. Moreover,
resistance to the government by those who are
living under its protection, and are indebted to II
for the daily tenure Of their property and their


lives, has not the palliation under which those
who lead the insurrection at the South seek to
shelter themselves: that they are acting under
color Of authority derived from Legislatures or con-
ventions Of the people in their respective States
With rs resistance to the constituted authorities
Is both treason and lawless violence; and II there
are any who thus combine to re.enact the scenes
Of cruelty and devastation by which this city has
recently been dshonored and to defeat by force Of
arms the execution Of the paramount law Of Con-
gress they will be treated as enemies Of the coun
try and Of mankind.


Returning among you from distance, fellow
citizens, after more than two years Of military
service in the cause Of the Union TO uphold which
this city has, in all emergencies, stood forth with
a manly patriotism worthy Of her high position
having no feeling but to see her good name pre-
served without blemish, no wish but that she may
continue, as she has ever been, the most orderly
Of the great commercial towns Of the age-I have
ventured to address to you these suggestions, to
exhort you to the maintenance Of order, to obe-
tence to the laws and to the quiet pursuit Of your
accustomed avocations, while the draft is in
progress.


Should these suggestions be disregardcd by any
among you, and renewed attempts be made to
disturb the public peace, to break down the bar
rers which the law has set up for the security Of
property and life, and to defeat the execution Of
a law which it is my duty to enforce, warn all
such persons that ample preparation has been
made to vindicate the authority Of the govern
ment, and that the first exhibitions Of disorder d
violence will be met by the most prompt and
vigorous measures for their repression.


JOHN A. DIX, Major General