Year: 1863

But u t1as only on The s1pysss understanding TIA


thsAdraft .toas at least Suspended, that he pecpL


Dsye yeStoYed 10 quiet-wby, then, stir up again
and 90 soon, the angry passions Of the populace
which, like snouldeflng embers, are but waiting
spark to rouse them to yet greater fury2 II
ID no doubt true that the rioters were composed
mainly Of the very lowest Of the population
ills never the educated or wealthy classes who
have recouse to violence for the redress of po-
litioal or social grievances. But Il 10 likewise
true that people Of all classes and Of all shades
lof opinion are opposed to the daft, especially
with the obnoxious $500 exemption clause SUI
peradded, than which nothing could be more
offensive to the poor man, who, If drafted, has
no resource but to shoulder the musket and 60
to the war, leaving his family, II he has one,
to the tender mercieB Of the cold, selfish world
Even those who can eaaily pay the exemption
fee themselves are loud In condemning this
clause as highly unjust, and as pressing over
hard on the poor. Why, then. will not the
Government pause little and reflect before Il
rushes headlong into such measure, involving,
II may be, the most awful consequencee2 To all
appear ance the rebellion is almost dead, and If
foreign war should break out, especially with
England, there will be no ueed of draft, for
every man would be willing to take up arms--
even those who are most vehement In protest
Ing Against the draft. Whom tho riots we're at
their worst, one Of the recruiting tents Was
thrown down by the pressure of the crowd, and,
furiously excited as the people were, the nation
al flag, which had fallen with the tent, Was no
sooner seen on the ground than general CRY
arose to "put that up againw which was done
accordingly. No! the people of New York
the worst Of them-are not disloyal to their
country-tbey simply consider the draft unnec.
essary at this time, after all the men the State
has furnished-probably two hundred thousand
or overland when the exigencies Of the service
do not seem to require II. Conscription is al


ways sure to be unpopular, and doubly 80 under
republican form of government, and amongst
people who consider freedom the birthright Of
every man. II our rulers, then, will only take
this into account, and treat the people with that
paternal consideration which becomes govern.
ment 80 constituted, In accordance with the
spirit Of our free institutions, they will nd their
account in It, and 10 the day when the whole
strength Of the republic may be needed to resist
foreign encroAchment, they will find that the
people will rally, as one man, around the nation
al standard. In that day, the Government will
rejoice, If now it listens to the cry of "iustics"
going up from the millions, and deals out mercy
to its own people.


For ourselves, it ia unnecessary TO say that
we have, from the very first outbreak of the re-
bellion, supported the Governuent of the couu-
try in It's iustfabe efforts to maintain the integ-
rity of the republic, but we honestly confess
that We are not in favor Of the daft, because
We know that It brings the Government into di.
rect collision with the otherwise loyal citizens,
and will do more to spread dissatisfaction
amongst the loyal people than oil the efforts Of
intriguing politicians. The republic, one and
indipisible, is our motto, fret OF all, but free
government in free country, and justice to all,
are the beat and only means to insure the safe.
~ of our noble country and its institutions. In
he name OF the loyal Irish people of The United
States zoe enier our earnest and most respectful
protest against the enforcement of tho dya1L, and
lmplore the Government not to forfeit Its high
character before the nations Of the world by
having recourse TO . measure Of extreme des-
potism. Let IL Judge the future By the past, and
trust to the magnanimous spirit Of the Amori-
can people-not conscripiion-to recruis the ma
tionsl army for any future emergency. The
same people that furnished the Government
with the Army OF the Potomsc-the Army of the
Cumberland, and all the magnificent armies
that have In two years started into existence as
IL by magic, can at any time, If properly man-
aged, raise any number of armies equal to
them-why, then, goad such people 70 mad
ness by enforcing o draft, or deprive them O
the merit Of raising o volunteer force2 1t il
madness to think OF il, and we rely on the
wisdom and sagaoity Of our rulers to avoid 90
fatal O step.