NEW YORK. 



687 



8 o 



objection of Governor Seymour as to an excess 

 of eurolraent, and the allowance of 13,000 men 

 was promptly made by the War Department. 

 The Legislature, at its subsequent session, pass- 

 ed a vote of thanks to the governor for his 

 successful management of this matter. 



The quota of New York under the draft, af- 

 ter deducting credits on former calls, was 

 68,000 men. At the time for the draft to be 

 completed in New York and Brooklyn, the 



vernor issued the following proclamation : 



EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, ALBANY, 1 



K; 

 



Aug. 18th, 1863. 



I have received information that the draft is about 

 to be made in the cities of New York and Brooklyn, 

 and I understand that there is danger of disorderly 

 and riotous attacks upon those who are engaged in ex- 

 ecuting the law of Congress. 



I cannot believe that any considerable number of 

 citizens are disposed to renew the shameful and sad 

 scenes of the past month, in which the lives of so many, 

 as well of the innocent as of the guilty, were destroy- 

 ed. Our courts are now consigning to severe punish- 

 ment many of those who were then guilty of acts destruc- 

 tive of the lives and property of their fellow-citizens. 

 These events should teach all that real or imaginary 

 wrongs cannot be corrected by unlawful violence. 

 The liberties of our country and the rights of our cit- 

 izens can only be preserved by a just regard for legal 

 obligations, and an acquiescence in the decision of 

 judicial tribunals. 



While I believe it would have been a wise and hu- 

 mane policy to have procured a judicial decision, 

 with regard to the constitutionality of the Conscrip- 

 tion Act, at an earlier day and by a summary process, 

 yet the failure to do this in no degree justifies any 

 violent opposition to the act of Congress. Until it is 

 set aside by the decision of judicial tribunals, it must 

 be obeyed like any other act of the State or National 

 Legislature. 



The following rule of duty in this respect was laid 

 down in the farewell address of Andrew JacksoD. 

 This view has always been accepted by the friends of 

 our Union and the upholders of our Constitution : 



Unconstitutional or oppressive laws may, no doubt, be 

 passed by Congress, either from erroneous views or the 

 want of due consideration. If they are in reach of judicial 

 authority, the remedy is easy and peaceful; and, if from the 

 character of the law, it is an abuse of power not within tho 

 control of tho judiciary, then free discussion and calm ap- 

 peals to reason, and to the justice of the people, will not fail 

 to redress the wrong. But until the law shall be declared 

 void by the courts or repealed by Congress, no Individual or 

 combination of individuals can be justified in resisting its ex- 

 ecution. 



The antagonistic doctrine that men may rightfully re- 

 sist laws opposed to their own ideas of right or duty has 

 not only led to great disorders and violence, but is one 

 of the "chief causes of the destructive civil war which 

 has wasted the blood and treasure of our people. Dis- 

 ' regard for the sacredness of the Constitution, for the 

 majesty of the law, and for the decisions of the judi- 

 ciary, is, at this time, the greatest danger which threat- 

 ens American liberty. 



This spirit of disloyalty must be put down. It is in- 

 consistent with social order and social security, de- 

 structive to the safety of persons and property, and 

 subversive of the liberty of the citizen and the free- 

 dom of the nation. Those who fear that there are de- 

 signs in any quarter to overthrow the rights of the cit- 

 izen, or to obstruct the accustomed administration of 

 our laws, or to usurp any power in violation of consti- 

 tutional restraints, should bear in mind that all acts of 

 violence, all public disorders, pave the way for these 

 very usurpations, and that they will be regarded with 

 satisfaction by those who, for any cause, may wish to 

 destroy either the power or rights of our National or 

 State Governments. 



The Constitution and Statutes of the State and nation 



contain ample remedies for all wrongs which may be 

 committed either by rulers or citizens, and those who 

 wish to preserve their rights, or to punish ofiendcrs, 

 whether in public or in private life, should themselves 

 carefully perform their duty, abstain from all illegal 

 acts, generously support the Government, and then 

 calmly and resolutely claim their rights. 



I again repeat the warning which I gave to you 

 during the riotous proceedings of the past month, that 

 " the only opposition to the conscription which can be 

 allowed is an appeal to the courts. The right of every 

 citizen to make such an appeal will be maintained, and 

 the decision of the courts must be respected and obey- 

 ed by rulers and people alike. No other course is con- 

 sistent with the maintenance of the laws, the peace and 

 order of the city, and the safety of its inhabitants. 

 Riotous proceedings must and shall be put down. The 

 laws of the State of New York must be enforced, its 

 peace and order maintained, and the lives and prop- 

 erty of all citizens protected, at any and every haz- 

 ard. The rights of every citizen will be properly 

 uarded and defended by the chief magistrate of the 

 tate." 



I hereby admonish all judicial and executive officers 

 whose duty it is to enforce the law and preserve public 

 order, that they take vigorous and effective measures 

 to put down any riotous or unlawful assemblages; and 

 if they find their power insufficient for that purpose, 

 to call upon the military in the manner pointed out by 

 the Statutes of the State. If these measures should 

 prove insufficient, I shall then exert the full power of 

 the State, in order that the public order may be pre- 

 served, and the persons and properties of the citizens 

 be fully protected. 



HORATIO SEYMOUR. 



The following is the force that was sent to 

 General Dix by the Secretary of War as above 

 stated : 



United States regular infantry regiments and artillery. .. 12 



New York cavalry and Infantry regiments and artillery. 7 



Ohio infantry regiments 5 



Massachusetts infantry and artillery 4 



Vermont infantry regiments 5 



Connecticut battery T 1 



Delaware battery 1 



Michigan infantry regiments 8 



Indiana infantry regiments 3 



Minnesota infantry 1 



Wisconsin infantry 2 



Total United States regiments and batteries on duty.. 44 



The result of the draft in the State was as 

 follows : 



No. of conscripts examined 7T,S62 



No. exempted for physical disability arid other causes 63,109 



No. who paid commutation 14,073 



No. of substitutes obtained 6,619 



No. of conscripts held to service 2,557 



The number of volunteers obtained in the 

 State, from January 1st, 1863, to January 5th, 

 1864, was as follows : 



Volunteers raised by State authorities from January 



lst,lS63, to this date 25,324 



Recruits sent to regiments in the field 1,653 



Enlisted by provost-marshals 11,060 



Keenlistments in the field (estimate) 10,000 



Substitutes (volunteers, in fact) 6,619 



Enlisted by provost-marshals since December 21st. .. 1,500 



56,156 



The State has furnished up to December, 

 1863, 292,982 men. Of this number 230,442 

 were mustered in for three years, 30,121 for 

 two years, 2,516 for nine months, 29,893 for 

 three months. This ratio, applied to the loy- 

 al States, should produce an army of 1,439,500, 

 or one soldier for every thirteen persons. 



The Boards of Supervisors have made the fol- 



