814 



KIOTS IN NEW YORK, BOSTON, ETC. 



lar clause in the National Enrolment act of the late 

 Congress is calculated to inflict great privations upon 

 the poorer classes of our citizens ; therefore, be it 



Resolved, That the Committee on National Affairs 

 be, and they are hereby, instructed to report to this 

 board a plan whereby an appropriation can be made, 

 to pay the commutation of such of our poorest citizens 

 as are likely to be most sorely affected oy the enforce- 

 ment of a conscription. 



Maj.-Gen. Wool was in command of the De- 

 partment of the East, with his headquarters in 

 New York, and about noon issued the follow- 

 ing call to " veteran volunteers " : 



The veterans who have recently returned from the 

 field of battle, have again an opportunity of serving, 

 not only their country, but the great emporium of New 

 York, from the threatened dangers of a ruthless mob. 



The Commanding General of the Eastern Depart- 

 ment trusts that those who have exhibited so much 

 bravery in the field of battle, will not hesitate to come 

 forward at this time, to tender their services to the 

 Mayor, to stay the ravages of the city by men who have 

 lost all sense of obligations to their country, as well 

 as to the city of New York. 



JOHN E. WOOL, Major-General. 



P. S. These men are requested to report to Major- 

 General Sandford, corner of Elm and White streets, 

 on Tuesday, July 14th, at 10 A. M. 



The next morning at eight o'clock, several 

 colonels of returned volunteer regiments called 

 upon their former commands to rally, and hi 

 pursuance of orders from Gen. Wool, Gen. 

 Harvey Brown assumed command of the Fed- 

 eral troops in the city. 



The mob had full control of the city, and 

 omitted no opportunity of breaking laws or 

 violating ordinances, until midnight, when a 

 heavy rain dispersed them. 



On Tuesday, the spirit of the riot was more 

 malignant. Governor Seymour having arrived 

 in the city, issued the following proclamation : 



NKW YORK, July 14tt^ 186& 

 To the People of the City of New York : 



A riotous demonstration in your city, originating in 

 opposition to the conscription of soldiers for the mili- 

 tary service of the United States, has swelled into vast 

 proportions, directing its fury against the property 

 and lives of peaceful citizens. I know that many who 

 have participated in these proceedings would not have 

 allowed themselves to be carried to such extremes of 

 violence and of wrong, except under an apprehension 

 of injustice, but such persons are reminded that the 

 only opposition to the conscription which can be al- 

 lowed, is an appeal to the courts. 



The right or every citizen to make such an appeal 

 will be maintained, and the decision of .the courts 

 must be respected and obeyed by rulers and people 

 alike. No other course is consistent with the main- 

 tenance 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 or the State of New York must be enforced, 

 its peace and order maintained, and the lives and prop- 

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

 ard. The rights of every citizen will be properly 

 guarded and defended by the Chief Magistrate of the 

 State. 



I do, therefore, call upon all persons engaged in 

 these riotous proceedings, to retire to their homes and 

 employments, declaring to them that unless they do 

 so at once, I shall use all the power necessary to re- 

 store the peace and order of the city. I also call upon 

 all well-disposed persons not enrolled for the preser- 

 vation of order, to pursue their ordinary avocations. 



Let all citizens stand firmly by the constituted au- 



thorities, sustaining law and order in the city, and 

 ready to answer any such demand as circumstances 

 may render necessary for me to make upon their ser- 

 vices; and they may rely upon a rigid enforcement of 

 the laws of this State against all who violate them. 

 HORATIO SEYMOUR, Governor. 

 It was soon urged upon the governor that 

 measures more rigorous must be taken; and 

 becoming convinced that such was the case, he 

 was induced to declare the city in a state of 

 insurrection in the following proclamation : 



NEW YORK, July \4th, 1863. 



Whereas, It is manifest that combinations for for- 

 cible resistance to the laws of the State of New York 

 and the execution of civil and criminal process exist in 

 the city and county of New York, whereby the peace 

 and safety of the city, and the lives and property of its 

 inhabitants, are endangered ; and 



Whereas, The ppwer of the said city and county has 

 been exerted and is not sufficient to enable the officers 

 of the said city and county to maintain the laws of the 

 State and execute the legal process of its officers ; and 



Whereas, Application has been made to me by the 

 sheriff of the city and county of New York, to declare 

 the said city and county to be in a state of insurrec- 

 tion ; 



Now therefore I, Horatio Seymour, governor of the 

 State of New York, and commander-in-chief of the 

 forces of the same, do in its name, and by its authori- 

 ty, issue this proclamation, in accordance with the 

 statute in such case made and provided, and do here- 

 by declare the city and county of New York to be in a 

 state of insurrection, and give notice to all persons 

 that the means provided by the laws of this State for 

 the maintenance of law and order will be employed to 

 whatever degree may be necessary, and that all per- 

 sons who shall, after the publication of this proclama- 

 tion, resist, or aid and assist in resisting, any force 

 ordered out by the Governor to quell or suppress such 

 insurrection, will render themselves liable to the pen- 

 alties prescribed by law. HORATIO SEYMOUR. 



These proclamations, however, produced but 

 little effect, and the second day was in many of 

 its features the worst of the four. The stores 

 were closed in all parts of the city ; no signs of 

 trade were visible. Between the several mili- 

 tary officers, into whose hands the defence of 

 the city and the suppression of the riot were 

 committed, there were difficulties of which no 

 one could obtain a satisfactory explanation. 

 General Wool, as commanding general of the 

 Department of the East, was in supreme control 

 of the regular troops, and he delegated de- 

 partments of his small command to General 

 Brown and General Sandford, at different 

 times, so that it was difficult for his more 

 immediate subordinates to know the authority 

 of each. The police were true to their great 

 trust, and won for themselves an honorable rec- 

 ord. The principal feature of these twenty- 

 four hours was the onset upon the negroes, 

 which was attended with fearful atrocities. 

 Whenever a negro was found, death was his 

 inexorable fate. Old men and infirm women 

 were beaten without mercy ; whole neighbor- 

 hoods were burned out ; the life of no person of 

 color was safe for a moment in the presence of 

 the infuriated mob. On several occasions dur- 

 ing the day the military and the rioters were 

 brought face to face. Twice an attempt was 

 made to resist the progress of the soldiers, but 

 ball cartridges were used and the rioters fled. 



