The Daily Gate City

Gov. Seymour's Letter to Secretary Stanton.
Albany, Aug. 5.

The following is Gov. Seymour's letter to Secretary Stanton, relative to quotas in the first ten districts:

State of New York,
Executive Department,
August 3d, 1864.

Hon. E. M. Stanton, Sec'y of War.

Sir: It is my duty to call your attention to the enrollment made with a view to the draft lately ordered by the President. In some of the Congressional Districts it is especially excessive. The average quotas in 31 Congressional Districts of New York are 2,831. In Massachusetts and New Hampshire they are 2,167, in Pennsylvania 2,571. It will be seen that the average demand made in every Congressional District in this State is for 310 men per district more than is required in Pennsylvania, and for 714 men per district more than Massachusetts and New Hampshire. I name these States as I have not been able to procure quotas assigned elsewhere. There are no differences in the character of the population of these States to account for these discrepancies.

The most oppressive enrollment appears in the Congressional Districts in the cities of New York and Brooklyn. The average demand made on them is for 3,867 men each, while in Massachusetts the average demand made on each District is for 2,167 men. The census returns show that the proportion of aliens and females in large towns should make their quota less, not greater, than in other sections. These returns are confirmed by the character of their respective population. Not only are aliens enumerated in New York and Brooklyn, but females make a larger proportionate number than elsewhere, as they find more employment in work shops or as domestics, and if a comparison is made between cities of different sections the proportion of men demanded from New York and Brooklyn is still more startling, while in these cities 26 per cent. of the population is enrolled, in Boston only 12½ per cent. or less than one half that ratio are made liable to be drafted. The ten Congressional Districts of Massachusetts are required to furnish, under the last call, only 21,670 men. The first ten Congressional Districts in this state are called on for 35,954, making an excess of 14,284.

It is clear that great injustice is done under this enrollment. I do not mean to find fault with those who made them in New York and Brooklyn. I know what they state is true, that it is not possible to avoid the enrollment of persons who are not liable to be drafted, because they are aliens or non-residents. Those whose names are there erroneously put down have no interest in correcting the list, while the fact that they swell the enrollment brings a grievous burden upon the districts to whom they are charged.

The draft makes a heavy drain upon all parts of our country. In our cities it is a terrible affliction. A great proportion of their inhabitants live upon daily wages which they must receive with regularity to enable them to give bread, fuel, and shelter, to their families. These can only be obtained by cash payments. The pay of soldiers, which is made at irregular times, and perhaps, at comparatively long periods, will not provide the necessary support for these families in cities like New York and Brooklyn, and they are frequently broken up and ruined.

Every consideration of justice and humanity demands that unequal burdens should not be thrown upon them.

It is proper, I should say, that since the beginning of this civil war these cities have not only furnished their full quotas, but are to day entitled to credit of about 3,000 three years men. It would be an act of justice to count each of these men against three men under the present call for service for one year. But these cities have done more: they have, on repeated occasions, promptly answered the calls of the Department in times of peculiar trial. They have been able to do this because, at great expense, they have kept up well disciplined militia. The cost of this has been as much for the advantage of the U. S. as for the city's good. These excessive enrollments also subject to heavy taxation those who have been foremost in filling the National Treasury and giving to the Government the money which has enabled it to pay its soldiers. I know that you will agree with me that New York City and Brooklyn have strong claims not only upon the equity, but upon the gratitude of those who are administering the affairs of the nation.

In answer to an appeal which I made to you last year to correct similar wrongs, you appointed Wm. F. Allen of this State, Chauncey Smith of Mass., and Jno. Lane of Ind., as commissioners to examine into the enrollment of 1864. They submitted an able report, showing its great injustice, and you relieved those cities from a great wrong. I urge that some similar plan be adopted now, that the quota of the State, which especially in the districts I have named, New York city and Brooklyn, appear to be wrong and oppressive, may be adjusted equitably in proportion to the demands made in other parts of the country.

Since the enrollments were made there has been no opportunity to correct them, neither can this be done in time, while names may be added to the lists, and those who were improperly placed there cannot be stricken off. In large cities the excess of names cannot be detected, and citizens are not familiar with the name or the condition of their neighbors. In country districts it is otherwise.