July 14, 1863---The New York Draft Riots: Day Four

JULY 14, 1863:            

The New York Draft Riots (Day Four):      

As the rains abated in the early morning hours, the rioters returned to the streets. It’s unknown precisely how many rioters there were at this point, but estimates are that 50,000 or more persons were directly involved.

On this second day of full violence, the mobs continued to target black people, many of whom had fled their usual neighborhoods overnight. The mob turned its rage on prominent Republicans and Abolitionists, whose houses were smashed open, looted and burned.

The unrestrained attacks on prominent white citizens finally motivated New York’s Four Hundred to do something to calm the violence. At Noon, New York State’s Democratic Governor Horatio Seymour addressed a large crowd of rioters at City Hall. Beginning the speech with, “My friends,” he then criticized the Government, claiming that Conscription was unconstitutional. This speech, meant to calm the mob, re-energized it, and the rioting continued unabated. Seymour was later branded a traitor for encouraging the mob.

Previously, Seymour had asserted of the Draft:  

"It is a high crime to abduct a citizen of this State. It is made my duty by the Constitution to see that the laws are enforced. I shall investigate every alleged violation of our statutes, and see that offenders are brought to justice. Sheriffs and district attorneys are admonished that it is their duty to take care that no person within their respective counties is imprisoned, or carried by force beyond their limits, without due process or legal authority."

In the late afternoon, cadet troops from West Point began arriving in the city.