Draft Riots 1863 - Archbishop Hughes' speeches
Event Date: July 13-16, 1863
Publication: The Volcano Under the City. By A Volunteer Special. Fords, Howard, & Hulbert. 1887.
Author: William O. Stoddard
Source: Book
William O. Stoddard's Volcano Under the City, an account of the draft riots published in 1887, reflects upper-class fears of working-class militancy and mob action. A staunch Republican (in 1863 he served as one of President Lincoln's private secretaries), Stoddard served as a member of the voluntary special police during the draft riots. John Hughes became a bishop in 1842, and the first archbishop of New York City in 1850. He was crucial in establishing the Catholic church in the city, organizing parishioners in defense of their churches against nativist aggression in 1844, helping found what would become Fordham University by placing St. John's College under Jesuit control, and beginning construction on St. Patrick's Cathedral. Hughes was a staunch advocate for the city's Irish Catholic workers; as such, Governer Horatio Seymour requested that he speak out on behalf of law and order during the week of the riots. He did so in a letter that was printed in New York's paper on July 16th, and invited all New York Catholics to come hear him speak at his house the following day. This would be Hughes's final public appearance; he died in January, 1864 after a long illness.
V

The daily morning papers of Thursday, July I6th, contained the following:

"AN APPEAL TO THE IRISH CATHOLICS FROM ARCHBISHOP HUGHES.

"In the present disturbed state of the city I will appeal not only to them, but to all persons who love God and revere the holy Catholic religion which they profess, to respect also the laws of man and the peace of society, to retire to their homes with as little delay as possible, and disconnect themselves from the seemingly deliberate attempt to disturb the peace and social rights of the citizens of New York. If they are Catholics, or of such of them as are Catholics, I ask, for God's sake, for the sake of their holy religion, for my sake, if they have any respect for the episcopal authority, to dissolve their association with reckless men who have little regard for Divine or human law,

"John, Archbishop of New York."

As a better method of reaching any who might ac knowledge his authority or influence, he also issued the following pastoral letter, which appeared as a " poster" all over the city, early on Thursday morning:

"Archbishop Hughes to the Men of New York who are now called in many of the Papers Rioters:

"Men: I am not able, owing to rheumatism in my limbs, to visit you, but that is not a reason why you should not pay me a visit in your whole strength. Come, then, to-morrow, Friday, at two o'clock, to my residence, north-west corner of Madison Avenue and Thirty-sixth Street. I shall have a speech prepared for you. There is abundant space for the meeting around my house: I can address you from the corner of the balcony. If I should be unable to stand during the delivery you will permit me to address you sitting My voice is much stronger than my limbs. I take upon myself the responsibility of assuring you that in paying me this visit, or in retiring from it, you shall not be disturbed by any exhibition of municipal or military presence. You who are Catholics, or as randy of you as are, have a right to visit your Bishop without molestation.

"John Hughes, Archbishop of New York."
Close Window