Annotation
[1] ALS, RPB. This letter is misdated September 7, 1863, by Nicolay and Hay (IX, 112). On August 29, Sherman and Hayes replied to Lincoln's communication of August 27, supra:
``We are in receipt of your dispatch dated August 27th, in answer to our communication of the 24th. inst.
``We have not been able to discover in the act of Congress, known as the Conscription act, or in the practice of the Government under it, any such clear and distinct recognition of state authority, as to authorise the impression that such an application as that which we had the honor to make on behalf and at the request of the Committee of the Common Council, would create confusion unless first submitted to the Governor of the State.
``The enrollment list is a record of the names of the persons reported to be liable, in demand of the Government, to be called directly into the field to undergo the hardships and dangers of military service. It would seem reasonable that such a record should be kept open for public inspection in the district for which it was made. . . .
``We are however contented to apply to the State authorities. . . .'' (DLC-RTL).
Upon being denied access to the consolidated enrollment list by Lieutenant Colonel James Oakes, assistant provost marshal general for Illinois, Sherman and Hayes wrote Lincoln again on September 17:
`` . . . What we seek is . . . information, clear and definite, of each and all of the names as they stand on the list from which the draft will be made. We wish to know who have been enrolled, who have been omitted, and who have been enrolled more than once. That knowledge we cannot obtain from the original lists. It can only be had from the corrected or final enrollment, which is now sealed up.