The New York Herald Newspaper, February 22, 1860, Page 3

yhether we shall have ail, and 4 aparty atall. If wise coansels true override jealousies i 3 Hs I i i i E i F : E THE COOPER INSTITUTE . CROWDED, ‘Appearance of General Scott on the Platform. Terrific Enthusiasm for the Hero of Three Wars. THREE TIMES THREE AND NINE MORE. Speeches’ of James W. Gerard, J. Mor- rison Harris, George Briggs, Theodore Tomlinson; &c. on the Orisis from Mortb- ern and Southern Politicians. THE “MIDDLE MEN” OF WASHINGTON MARKET. WHAT THEY WILL DO TO SAVE THE UNION, Fraternal Salutation frem Philadelphia, i, ae, ao. ‘The Cooper Institute was crammed last evening by an wmtelligent and entbusiastic assemblage of citizens, who bad congregated in accordance with a call inviting all who ‘were in favor of upbolding the Union, the constitution and the laws of the country, of securing the rights of the ‘several States inviolate, resisting all attempts to interfere ‘with their respective institations and policy, opposed to ‘all sectional partiee, and in favor of elevating men to office who will administer the government in the spirit of its founders, to meet in a grand convention. The filthy condition of the public streets mo doubt intumidated many persons from venturing out, bat notwithstanding this serious obstacle to the comfort of pedestrians, the attend- ‘ance was such, in numbers and respectability, as to plainly demonstrate the importance in which the move- ment is held by the most prominent citizens of the me- tropole. It was sufficient to cast a glance across the room to see that those who composed the audience con. sieted of the vital portion of the population—that is, men who have lerge interests in the welfare and advancement of the country. ‘The platform and the whole front of the building facing tbe audience was shroaded in flags and banners, and the columns were neatly enwrapped in a similar manner. Jereriptions were [suspended in prominent positions, Among others wé noticed @ banner with this motto:— Sere eee orig miGsTs OF ALL SECTIONS. 3 NATIONAL THON CLUB 3 yo. 1, 3 OF THE TWELFTH WARD. Qeonnnernnnnenee 00t DONNIE LOLELEDE DE DOLOIE LE) Over the front of the platiorm wag a quotation from a Mdelcbrated American “slaleeman. In ibe deniré was the following:— PORE AOE CONNIE ODIO LE HY THE UNION MUGT AND SHALL BE PRESERVED. H ANDREW JACKSON. OOOO DIOOIONIOLOLD COLOIODIIODE DODOOOO LES On the left side was this:— Qeceeerennne COO AIIONIING ODED LE DOONEY ‘THE UNION, THE CONSTITUTION AND THE ENYORCEMEST 3 : Or THE Laws —HeNky CLay. POMCONOOD IOIOLELD EDIOOON C0008 And on the right:— Qnrennnnrern ne ceenneww ee nt DED DOI DONNY, ISTRY, ONE CONSTITUTION, ONE DESTINY. } ONE COUNTRY, P -— 3 Ganrenrne ereree nennrennneree LOMDIOOOIOOE OOOO AY ARRIVAL OF GENERAL SCOTT. Asimultaneous burst of applause from the audience, breaking forth in loud and vehement cheering, announced the arrival of this distinguished veteran. The people had expected him, and although many were inclined to think ‘that the foui condition of the streets would have the ef- feet of keeping him away, they were very pleasantly disappointed. True to his military punctuality and the faith of a soldier's word, he was at his post at precisoly half-past seven o'clock. The notification of his arrival spread like electricity through the room, and the whole audience rose to their feet by a common impulse to ren- der homage to the noble hero who stood before them. For several minutes nothing could be heard but the gene- ral and tumultuous roar of the united applause of the as- gembied thousands, But when the excitement had somewhat subsided, a stalwarth man sprung up among the reet, and proposed three cheers for General Scott. ‘This was given with a force as of brazen trumpets, and with a unity and enthusiasm indescribable. These beers were repeated again and again in the same warm and spirited manner. General Scott all this time stood in front of the door through which be had entered, surrounded by a group of friends, bowing repeatedly in acknowledgement to the ‘audience. After the cheers bad subsided he was escort. ed w a prominent place on the platform, where a number ‘of gentlemen were presented to him, the bravesoldier re- eciving one and all in his cordial, bland and fraternal ‘Tanner. ‘The band having arrived about this time, played seve- val popular airs—among others “Hail Columbia,” the “‘Marseillaise Hymn,” &c., &c. ‘The excitement producedgby the presence of General Scott was, however, not doomed to be thus ended. Too thrilling music of the “Marseillaise” seemed to bring ‘ack to the memory of the audience the heroic deeds of the great living American Captain, who thus calmly and werenely sat before them, and their enthusiasm again found vent in renewed cheers. Nine rounds of vehement applause were given with the enthusiasm of the preced- img ones, while the gentlemen on the platform waved hats and handkerchiefs, and vied with each other in*every weonceivable demonstration of respect. As Gen. Scott rose to make hie obeisance, the people grew perfectly wild ‘with excitement, which was carried to the utmost pitch when the shrill trumpets and clanging cymbals of the band poured forth the powerful strain, ‘‘Hail to the Chief.’ The whole demonstration was one that must have been deeply gratifying to the victor of the City of Mexico. ‘Three cheers were then given for George Briggs. ‘The call ef the meeting having been read in regular form, J. W. Girard yas nominated Chairman of the meeting ‘amid Joud applause. ‘The foliowing list of Vice Presidents was then read and James Brown, ‘D. A. Cashman, Henry Grinnell, George A. Hood, BE 5 J. DeP. Ogden, James W. 5 Philo Hara, A.C. F. C. Wagner, Ww. W. ye $ "a Sutton, Ww. cone Henry Sayder,’ ‘Wm. Chauncey, Alex. Stevens, ue Drew, Pe Smith, OD. Glee, Samuel Peck, ‘Hiram Ketchum, : John P. eae 3. " RS Van s i ‘ Nathaaiet Eeyden, B Milken, Jobn Y. Moore, John Steward, Jr., Benj. > Sidney Morse. i i! i i : ! Fak jal & g rie f NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1860.—TRIPLE SHEET. itd i | z | Fy iE i H i i H i iF uf £ 53 i dy FE gE i i at clubs, rege aes Steal ir a the people to waite heart aud had iy the “ities i l i i Ef Slee é E BF 3e ei Hf | é ze ‘We feel that our cause is a just one, and as such, de- serving of the support of just men, and we confidently the perpetuity of our institutions. ‘We would not ask you to remem! bore acd nourished you ; tor while will not forget ber. Nor would we remin sbould cherish the country to which you owe your grow- ing institutions, your prosperity and your ha; for strong right arms (Cheers.) Bat we would warn you against trusting too much to the preatiges of the past, and earnestly beg yon to remember, and act upon the principle, that ‘eternal vigilance is the prige of liberty.” (Continued applause.) THE RESOLUTIONS. ‘Whereas, the present condition and aspect of political affairs are such as to summon into action the energies of every patriotic citizen, and to excite tne reasonabie anxie- Ues of our beet and wisest men; and, Whereas, the preservation of our system of govern- meat, with ite priceless privileges, is neither practicable nor desirable without strict adherence to the constitution and to the spirit and principles of the fathers of the re- public; and, Whereas, there are po evils in or under the government of the United Siates which may not be more easily, safely and happily cured by the remedies provided in the con- rake than by agitations, alienations aod convulsions; fore, 1, Resolved, That we hail with gratitude the return of bo Sg ve ha to the immortal Meshing: n—(loud applavse)—whose patriousm regarded no lines Cee sectional distinction, but embraced the whole American people as one in interest, in feel- ing and in destiny; and in sustaining, g and perpetuating the principles of his Farewell Address, we shail best exbibit our title to the privilege oi being the children of him of whom it is weil said that ‘Providence left bim chiidlezs that he might be the father of his coun- try.” (Cheers. ) 2, That the time has come when all who love'their country more than party, who are willing to give their ‘warm, carpest, and steadfast support to the doctrines of Uvertv. fraternity and equality of rights and privileges on Which (bé was Originally founted and Dulit, should unite their names, their votes, aud their un tiring energies in the country from the perils in which it is placed by the violence, sectional ambition and partisan warfare which has become so fierce and fearful as to endanger the etability, and derange the functions of our government. 3. we are willing, a8 good citizens, to abide by, and uphold as the law of the land, the constraction of the constitution pronounced by the Supreme Court of the United States—(cheers)—and that we are willing to leave the constitutionality of all future legislation by Con- gress, by the States and by the Territories, to be deter- mined ‘by the same august tribunal created for this end by the government which we love. (Ren¢wed applause. , 4, That the oonstitution was adopted and the Unit States confederated into one great iblic—one country, ‘one government, one people—when the institution of do- mestic slavery was in existence as a fixed fact in most of the States thus united; that the cons¥tution was with such provisions as to secure to each one of these States in the Union the exclueive right to manago its own domestic institutions in its own way— (cheers)—and all attempts to interfere with such rights by armed invasion, by expressions of sympathy with, or apology for, the aggressors; or Dy attempts to excite the enmity of one section of the couptry againet the other, or to disturb the harmony of the great family of States by intestine warfare, are in conflict with the spirit of the Union, are treasonable in their effects, and meet with our decided condemnation. (Loud cheers.) ‘>. That the agitation of the question of slavery outside of the States where it has been established, has hitherto been productive of no to the slave; that the and friendship which formerly prevailed vetweon the North and the South have been seriously disturbed; that much evil bas thos far been ‘the result; acd thatevery consideration of wiedom, policy, justice, expediency aud duty, Gemand that this agitation should cease. (Pro- longed applause.) i 6. That we wil support for the office of President no man, however exalted by talents, position or fame, whose past or present sentiments weaken our confidence in him as a firm, incorrupuble and inalienable friend of the whole Union. (Loud and continued cheers.) 7. That on thig eve of our Washington’s birthday we send our cordial greetings to the friends of Union and peace, wherever they dweil, throughout the length and breacth of the land we live in—the sunny climes of the South, the bills and vales of the East, the ocean prairies of the West—pledging them that the trne men of the North will stand shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart with them in the great struggle on which this people is about to enter; ana, regardless of all past past asgociations and subordinate questions of merely temporary interest, we Will strive together.to make the principles of ‘Union’’ and ‘‘ficelity to the constitution’ triumphant, now and forever. (Prolonged applause.) ‘The Caaimman here ceime forward and gaid he had the pleasure of introducing Dr, Guillemette to the audience, ‘and that that gentleman would sing their national air— “The Star Spangled Banner.’? The announcement was received with loud cheers, and the singer having ad- vanced’ to the front of the platform, gave the song in very good Voice and with considerable energy. This idea of Singing patriotic airs, which originated with the Phila- delphiars in their late Union meeting, was carried to grester perfection by the meeting last night. The ap- plause which arcee at the close of each verse was drowned by the loud masic of the band and the roaring eborus of very nearly the whole audience. The en- thusiagm was, indeea, very great, and it was generally remarked that General Scott was so much pleased thatne joined heartily in the grand chorus. Three cheers Were tnen given for “The Star Spangled Bauper’’ ana for Dr, Guillemette. We supply the text of this song, with the applause that greeted the singers:— Oh! say, can you see by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hail’d at the trilight’s last gleaming, Whose — ie and bright stars thro’ the perilous ight, O’er the rampart we watch’d were eo gallantly streaming; And the rockets’ red glare, the bombe bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still tnere. Ob! eay, does the star spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the prave? Cherus—Aaccompanied by the band. SPEECH OF JAMES W. GERARD. A member of the committee here stated that the Chair man, Hon. James'W. Gerard, would address the meet © ing. Mr. Gumanp coming forward, was received with {prolonged spplause. He said:—I wish that I had the power of some mecromancer’s wand to tranzport to this ‘building our friends at the South, and then they would find that Northern men were not recreant to the obliga- tions of the constitution, (Appliause-) As Chairman of this meeting?I am to take the responsibility of presiding over its deliberations, and I therefore think proper to build my platform, to let you kaow where I stand and what my principles are. One thing I will tell you. Iam not @ political partisan. (Cries of ‘‘Good.”) I be- long, to no party. I do not come here clothed with official power, fer I am an humble citizen of this my native born city. (Cheers). I do not come bere asa pro-slavery or an antislavery man. (Applause). 1 do not come here to discuss the queetion Pisbes taveay transported to this land of Ch:'stianity. 1 do not come to ¢igeuss to you any of the isms of the day. (Applause). Toamne here upes the grand qr eation Of necessliy sad $i Podiency, (Loud cheers). 1, place lat nari of the Constitution, aad that ie law high enough for him who preaches sedition in the North ud applause, ) ‘Whence have we come here to-night? vy is it that Iam Surrounded by the bone and muscle of ative city? Why are the mercantile interests of New York come up here to sit in jud; partiee—well known faces? Why do you come here, to break off the shackles of party, and Mand bere pre- Pared todo justice to your country, and to your te country? (Applause.) Whence is it, I want to know, that you and tives and adopted citizens—whence is it, that we have come here again to swear upon the altar of our country our allegiance to ite constitution? (Ap. pane.) I will tell you why. Have we a forcign joe knocking at the door? No, We are at with all the world. There is an enemy 8 and hence it is that we have come to ait in judgment upon the events of the day. (Loud cheers.) The history of the abolition principle is a very short one. Some five and twenty years & few misguided men—and, I be- eve, a few misguided women also (laughter)—took. 1t in their from fanaticism, some from m! and some from deviltry—took it in their heads, knowing no more about slaves than they do about the spheres that live above us, to alter the institutions of our sister ‘States, apd to declare that that asunder, when he or ‘wno proclaimed him- frer lio indign tion. bine I away m pu ation. Te- member well he day when they ‘ead Be io Janes and alleys ana bye-corners; and 1 remember well when they were hunted out of their dens, when the tar pot was prepared for them, and they fled from it and from the nation of the peoples (Lond How, then, happens it that this principle, with A] Fg H St a4 it to rise to the agit they created. ern A Hence it was Tammany La Maced Separated in two, and the old party went gallavanting alter strange gods. (Laughtei ‘Then both sides began to bid, and there was an saoeeis tor yotes, A ‘the Trish vote, large and powerful and’ most respectable, aid whig and democrat began to Did for them. Then came the German vote, with their legions, that swept tbe city. High bids for them. Then came the smail abolition party, and a higher bid tor them. (Cheers and langhter.) erefore, charge your politicians with the high crime of bringing mto existence and into power a muerable, contempuvie principle wnat the whole country had trampled upon. (Loud cheers.) And yet, my friends, they have not grown much. Fora large country containing some twenty-six millions of people— (and L hope the couatry will last ioag enough, under the broad buater of the con stitution, to embrace one, aye and two hundred tillions of people)—they have not grown much. (Applause.) About twenty thousand abolition votes, 1 can tell our Southern Irisnas, throughout the whole jength and breadta of the land, from Florida up to Maine, from the Atlantic to the Pacific—twenty tnou- tand would cover the whote fraternity. And yet they make @ great noise, One man, by crying “‘fire!”’ can dieturd a cay; end a boy who cries out ‘mad dog!” wil! send the poor cur soon to his doom. age Why, you conservative men make nocry, You are not tound on the housetops proclaiming to your country that you are for country, for the law, and for the constitution. You actthe part of good citizens; you do your duty; you 60 not boast of it; you neither go w the highway por the byeway; you neitker make broad your puylactories, nor eplarge the hom of your garment; you do notcall upon people to look down and see how you worship. (Cheers.) But the abolitionist takes the speakiag trumpet; he goes upon the housetop, and he biows # blast. But after all itis but wind. (Laughter and ba gromaged Why, m triendg, I teli you the time was when they ekulked, ‘unt their friends and partizans brought them out from their depg, where they skulked the gazo of jt men. But now this emat! band, net bold they are! How bold they are! Why, the man who twenty yéars ago dare talk of treagon—the man who twenty years ego dare whisper to the winds the possibility that the Union might be dis- solved—would be struck to the earth as @ recreant to the cause of iiberty throughout the world, and ® traitor to his country. (Applause.) But now, emboldened by the countenance of the politicians, treason: stalks abroad ip your lang; is pi t from your pul- pits; and on the very platform on which | stand—in this vemple, dedicated io ecience, and upen ig gable front de- dicated to the Union ia letters of etone—T havo from this platform treason preached in this your plessed country (applause and groans); have heard the men who have gone down to your unoffending brethren in the ft 58 Le South—who have gone with pistol, with pike, and with sabres by the hundred, to place in the hands of the slaves, their masters—where the power and majesty ot the law took hold of these men, aud condemned them to the just punish- ment for marder ani treason. (Prolonged cheers.) I have beard these men, on this platform, ond martyrs, and canonized as such, and in their apothe- osis placed by the side of the immortal Washington (Cries of ‘Shame, shame!”’) My blood boiled at, hear- ing Buch enunciations; but I paid the respect due to pnblic discussion. 1 aw a friend to free discussion; but let that be am overt act, and then to the gallows or the Tunatic asylum. (Enthusiastic cheering.) Who are the friends of the slave? Whoare they? are they the abo- litioniste? (Cries of ‘n0.””) Iammnot worth much. (In credulous laughter.) I bave not much money to spare but I will give two dollars for every one that an aboli tionist will make an affidavit he ever gave to the slaves t: redeem them rom the state which he professes to deplor : somuch. (Appiause.) If avy abolitionist, will make an afficavit that he ever gave a dollar, I will give him two. (Cheers and laughter.) Ah! my friends, I have seen the Operation of that. 1 have seen the friend of the slave who wanted to buy bis o freedom, and, perbaps, the free- dom of his wife and child. I have seen him shun the door of the abolitionist and go to the office of the merchants of New Yerk—the conservative men, who opened their purses and their hearts, and have given freely in the cange of the slave who wished to buy his own and his family’s liberty. (Cries of “True,” and applause.) No man ever thinks of going to an abolitionist. If you ever hear of a runaway slave he will runaway from le abolitionist after he has been in his company one day, quicker than ever be did from his master in the South. (Lavghter and applause.) Now what have they done for them? I'll tell you what they have done. Tney have fastened their manacies upon them for half a cen- tury. Their embrace is poison, and their counsel is death. Why, ¢o you not remember (there are some old enovgh here to remember) before theee poor, misera- ble men and women ‘began tw spew their nopgense on the country, that Virginia, Ma ryland and Kentucky were discussing tue gradual emancipation of the slave, just as we bad done im the North. Bot whea they were asked do it by com pulsion, then they drew themselves back, aod swore that they would pot be compelled by Northern abolitionisis to do that which their own duty prompt ed them to do, if they had beea let alone. (Loud cheers.) Theretore, the slaves o! the South have to thank the abo- liuoniwts for this; that they have deprived them of many valuable privileges which their masters were giving thema—privileges of religious instruction, nivileges of educational instruction, aud they have bound them down, as I have etated, for at least half a (appiavee.) But follow me a littie farther. 1 will not — long. You find @ good many abolitionists in the West—the State of Ohio one of the leaders of it. What bave those Western States done? If the slave will run away from bi® master; if he will, with knife in hand—in all probability baviog used it against his master—come to them ag @ runaway slave, they will receive him in that State with open arms, take him to their board, and almost to their bed. (Laughter and cheers.) But let the master set that same slave free—let the master say, ‘Go where you will. Go to your friends in Objo, in Indiana, in Ilinois. Go there.’ What have thoee free States done, where sbolitionism prevails? They have locked the’ door against them, if they come as free men. (Laughter and cheers)’ If they but come as slaves—if uney will violate their duty to the master—ii they make an infernal noise and clamor—(iaughter)—if they give them apy capital, then the aboiitionist huge him to his bosom. But Jet them come as freemen, made free by their maz- ters, and the great majority of the Western states bave moron laws, and are now paeaing them, probibiting free lacks from ever entering the limit of their State. (Cries of «That's consistent,” and Ifughter.) Do we do sq No! No, my friends, New York, happily standing Detween the sestiong of jhe country, has always been conservative. (Srujause.) Let the poor biack come here, boud aud “;ee, Let him come here, asking nid of our princes. ‘and we will grant it, Why’ we look Wpo”, the black man as our brother worm, springing ‘ie game earth; as our brother, who travels the century to come. “ort journey of life, meets all ite care and all its troubles: our brother, destined with us, o & common grave; and our brother, destined with us to a common resurrection and common immortality. (Cheers.). That is the way fe do not tarn our back upoa es: Tanghter’ dna’ appiause.) 4 rand a 5 the eve of the birthday of great (cheers)—aad it has been peppy oe ration upon Union principles. we live in? Js ita barren land—a land o i ‘ E ay itas ge 8 aveve we had more of them. There is no antagoniem, repeat, no conflict either in principal or otherwise. What ie oar country? Who won our independence? Who constitution? When in the days of troub e, wh. Patrick Henry | [ng and bie was proclaimed sinia wo jovinces of Great Britain. From ill aut valley and river side, that or/ rolled ‘a8 re echoed back by the Utis’, the yt per which you m0) army South, while Soa... er, Greene and Put were fy sary battles in iv North. ‘The chivalrvus blood the ‘was spilivc at Savannah, at Charleston, at on otver hard fought’ fields, while that flowed uc Lex'ngton, at Bunker Hill, at Ben- ton and Saratog:. And who led us ail? Whose was ‘mighty pend Wat, uncer. Providence, directed us to a was tae Joshua wi at your bat- by did not usk that the sun Sehs cees ean and day be made jovger, for the day was long h for do bis work? (Cheers.) Your great Wash- apes s "ous cheering.) A Southern man— a ‘of slaves, (Renewed cheers.) And when we went to battle then, did we say, ‘Mr. Slaveholder, won’t _ a8 to emancipate your slaves?’ When k,” and the half-famished army of your encountered the foe, did the Northern or Eastern to his Southern friend, ‘“Won’t you be 80 as the institution of slavery?” ‘No, the; wught things. They thought os me gen their homes and tire- sides; ven long years banded r, shoulder did North and South poroy yet unul hanging over tho platform), on ? z 7 et aEBg z to shoulder, ley pepating, to one the 25th of November, 1783, waved triumphantly over your City Halllike the dove tnat left the proses Bi ‘bat jar owas over, and peace had come. (Cheors.) “Ab!” Bays tue abouitioniat, ‘you are too sensitive, on of the South; you are too touchy; you talk too much, and you snouldn’t mind what we say. re -) We are only in ; levus carry out our a principles here, and bave a little amusement; Jet useall upon this platiorm the talext and character of ‘this reotion of the country to preach sedition in the land, but for heaven's sake don’t be angry.” (Laughter.) And yourwill ind the tuppeny papers of the day—I hope the Teporters will put that down (laughter)—spreading taunts and ridicule through the land, spitting their worst venom ‘atthe South, aud yet curiously inquiring—“‘Why are you ‘apgry?” My friends, bave any of you lived in the Southern country, on @ plantation, with a planter of intelligence ‘and wealth—his wife and children, may be daughters around him—surrounded by hundred of slaves perhaps, and no white man within a distance of several miles? If not, and you cau imagine yourselves there, think ofthe females of that family when lying on their sleepless pil- lows, and anticipating the crack of those which some Northern miscreant has put into the hands of their tlaves for the purpose of making of that peaceful home a acene of desolation and murder. You may possibly ima- gine that; but shrrounded and as you are by , you bave never felt it. Yes, they will excite the blave to the verge of madness, fut ihe pike, the pistol, or thesword in his bands, and then coolly ask the Southern in what makes you so sensitive?” (Laughter.) 1», ‘ty friends, if a man should cast a firebraud into your building by niggt, though only in sport, and the law catches and convicts him, won't it bang him asa felon? Of course it will. What, then, shonld be the fate of any man, be he white or black, high or low, bumble or rich, who, either by giving material aid, or by his counsel, in- the biacks of the South to rise in millions against their masters and lay desviate one of the most beautiful portions of our country? I will tell you what his fae Ought tobe. I do not mean poor wretches like those who went down in Virginia to execute thejplot so happily frus- trated, but those master epirite woo remain at home, who draw the wires and lay the plans for others to cxecute—these are the men who, if they committed © an overt act, 1 woula hang as bigh as Haman’s gallows, which was prepared for jecai, (Immense cheering.) I have been asked by a dozen people—* Do you thi that this Union is in dapger’’ | tell them no; there are two Uaions—a parch- ment union and a union of hearts; but there is no fear that either wil be severed. I do not want to see our Southern friends indulging the impression that every jentieman who comes to New York will be taken by the 2 hole and have abolitioniem talked at himand w him st every turn and corner of the streets. On the contrary, I} believe they will not find » single individual who will force the subject upon them. I do not know of but one, though I have lived along time in New York—and he is a noisy one. No, my friends, the Union will not be dissolved. For what have we come here to-night? Why, to offer to our brothers of the South the right hand of fellowship, to assure them that the union principle of New York and the Northern States is a hun- dred times stronger than the cobweb band that binds the abolitionists together. (Cheers) I tell my Soathern friends, go home to your countrymen and 4 that the North is conservative, the North stands by tha guaran- hes of the constitution, the North is not aggres sive. We find friends wherever we go, and, thereiore, while we are keeping entire the parchment union, we must Lot look upon them with distrust. Let us receive them with open arms, be kind, be friendly ;and on the other hand what iceson is taught to us to be kind tothem, to be gentle. ‘They have an institution which you may depend upon it they feelis an evil ag fully as we can tell them, but itis an evil which they will cure in time. But for heave sake let them underetand that we make no war agai their vested rights, that we will carry out tothe letter the spirit and sanctions of the constitution, and that until they themselves by time and experience have developed the proper course to be pursued jor the removal of this evil, we shall notraire our hands to make war against them for it, Now, the lagt thing 1 have to say is this—the tuppenny papers to which I have alluded will call this a meeting of merchants. The gentlemen here assembled have either goods to reli, ehips for which they want exercise, real es- tate which they want to dispose of or to improve, or something of the kind. Thatisthe most impudent thing Lbave heard of, for many of these mon have nothing themecivee, own neither ships nor houses, and perhaps do poteven pay the rent of those they hire. They live from hand to mouth and gamble with politics and parties, and yet they say we are the only persons who are to ma- page these these things. We, the editors who sit in our roome and se}l our ‘small sheets, want the manage- ment of the country, and, if necessary, the right to avo- ich slavery. Butif the merchant, who hag everthivg to lose, who jays ali the taxes of the city, while these mea pay nothing, dare to come forward here under the banner of the country, and ask for peace, and endeavor to stop gitation—“On! ft is King Cotton!’ (Laughter.) It is only dry goods. It is only the landowner. Don't we see the grass growing around their nouses? Itigonly the Broadway storekeeper—aud, by and by, the grocer or hardware manufactures, Butwo—we are the men who don’t work at all; we have dear little white hands, and we will judge and carry out the theory of these rich merchants. My friends, I hope the merchants of New York will represent themselves. I am glad to see them here to night, and 1 will give them this lesson, that if they want to see New York shake off the shackles which have bound the city down, they must rise in their strength, go to the bailot box, go to the conpeli chamber, and take part in ite public aifurs. ‘Phen, aod not ull then, will New York be disenthralled. ' (Cheers.) Now fellow citizens, bere (pointing wwards Genera Scott) eis lover of the Union who has come here tol night to show you that he sympathises with the 0». ject of tis meetiog. Would you lke thogo eyes of Lis, which bave tolled over many a baltie fi : flag stripped of half ite stars and trailing in Ve Neyer!) Nor I. Sooner would Lee u ro of two wars wrap that flag around his body and {all grace- fully im battliog for we rights of his country, than that ope ster ebould be struck from its azare field, or ite folds be waved over a contest ia which brother is arrayed agawst brother. (Tremendous cheering, amid which Mr. Girard resumed his seat.) Dr. Guilmette then came forward and sang with stirring effect, *“Columbia’s the Gem of the Ocean,” the audience jomivg in the chorus, after which SPEECH OF HON. J. M. IARRIS, Hon, J. Moxsison Haris, member of Coagrees from Maryland, beicg introduced by the Chuir, spoke as fol- lows:— Men of New York—my fellow citizens—and I trust that that time will never come in the history of my native land when ! cannot go from oue extremity of the confederacy to the other ana gay everywhere North and South—my fellow citizens. (Cheers.) Iam glad to de with you to- night. If I had not believed there wos some siguidcance in this meetwg, if I had not felt that there were evil omens ih the times, I should not have come from Wash- ington 10 meet you. But I have felt that with the im- pressions that bad been given to me, and the character of the sseembly with whith I would be confronted this evening, it might be well for eome Southern representa- tive 1o come before his fellow citizens of a Northern State. (Cheers.) I6m glad to find, ac I learned from my friend upon the stand end from the eloqnent gentleman who has just adarested you, tnat 1 now stand face to face @ representative audience of the city of New York. I am told that the exigency of the occasion has brougbt Out to-night all classes; ail that mighty multitude which sweeps through the great arteries of your imperial city, Iam told thae here to-night in this asgory. bly is the artisan, whose hand has been roughers, al) day with the implecaents of hig honest but bx .abie occu vation; that “aero “is here to-night the tnanufacturer and the mechanic, whose cars have now lost the echoes of the clanging machinery which has been ringing in them the past twelvg hours; that there are here to-night those princely merchants who have given to your city her pre- emirence in this confederacy—t whose large expe- riewce, great enterprise amd commanding capita! have ‘voxed the waters of every ¢cean with the keels of your celebrated ships, and have brought back to your bosom the traffic of all sections of the globe. You have labor represented, enterprise represented and wealth sented; and they tell me that on this platform audience there are men who, for iwenty years bave never attended a public meeting in your 1 esk my my fellow citizens, wi have come here to-night, and that question that I very briefly wish to your hearing. Bot not only have ‘aut all the interests of your city question which bas convoked you gathered your assembly under possible for the question of 3 your of the anniversary of tonality, American patriotism George Washington. -(Cheers.) calimmg Yo your aid the grand associ tional past, youhave by a fortunate ia your very midet one of those i i | i Lr g&i8 nn | ; H g ; ru f i 53 ! | E Ege | i i E & Fal is , 3 2f2i ge .> sBa."8 i iel HALE i i i FH i é (Cheers ) may we cnerish the names and the memory of our great men. Bat Atte pow. appreciation of what they hava dove for us worth, it % Co not realize in us Something more than s reponse to the recite: of eis actous. The praca queswun of -fanatic who incites mischief sree peice ah oe ny 8 e, but why is, when George Wi and Winfleld Soott—(renewed up these reverberating echoes wy fellow citizens? Because you these two names and these two men with some- thing elevated high as the heavens above the miserable fanaticlem, the miserable drivelling puerility that to-day, why it is are yea “Tile about in the of your country, threatens to undermine the e' of that government, the glory of which they beth it to maintain. (Cheers. ) y is it you are here to-1 t? Don’t you believe there is @ necessity for our presence in a meeting of this sort, men of the North? Bon't ‘you believe that such resolutions as you adopted ‘With unanimity to night ought to be the outapoken senti- ment of every Northern body of people in the country? (‘*Yes,l? Yes,’ and cheers.) Don’t you believe it would be better if you north of Mason and Dixon’s line, better for the common country, if in every single State that is between us and the frozen mountain tops of New Ham; to that there shonid not be found a re- spectable han Northern men, who could not, with ‘ir hands upon their hearts, say amen to the resolu tions you have heard read to-night? (‘ Bravo,” and cheers.) Gentlemen, I tell you it js time the North should spesk out. I tell you it ie ‘right the North should speak out in just such language as these resolutions have held Ci Ki and enthusiastic apace.) It is time that the should understand that the true Position of our Northern brethern is the platform of one Constitution, one rgnonf one country. fApplanse.) i it be—and I’believe that ls it—if it bo eloquent and ‘Union: loving and patriotic speech of the gentleman who preceded me is the sentiment of this community—is the sentiment of this Empire State—why is it, 1 ask of you, why is it that the people of the South havo had any rea- son heretofore and up to this time to entertain any doubt whatever about the true sentiment of our Northern brethren? Why is it that we have not heard, where more fitly we ought to have heard, just such sentiments ag these uttered by those who ri it the great body of the Northern Encrlet Why, it is not that the Northern mind is unsound, but because it is quiescent, because it has trifled with this greatquestion that bag grown up into @ question of sore irritation and trouble. It is because you men not only of the city of New York, but everywhere elsc—you men who rnie her, the power in the State—that you men who are ants, and me- chanics, and lawyers, and students, and artisans, and la- borers, have let the politician speak out the thought that is in him, instead of speaking out in thunder tones the thought that isin you. (Cheers.) That is tho rea- son, in my humble judgment that is the reason, that when some miserable fanatic like John Brown meets upon the gallows in Virginia the fit termination of his crimes— (cheers)—that the impression is disseminated and re- ceived too largely in the South, that he has sympathy and support in his infernal malice in the body of the community at the North. (A voice—‘No such Weg Gentlemen, I know it is no euch thing. (Applause.) Tam not one of those who believe that it ts or ever can be any such thing in the North. (Applause and cries of ‘*Good,’ But the sentiment that is national and conservative needs expression—give it expreasion. (A Voico—We do.”’) Give it expression more frequently and more em- phatically than you ever did before, aod you will teact the men of the South toappreciate your true position upon this question. (Applause.) But, gentlemen, ! say you have come here to-night becavse you believe there is danger in the aspect ol your national alfairs. I belive it too. 1 believe that never before in the history of the confeaeracy has there been a period when there was so much real, tangible danger as there is at this time. (A Voice—‘ That's a fact.”) We have heard for years past from a handful of men in the Southern States a talk about cecession and disunion. We have aiways had men in the Congress of the United States from the remoter Southern border who have been willing to talk openly—even at the time when branded as traitors for the utterance—who have been willing to talk openly of disunion and seceasion. But I ask you, who haye observed the current of political affairs, to tell me whether ever before you had such reason to believe that the idea of danger to tbe Union, of danger to the confederacy , ever spread as widely as it has done of late years among the body of the South- ern people. Never before has the present gentiment been the sentiment of the South. Now, Iam not one of those who talk about secession, or who dreams of disunion. 1 am, and J am proud to be, a Southern man. (Cheers But Icome from aSonthern sovereignty, my fellow citi- zens, that will go out of the Union of theee States only, I believe, when the stars begin to drop from the galaxies of heaven. (Great ring ) Why, sir, that grau 1 national aptbem that stirred your hearts at the begianing of this evening’s exerciges— that invocation and address to the flag of Your countuy, was composed on # British man-of-war by @ Maryland prigoner within sight of that Fert McHenry which just faces my Congressional district. (Cheers.) No, ] am not of that claes of Southern men or Southern who talk about seceesion or disupion. I am not of that class that make speeches upon the floor of Congreee, and threatenings to go out of the Confederacy if 8 Northern man should be elected President. (Applause ) land my State wil! stay io the Union whatever Northern es elect under the forms of the constitution and vy the free vote of the people. (Cheers) (A voice— How about Seward?’) We will not go into details nor refer to ‘individuals. I am here to talk of principles. (Cries of ‘Good, good,” and applause.) But I say, my fellow citi- zepe, that there is a condition of feeling at the South that has Deen needlessly and unwisely provoked, and that is dangerous; and the business of this meeting, and the ‘business of on erail with which this meeting to-night associates itself, is to correct that mischief ana to avert that danger. What was the canso? said it was the politician, It is the litician. It is the trading, scheming politician. hat do the people of the North care about the question of slavery to-day, 1 wonder. What interest has this multituiinous and teeming North to do with the question of slavery in my State, or the question of slavery anywhere in the confederacy? So far as the Territories of the nation are concerned it is a closed question, and they know it. What interest is there to any one of you, or any Northern man, to further agitate the question of slavery. None under the canopy of heaven; But it is the interest of your mere politician. It is the interest of the men who can catch hold of @ public position by @ continued agitation, and the organization ‘that can only maintain its ascendancy, perhaps, by em- bracing within ite fold the most ulira opinions and the ‘most ultra nen. (Applause.) And it is the province of the people of the North, it has become in this emergency in our national affairs the great mission of the people of the North to taik out for themselves upon this question by their own organs, by the ballot box, theiz own a on this subject, and to let those who represent them unwisely and untruly know that thoy intend to for themeelves hereafter. (Applause.) And so I say to my friends at the Soutn, justas much of the mischief that has come upon this country in connec- tion with this miserable question of slavery has come from the ultraism, the excess of my Southern friends, as from the fanaticism of my Northern friends. (Cheers.) Let the truth be told. The country understands it. Is it to be supposed that this intelligent nation cannot see that the man from the extreme South, who is eternally prating about the secession of his State and the dis- union of this confederacy, is not striking a8 fatal a blow at the beart of the republic as the Nortnern in connection with the agitation of the game question? (Appiavge.) Gentlemen, both sections are to blame. (That’s it and applause.) Let the people condemn both, but let us at the same time bear in mind one fact. You may not ac- cept ic in as broad a sigaification as I do; but I think it is efact,and that is, that far too much provocation has been given to this excessive developement of Southern apgry feeling upon this subject by the agression of North- ern men. (Cheers.) Let us deal fairly with exch other fm the premises. You never would have had a John Brown swinging from a Virginian gibbet if you had not bad dangerous men preachirg treason in the North and inciting bim on in bis mad career. (Loud ap- ause.) t us. come together, then, not as men ror the North or from the South, but let ue agree to dis- agree about this one question that is troublesome in the whole budget o¢ our national politics, and let us bury it so deep that plummet line will never touch jt more. (Cheers ) And when we have done that, good God, what a beritage is ours! When we have done that, what a magnificent nation this is of which we are fellow citizens! (Applause.) When we have got rid of the one miserable vexing and distracting ieeue, what a grand sweep of the past, of the present and of the future the American mind My friend can rise to! (Loud ser) What a country it is! what a history it has! Scarcely half century bas rolled over it, and from the barrenness of the wilderness it has risen up into the growth of sovereign and independent nations- Ities. (Great applauge ) Scarcely half a century of ex- iete! and upon the rol! of its paet are written as many grei ames, are inscribed as many illustrious deeds as dignified the centuries of European sxistence. (Cheers.) Just ecarcely over half a century of life, and see how thé jiant limbs have grown out from the gigantic trunk; see for, Wray out And the Father of Waters, lately the Citima Thtve of the most enterprising made emigra- tion; see how, away beyond the Father of Waters, com- Tavnity upon community is springing up to take its rack with the elder sister States; see yonder, upon the margin of the Pacific, but a few years ago, nothing but a range of the mountain Coast, swoep- ing down to the waste, and now city, and now a State, and gee everywhere, wherever the adventurous ‘ta itself, wherever American enterprise, American la- bor, American industry and American interest desires to there, comes up a Union nationality to d Cmceereto: gern cheers Py my feilow citizens, re ce it, i) ‘You read gto. g g ii if i H H i i i inl i i E i | | iy z t i X E i 3 3 the direct road to safety in our national difficulties. Wo go With us om any uncertain or any Kroor liberty by stamting wip upon & pastors if when te is mot “MGiaughter’ and cheers.) But in motien. we ask bim to form, and of go us _ ‘that one II people nthe ‘country "the patforan count tion. (Shouts of ““Beavor| of the Union (cheers); (othe Routh, hoveetly'and.emaph to the South, ly and emphatically, there, and you will never hear of another to make himself absurd in taliking dieunion hereatter, (‘Bravo” and loud men of the South know that the to the conclusion that, without ge into any investigation about the right or wrong 4p institution, that you intend to leave it where it exists, for those States to manage in good pieasure, and their own good judgment (cheers); that 80 far as the question is concerned, outside mere fone ‘itution, you intend to be your action concerning it by the decisions of the tribunals of the United Caate~(areat obeormghe yoo let them koow that that is the feeling that is w you—-let them know that these are to be the rules political conduct upon this subject—and the fight is 4 4 hs over, the agony is ended, and the inatit never more rise up like the ghost of ae distract the marriage feast of the (Cheers. te ‘opie. Now, gentlemen, have said roughly rudely, with scarcely @ thought beforehand, some which I desired to smy, but have, doubtless, - ted, #8 I have spoken loug enough for your patience— ‘No, no,” and vociferous cries of “Go on’’)—to nay Otaer things Ibad intended to say. (Volees—Say them.” But, I repeat, 1 am glad to have been here to-night. am giad to see for myself such a demonstration ag this. By the hearing of the car we learn many things; but by the seeing of the eye we learn things yet belles, Jam glad pepare eo sour faces, I can tell the character of men whom I em taking to. 1 can see the intelligence, and the respousibility, and the weight of an audienee ke ‘bis, im the faces upon which I have been looking; and I know you would belie ourselves, if this meeting does not mean something more than a mere temporary demonstra- tion. (Applause.) I expect to read of its influences else- where; J expect to see evidences of Ite weight and poten- Uality elsewhere. Why, your city is agreatcity. The Empire City of the Empire State is a great polat of radia- tion, not only to the country, but largely to the world. You men of wealth, here—you men of commercial enter- prise, of commercial nerve, of commercial capital—you men are like the operator who sits in the quiet room where the magnetic telegraph is used, and when you touch, like him, the ivory keys, the electric thrill thes far apd wide. What you do in commerce ie felt from one extremity of the land tothe other. What you doin politics is felt widely. Let what you do in the cause of the Union, the right and the laws, be felt from extre- mity of the land to the other. (Cheers.) You can influence this great Siate. You are its heart; you are its centre; is can 20 touch these keys of communicated thought at you can ipfluence and control this great State. If you control it, you go largely upon the tughway toward the conti ol of the country politically, If you would only in this city, you who are congervative, You who are nation- al, you who are Union loving, if you would only from this day out to the canvass of 1860, devote your energies, lend your money, and use your effort, you could Tegenegrate this State of New York. (‘’That’s so,” and applavee.) You contd nationalize this State of New’ York; ‘na if you let the great twenty thougand in the South, who may bave coubts now about the political soundness of this State (and there are some reasons that may suggest themselves to you in passing why they might doubt for momcnt)—(iavghter)—if you would just demonstrate ‘them your eoundness, your nationality, I tell you it would be itke oil upen this ecething sea et agitation. You could come outand burh it all. Give ys Ives gomewbet to this work of political regeneration, and Jet me, for ove, be able to say hereafter whether this meeting of these New York men tonight was something ‘or nothing. (Cheers.) Gentlemep,1I thank you for your kind hear- ing. 1 know I have overtaxed your patience. (Lous cries of “No, no,” and a voloe, “Goin, Maryiand.’”) ell, bow, my friends, continued the speaker, jet me say to you, in conclusion, that tha best wish I could entertain about apy single State, politically, in this country, is that it were #8 soundiy conservative, as broadly national, and as deeply imprested with love to the Union as is that old commonwealth of Maryland. (Loud cheers for Mary- land.) She has never faltered—never faltered onco—she bas never been sectionalized, and I share the feeling that the great mass of her children enterrain about thetr com- mon country. Like her, I know no North, and I recog- nize no South. (Several voices, “Good.’’) 'I stand where the always stood in the politics of the country, unmoved between extremes, believing that in the middle path is the safety of the nation, and feeling anxious only for the good of the whole country. (Appiause.) Gentlemen, that is the true he for us all to occupy, and I believe that we would foll better—ten thousand times better—if casting aside all thoge distinctions of party, and forgetful of all those divisions of sections we could juet come up apd cast all those prejudices and all those bitternesses into the grave of some great memory like that of the anni- versary upon us,s0 that as in old times,as the Bible tells us, they ihrew a dead man’s body into the graye of the Prophet, and when it touched the bones } tprung forth reinvigorated and reciothed with a newer better life. So would it be with us if we could just throw now upon the eve of this glorious anni- vereary of a nation’s father—if we could just throw into the grave of these past associations of our common coun- try all these miserable ideas of sectional divisions, these Ddelittling notions that dwarf the stature of American citi- nens—it we could just throw these all into the grave of old agsociations, we would go forth clothed with a newer life of patriotism, conservatism and nationality. The honorable gentleman retired amid loud cheering and waving of hats, and none were more enthusiastic than the veteran hero of Mexico, General Scott. The cheers for the Maryland speaker having subsided, the Chairman introduced George Boge, member of Con: grees of New York, who was received with three cheers - Joud calls for General Scott. Mr. Briccs spoke as ollows:— Feu.ow Crnzexs anp Consrirugyts—-Of whom I see many before me of what may be termed my most imme- diate constituents; and while I say immediate constita-nte, I don’t mean wo be invidious, for while I claim that every citizen bas a claim upon me in common with my coi- Jeagues in the discharge of my duties as their ropresenta- tive, I consider and | feel that many now before me have &@ more immediate claim. Gentlemen, I didnot leave my duties in Washin, to come here on the invitation of our committee ve DO professions to manly art of oratory and debate to address an intelligent audience like that now before me. No, gentiemen, my object in leaving Washington to come here was that I might present myself before my constituents, and ask that they disapprove or approve of the part which [ play- ed in the organization of the House of Reprosontatives of the United States. The long and wearisome contest for the organization of the House of Representatives is fa- miliar to you all. While I set out from among you w pursue the duties which devoived upon me, and to pursue the course which I bad marked out for myself, deeming that courte in its aims and results national, and conservative tn its consequences, I felt determined to show my consti- tuents that if they sent me to Congress with the view that I would maintain a sectional course, they entirely mistook the character of their representative. (Applawee.) If they were ofthe opinion that J would have pursued a different course to the one which I did pursue, they little understood my character. Gentlemen, I can imagine that Your patience was nearly exhausted bejore there was @levated to the Speaker's chair an officer to preside over our deliberations, No ope regretted the embarrassment of that body more than the individual who now addreeses you. I will not admit that I was the cause of the fruitiess efforts to organize the House of Representatives; and while I do not, I do charge it was the stubborn opposition of one hundred and sixteen members of that House, (great laughter), who positively, nay, obstinately retused to come over to support the natiopal representative from New York. (Renewed laughter and loud applause.) I say the stubborpvess of these one hundred and sixteen men ie unparaliclled in all of my experience in this world. (Laughter ) Iatd to my republican frienas in Congresa, as Il said to my constituents by letter, that my patience ‘was tested through the mail during that contest—that I was struck as by lightning every five or ten minutes on the receipt of every letter, (Great laughter.) All were de- sirous of knowlug whether I would become the eupporter Mr. Sherman, of Obio, feeling conscious tha: I was par- suing the right course. Itis crue that the issue of stub. bornness commenced between myself and the one hundred and sixteen. The war grew warmer and warmer for six weeks, vntil at last the oné hundred and sixteen suc- cumbed. (Great laughter.) And at length « gentlomar, who {s bere to night, and who had the honor to advocate the gentleman who bas been chosea Speaker in a speech delivered in this cjty, and the one hundred and sixteen bad the pleasure to see elevated—Mr. Pennington, of New Jersey ; and although they woald not yield the point for a long period, I still persisted that they would either coa- vince me, or I would convince them that they were wrong. Ns), The contest went on, and at last I had the pleasure of calmly rising from my seat, and by my single vote electing Governor Peanington, of New Jer- sey, to the Speakership of the House 0° Representatives. (Renewed inughter and applause ) Allow me to say to you sna wie have ‘no aifliation for the! repablioan party— use)—as a party, I could rise 8 ity, pe the balamee of power which I then did,ana ‘ured it by electing Govemmor Pennington; and though that member is elected Spcalmmr, be aesured—for you may, gen- Memen—the country is safe. (Laughter and applause.) And I bope my friend who was a competitor with me for the bosors of representing my Congressional district, and who is now here before mo—(laughter)—will kindly ex- cuge my official act by which I was able to defeat the suc- cose of candidate whose election would have Deen 80 regretted at last; because for the peace and quiet Oh coated ut the speakerahiy of the How et, Repre- vated to tl ‘Tebip ie ‘. , and the slate broken on which Was t0 be re- corded the triumph of the favorite of Cart — we been pleased to Feoelve me. I started om too high a Key at frst, and my Te opeater retired anid @ renewal of applause and loud epies for “Soott.”” ‘soon, Mr. Briggs had retired, loud cries ard £008 te rat Hots, he wndience manifesting (m- f Li : |’ [ i ii | i i é i 3 E LH : fj i Bs i t it ro i | i oi i i I i i | : & iE | E Hl H i