The New York Herald Newspaper, February 23, 1862, Page 2

S < With the richest fruits of batile— with expanded ideas. Amd rihwith into the splendid age of Pert- owned ber summits with temples, and pture and paintings Esohy! Arist y and trage they left themselv eu with vigor r with energy, proved isto: n, with » than uric Cherson Easte 3 of | aly nce, of spiritua wht to the bloom that hoolmaster te tion which has exalt inan’s intellect, eurich his imagination and histaste Applause.) War, with all its havoc man under overiasting obligations to itseif, a for fair Peace to turn with unfilial lips and curse the rough parent that bore her. (Applause.) Rome, alinost the synonym for patriotism, for sturdy strovgtn, for ia- domitable perseverance, for love of popular organization, for the power of the people and the law— she was trained to this character by + smul- tuous history.” In tho language of “Storms which would have rent asunder the f any Other polity only prastised her in the art of controlling popular passious.”” “To Rome we owe the forms of local government, which in England have saved liberty, and elsewhere bi initigated — despot- iam. © Justinian’s laws have penetrated into ull modern legislation, and almost all improvements bring us ouly nearer his code.” in Rome, sir, we have that same paradox which is so wonderful in America—a tu- qultuous play and interplay of unfettered popular opinion, action and struggle, which are the currents and eddies in the flow of the great river of national aairs, left free to itself, and tugging and swelling with the volume of its own'life, combined with the supremacy of law and the permanence of poraier cugnainnsion. And if teligious America goes to the Holy Land, and polished America to Athens, free, but orderly America quatls its great draughts of refreshment and inspiration from the and people of Rome. In the long period of her his- tory, when, for seven hundred and fifty years, the temple of Janus was scarcely ciosed, battle after battle toughened her into obduracy, until Italy was hers, nd then for two hundred and sixty yex:s, in war after war—as under hor eagles her citizens marched in orderly array through ‘the earth—in war aiter war, tho discipline of the camp and the subordination of the battle field taught her free citizens more aud more the lessons of = ot salt control and orcanization. to thor the river of tional affairs did boil wud Stra every current, eve” ry eddy know its duty. What, sir, but the rigors of the camp can teach a free people to govern themselves in order? Applause.) Peace to afree people is necessary; but war 1s equally so. For long prolonged peace becomes a canker, that debases a nation’s vitaliiy and vigor. Un- der peace, without the healthy lessons of war, the free. man becomes more and more free, until his freedom de- vays into license. And then put that freeman, unac- customed to the lesson of discip'ine, on the battle field. He waits not for orders from the hill top; he has beeu woo long accustomed to judge unrestrained’ for himself; and if in bis judgment, without knowing the combina. tions of the whole field, without knowing whether the slaughter of his whole troop may not be necessary to the success of the general battle, if in his judgment it is time for him personaily to leave, he, by instinct, as. umes the responsibility: he breaks and runs. And so, rom such over-ripe freedom, which long peace gives. the national existence is in danger. “Not such was the {astruction which her wars gave old Rome. And I need oot say that she is still, in this respect, the instructor aot only of America, but of the world. And, sir, we can siaim for war—not enly that it has established among mena belief in God; not only that it has exalted :nan’s rea- som, enriched his imagination and puritied his taste—Dut hat it has also trained that nation, which, by its ex- ample, has regulated, ennobled and directed man’s will. and $0 very much, if ‘not mainty by the jufiuence of bat. uo-built Judea, Greeco and Rome, the improvement of the race—the great desideratum of mankind—has been attained. To pass, as in this rapid reviow we necessarily must, eir—to pass over the intermediate years and com? .o the wars of the Crusades—were they an unmitigated svilt ty of thei and judge. They a wonderful degree, While they oa, Pisa, grew great and rich. “The feets of these cities kept along the moving armies with whatever ehich these cities rece from sueh nun rous forces was immense. 'Y grew in refinement, and were eventually enabled to secure their own liberty and inspite other spots with the spirit of f w aot remember Andrew Doria, the W of But this was not all. Constantinople, that had been ex. ampt from the destructive rave of the barbarian tribes, ‘was the greatest, as weil as the most beaatiful sity of Europe; ‘the only one in which there remained any image of the aucient elegance in manners and arts. Inthe Eastern empire manufactures of the most curious fabrics were carried on. and Constantinople was the chief mart in Europe for the commodities of the East Indies. Thus the rough Western pconle, in anoving towards the Holy Land, sntered countries better sultivated, mote civilized than their own. New armiss were Continually passing from Europe into Asia, while those that returned not only spread through Europe ac. counts of what they had beheld. but imported many votished customs to which they hat! become used during their stay in the Enst. They described the Oricnta! sapital in terms of astonishment and admiration. “Oh! hata vast city is Constantinople (writes Fulcherins Jarnotensis), and how beautiful! How many monaste- ties are there in it, aud how many palaces built -with wonderfal art! How many manufactures are there in ‘he city amazing to behold! It would be astonishing to relate how it abounds with gold and silver and stufis of various kinda, for every hour ships arrive in its port aden with all things necessary for the use of man.” Willolmus, the most intelligent Tustorian of the Crusades, wems to seek cecasions to describe the elegance and splondor of the Court of Constantinople, and to bring the uty into comparison with the West. Goeffrey, a rebleman of the West, in his history of the con. quest of Jerusalem, describing the astonishment of Ais comrades says, «They could not have believes that ‘here was a city so beautiful and rich in the whoie world. When they viewed its high walls, its lofty towers, it vich palaces, tts superb churches, all appeaied so great, ‘bat they could have formed no conception of thie so teign city unless they had seen it with their own eyes.” ind, aS those successive billows of war vn the coasts of Asia, and with r And when of the wars, “greater splendor im the courts of prin sreater pouip in public ceremonies, a more reilned tas! 1 preasures and amusements,” anda more vivid spirit sfenterprise. Anil to the wars of the Crusades we owe ‘be tirst gleams of light which dispelled the barbarism wd ignorance of the West. But time is rapidly passing sud I must not pause, sir, to show you bow the people ssued, more and more ustramuclled by Church and 3tate, from oot the war of the eenth century, in which Maurice, of Saxony, rose to promineuce: from the “Thirty years war” when Gustavus Adolphus led the way and taught them to strike for themselves: from the civil wars in Pngiand: from the American Revolu om, and from the campaigus of the elder Napoleon. 0 , however, are but one series of wars, which, how an Yetse Soever may have been their origin, may be con- ‘4s Dut one great modern war, leading,as they dic, ‘o tl end, namely, the wiping away of what aaswow become the wroig—the unbearable gua: eudalism and to the elevation of mankind. pat these obligations un herself; besides the fact that she i »tiam and the inaplrer of eloquence, war acts a$ a toni¢ ‘nd stimulant to all a nation’s evergies. And literature being @ nation’s expressiys, is the first to be revivitied, sxaited, corrected and adorned. Tho golden age of every aation's literature bas beew contemporary or ummedi- ately subsequen: to flecest war. Marathon and Platea were tollowed, as] have said, by the age of Peri- cles. The tremendous civil wars of Rome nourkned dorace aghsone and Virgil. and Ovid. And the Au- qustea follgwed Agtium, like the shifling of scenes 3 ere, ited S54 Milton flourished together. Preage Queem Anne was that of the hardest battlas of Marlborough; and Louis XiV. signaiized hia reign by great victories and by the great namok of Racine and Tyrtwus. rh ireosiel tao Gaeta. Way, % is poems, frenzied the Greeks. Why sir, porhans the finest figure io ali literature is that of Addison, inspired by the battle of Blenheitn:— “But oh, my muse, what numbers wilt thou fod To sing the furious troops in battle joined. Methinks I hear the drum’s tumultuous sound, ‘The victor’s shouts aud «ying groans confound. ‘Tho dreadful burst of cannou rendthe skier, And ail the thunders of the batfte rise. Twas then great Mariboro’s mighty soul was prover, ‘That, in the shock of charging hosts, unmoved Amidst confusion, horror and despair, Examined all the ‘reatfu! scenes of war. In peaceful thought the field of death surveyed, ‘To fainting squadrons sent the timely aid, Inspired repuised battasions \o engage, And taught the doubtful baitie where to rage. So when an angel, by divine command, ising tempests shakes a guilty land ‘As of inte o'er pale Britannia passed) and serene he drives the furious biast, pleased the Almighty’s orders to perform, Rides im the whirlwind and directs the storm. fm fact the most elevating part of literature ie dne directly or indirectly to the exaltation of spirit that the sacrifices, heroism and manituess of q@ar. I shonld fail, sir, im the proprieties and the demands of this occasion should | close without referring to events in which we bear the deepest interest, and te whose character as a Christian warrior bas been ill agai» to-day be amply vindicated by abler bands ‘mine. Sixty-four years ago he retired from pubiie w quiet of Mount Vernon. Sixty-turee ‘ago A nation arose in tears to bis funeral i 1 have Fp the very paper on which he penned the my military commission, 1 offered such advies to iny fellow citizens ms I thought might be aseful to them. purity of my intentions was kindly accepted as an apology for the imber lity of my sugges. ions, and seemed bdo 4 4 wrappies oe charge of off cloushess, which I feared. pplause. Sir, need | speax of the- unnumbered blessings which he and the struggle with which his name is insepar: bound have conferred opon thie continent and upon the world. They #l! spring tothe grateful memory without tion on such a day as this And now that we have eme to if we fail, ‘what will ee of connsel oo minde? aa great Warhingten, we shall not (ail. There is an era national exisiene tay of which, thou Clear to us, even his prophetic mind did not dream. Ip ‘the 2,000 year# before Christ tho world was in in its drat eyele of national life. Sts great nations were cities, Homo. ‘Athens, Carthage, Jernealatn, Babylon, occupy the pages write of us, with bh ‘of history. In the 2900 years now closing the world has beon in the second cycly of national life, tte France Austria. & great nations Lieve been States. endeavoring to diy and would have diet to unite, The South claim Wash 4 ) eo juent wave | fe k, all through the west of Europe, as oue result | i Righty Indon years of England, Italy, Prussia—these, as first elesa Powers, well oocupy the paces of its histocy. Bub tt useds vo pro t © that there is opening tw the world its national life. God, in his opments, hover repeats hitself—ever ad\a ves. iis nations Shall not be as at first, cities, sha | Secrnd, States, but shail be truly geal Co continental in their proportions and pe France and Englani and Spain, and Holland and Denmark, and ¢ py together a territory of 1,300,000 square Sess Logethor & population of 16),000,000. ‘The wa, Middle, Southern aud Western &i , exclusive of the Territories and of tho Pacific, are occupying to-day 1,300,000 square miles, and at the ratio of increase wander they lave grown so speedily within the iife time of many of thirty millions, hs require to Jiows ver haired men, from three to iecades would this country ixty one hundred sn Siberian posse 4 000,000 square miles; aud low increase her’ sixty mil ty? The possibility of su qual each of them to the second cycle of national ut only to be found in two insta: aand America. Fach are but infan t, for the bew aud third eycle is but dawning. But ugh infants they stand us peers of the geown mea of Western kurope. (Applause.) And true to te purposes in the future of the birth of this new progeny of nations, if one of the brothers is in trouble, whether in the Cri- mean or at Manassas, its twin is stirred with interest and fraternai anxiety. (Applause.) Kighty years is as nothing to such a country. ‘Thus far we have as a nation been struggling, not so much to live as to get success- fully into existence, The idea of States rights, of se- cession and of smauli countries as first class Powers, be- longs to a cycle of the world which is now closing. (Ap- plauee.) Sir, there isa God in Hoaven. And the great question to be decided now and by this war is, is one of this Lew progeny of the nations of the future now to be suc- cessfully born, or is it to be strangled in the birth by western Europeanism and the past (Applause.) Rising to the dignity of her destiny in the future, Americans will not let Washington's America die. (Long applause.) After the applause—so well merited—which greeted the concluding words of the orator had subsided, the vast audionce separated. The great majority of them, how- ever, only retired to enjoy a little refrshment in the ai out of doors, for they were most anxious Ww be again present in the Academy at the concert in the evening. This grand entertainment was conducted by the full band and drum corps of the Seventh regiment, and was in every respect worthy of the ability and artistic exe- cution of the performers. The concert commenced at eight o'clock P. M., and pro- gressed to its close to the entire satisfaction of all who bad the happiness to partake of the pleasures it afforded. Y undred and States ois for the pr in the world, Res: Pr o.. Celebration of the Order of United Ameri- cans. ‘The Order of United Americans celebrated the one hun- dredand thirtieth anniversary of the birth of Washington, at half-past one o’clock yesterday, in Nibio’s theatre, which was crowded to overflowing by patriotic and Union loving citizens of both sexes. Over the outer door of ‘Niblo’s was a large banner bearing the inscription :— ak: ONCERSLCORE LL OOEEONEEIOROOODE DE LOOOOREOADEO DOLE On the platform or stage, which was beautifully deco- rated with a profusion of flags and banners typical of the Order of United Americans, the members were ted around in full regalia. The Veterans of 1612, in ‘ull uniform, were also seated on the stage, and behaved in a most enthusiastic manner during the exercises. The exercises opened with a splendidly executed na- tional melody, by Wallace’s band, after which the Chair- man, Mr. W. E. Blakeney, rose to explain the object for’ which they bad assembied. and in doing so spoke as fol- lows — Lapmes AND GENTLEYEN—We have met to-day, as. mem- bers of a patriotic order, agreeably to our annual custom to do honor to the memory of George Washington. As loyal American citizens, proud of our birthplace and proud of our ancestry, we have assembled to ronder the homage of grateful hearts to the peerless saviour of our U. Ae THIS UNION HN 18 NOT FOR A DAY BUT 3 FOR ALL TIME. country. We have also convened as Christian freemen to commemorate the Wirthday of him who secured for us the inestimable blessings of civil and religions liberty. Seventeen years since the order of United Americans—in the exercise of the wisdom which must ensure for it a © tem; enure with the land which it wgs or. cauized to love, protect and to defend—adepted the po- Jitieal tenets of Washington as the fundamental pr: ples of their organization. They desire no better foun- dation—they clair none other. © Those principles are now being vindicated by the grand host of freemen in the battle fleld, who bad enjoyed their atvantages duringthe space of almost a century; and the recent trophies of our+ arms in the South are not lessa proof of their death- ess vigor and their inherent power to inspire and lead men to accomplish deeds of Spartan heroism than of their irrefutable truth and providential suitability to human government. The Old World, which bad pro- claimed, in a spirit of long pent up jealously, at our nn- precedented progress, that the New had but a limited nd was dying of governmental imbecility, and jonitory symptoms incidental to the adoption of a republican system, will ultimately find that the young giant was but sleeping, and that his rebellious children of the South would soon be brought within the pale of paternal jurisdiction. The unhappy war in which we are engaged has been productive, among others, of one superiatire Deneilt to the nation; it bas separated the chaff from the wheat, torn the mask of friendship for us from tho royal and imperial personages of Europe and her governments, given usa glimpse of the traitors on our own soil, and farnish- ed us with an experience worth more than its estimated cost in the benefits which it must confer on the future defences of the country, and the almost «piversal appre- ciation of the constitution under which our armios marched to a sublime series of unexampled victories. It is a singular fact, and one which illustrates the in- consistency and blindness of fanaticism, that the South still profess to revere the memory of Washington, while le the country which he fought for, ington exclusively, forsoctli. As the rival mother before the wise king, she would consent to the division,of the child in dispute, and behold the young offspring of Wash. ington rent and biceding—thus Ylustrating her counter. iaternity and her mad ambition to “build hor great- ‘son her country’s ruin.” But the Almighty Ruler of nations has appointed no Solomon to strike the severing stroke, and the traitors who would deal the blow are powerless for lasting harm. Alas! that one of them, in whose is coursed the blood of Washington, should have wielded the sword of a rebel, and fallen a victim to his inf “Ferg the tomb of his illustrious ancestor, ‘There jet him rest, despised as Washington woula have despised him, and slain as he would have siain him, as an enemy to his country. Prayer was then offered up by the Rev. J. B. Wakely, and a duet having been sung by Messrs. Nash and Col. born, letters of apology for non-attencance were read by P.G.8. J. R. Voorhis from the following named gentie- men:—Hon. E. D. Spaulding, M. C., from Buffalo; Arch Grand Sachem Baldwin; Hon. Elijah Ward, M. C.,from New York; Hon. Mayor Opdyke, Hon. C. L. Leary, M.C.; Hon, Preston King, United States Senator from New York, and Hon. Horace Maynard, of Tennessee. When Mr. Maynard's letter was read, the audience yose and cheered vociferously for the writer, who bad expressed in it such devotion to the Union. ‘The “Star Spangled Banner” was then sung in full chorus, which bad a magniticent effect. At ita conclusion thehoary-headed veterans of 1812 rose ina body and gave three lusty cheers for the Stars and Stripes, which were eogerly caught up by the audience, and echoed back with Stentorian eloquence. Rev. J. B. Wakely them stepped forwara and read several pertinent extracts from the famous Farewell Address of General Washington. When he read that passage in the address which bears relation to the sinis- tor designs of forvign influence, it was received with the most Sighificas.: outbursts of applause. A beauvifu: patrivtic chorus was nxt sung by the choir atiached to the Reformed Dutch church, which was lauded to the skies by the audience. It is entitled “The Dear Old Fl The orator of the occasion, Rey. J. ©. Dutcher, was then introtueed, and proceeded to iver an able and spirited address on the great man whose anniversary was being celebrated. THE ORATION. ‘The reverond gentieman spoke in substance as fol lows:—How great is the interest of the occasion which has called us ether. How suggestive of the future is the memory ich this occasion brings before the mind. How precious is the hold which it has on the American heart. Washington isa theme of which poets have sang, whieh statesmen have landed, and of which orators have spoken. Aye, and from far distant places, (o where the waves of the Pacific leap upon the beach of California, the name of Washington will to-day be feeimgiy and gratefully pro nounced. It will be mentioned with a " hon pron bead sy parent. (Rene' lause. And this is periectly natural. You know that the starry flag, under which we have always lived. and which, nex} to the religion of Christ we love and houor, and which to-ray we are contending for, never seems #0 beautiful as when sojied by those whom we have always protected. (Uheers.) We never loved it so much os when it waved ip emailing, graceful folds over the frowning battlements of Sumter, with traitorous bands seeking to pull it down and traitorous hearts cursing it,and with strange ban- ners sailying ali around it. (Loud cheers.) As wo looked upon that we thought of all the circumstances it waved over Banker Hill, Saratoga, Yorktown—thought of the Old Covstitu- tion, and of the dying of the gallant Lawrence when he natie| the flag to the masthexd of the voasol. But when at length it was taken down, and an- other seen to take it# piace, a thousand eyes were mad. dened at the sight tea thousand hearts bent fiercely , and thrice ten thoorand throwts uttered a vow that it sver Sumter—(toud applause )—or that id paws over the site of that city that has gained (he unenyiable reputation of the mother of socention. (Continued epplause.) Butafter all that they have done to tarnish ib, f rejoice to tell you that the Arnerican fing is mace of fast colors—they never can be ¢Cheers.) With such surroundings wo have mat to celebrate the anniversary of the natal day of the Father ef his Cowntry and would you question Jety, ninder the elrcumetances, of d apenker thon poceeded te f Wash! aracte | But for Was British 1 gton’s mother he wou'd b. * We were aitac nd had not been de @ been im the ihe throne of from a che a use we nes in our harbor Lor hor own pro choers and laughter)—an@ though she hterso much, yet, ifher daughter would ouly tadiy and glad!y “she would dig her grave and bury her, and then proceéd, with hypocritiea! sanctity to write her will and apportion out her elects. (Renewed cheering and laughter.) Oh, was ever an individual like Washington’ In ancient and modern history he sta.ds ‘Truly, we cau say of hun as Byron said of Sher Natore made but one such man utiful exploit of a ver Fm. but when Virtue wept over the she placed a green chapiet thercon land never wept over a noblor son than when sho tover the grave of Wilberforce; but when Amorica wept over the grave of Washington, why she wop over a far nobler son than England ever had. (Applause.) ‘Though years have passed since the toues of the funeral Dell om the ban the Potomac found us mournful, yet 1am happy to tell you that George Washington ‘is hot dead, but sloeping.”” (Cheors.) Fle is watching over us to-day in the midst of all our troubies; and to day from the cold and voiceless lips of his marble statues there comes forth the most bright and impassioned elo- quence beseeching us to stand by our country in tho day of its troubles. “(Prolonged cheering.) Aud, as his children, we look up and say—Washington, we wil.” (Great applause.) Now, when clowts have settled around our dear native land, we will give her our sympa- thies, and, if needs be, our fortunes and our ‘lives. (Applause. } m Our inmost Souls we will look up and Fepeat the patrict's prayer—'-God save our country.” We begin to feel in the heart of our country a political resur- rection. The contest between the serpent and the eagle has been just begun, and while the one is writhing in his death struggle the other is soaring grandly towards Heaven. (Applause.) While we have already passed over the summit of the mountain of difficulty, and are rapidly descending to the plane, freedom has gone forth from the mouatain tops of the North, and the cry has come back from the mountain peaks of Alabama and dis tant Tonnessee of *‘God bless the good old Union. (Great cheering.) ‘The Union must and shall be pre- served,” and the glad hovannahs of disenthralied thou- sands have written the doom of the rebellion as suroly as the iavisible hand placed that of Belschazzer on his palace wall. Port Royal, Roanoke Island, Forts Henry and Donelson are only the’ beginning. There has, how- ever, been only one dark spot, one drawback on our hap- piness. But we could not expect it to be other- wise, for our soldiers, brave and patriotic as they are, could not perform impossibilities, and therefore it was impossible for them to catch Floyd. and laughter.) I suppose he stole into the world, and have no doubt ho will steal out of it. (Renewed laughter.) Why, they now tell us that Jeff Davis and his traitorous Cabinet might as woll attempt to dam up the waters of the Mississippi with bullrushes as to break up this mighty commonwealth. (Cheers.) This country cannot be divided till you cut up mighty mountain ranges and stop the Kagaeteh hed pee Physically, socialiy, phical ‘ously we are one le; and fuck we will always remain, all the efforts ot traltore to the contrary notwithstanding. (Immense applause. After some further eloquent remarks the speaker closed. ‘The ‘Star Spangled Banner” and ‘Home, Sweet Home,”” having been sung in chorus, the proceedings terminated. THE COOPER UNION. people pi mit, the The Reception of Licutenant General Scott. A festival in honor of Washington's Birthday was held last evening in the large hall of tho Cooper Institute by the pupils of the Cooper Union, under the direction of Mr. Bristow, their instructor. The arches in front of the stage were tastefully decorated with the Stars and Stripes. In the contre of the middle arch was suspend- eda beautiful painting of Washington, ove of Jackson in the centre of the right, and one of Jefferson in that of the left. Busts of General Scott, Daniel Webster, Benjamin Franklin and Henry Clay wore also arranged on each side of the arches, while the back part of the stage was com- pletely covered with one large American flag. At an early hour the hall was crowded to its utmost capacity by as highly respectable and patriotic an audience ever asseuibled within the walls of any hi Lientenant General Scott, Chancellor Cooper . ex-Mayor Tiemann, Wilson and Edward Cooper occupied the front of the stage. When General Scott entered, the audience rose en masse, and greeted him with nine hearty cheers. The exercises of the evening consisted of a cho- rus by Haydn, a solo and chorus by Bristow, a solo by Cresby,and the solo and chorus, ‘The Star Spangied Banner,” together with aa original oration, en titled “ The Revolutions of "76 and '61,"’ by Francis J. Tueker ; a selected oration, “ Character of Washington,’ by William Wardlaw Scott, and the reading of Wash. ington’s Farewell Address, by James H. Puliman, all of which were rendered with great credit to both pupils and instructors. The leading feature of the evening, however, was an address delivered by Mr. Peter Cooper, previous bY reading of Washington's Farewell “Address, . yl elicited throughout the most unbounded applause. said :— In this most extraordinary state and condition of our whole country, it appeared, to the trustees of this insti tution, an appropriate duty to call and fix the attention of this audience to the ever-to-be-remembered words found in the Farewell Address of Washington, the father of American liberty. It was bis unswerving integrity of pur- pose—the untiring devotion of all his powers of body, mind and estate—that achieved for his country the freecom and independence we now enjoy, with all those rights and interests, for which the good and great have sought and sighed in every age of the world. it was the constant, active exercise of all those noble virtues that wou for George Washington the love and ad miration of his country and the world. It is, my friends, impossible to over-estimate the yalue w onr country ot such a life, so full of ail that is par: purpose, wise in counsel and heroic in the performa of every duty. Yes, whea doubt aud dismay had well nigh paralyzed the stoutest hearts, even when his hulf starved and baif clad army found them- selves, driven by the force of superior numbers, through clouds and storms, throagh heat and cold, from one point of our country to another—he never despair. ing, always relying on a righteous cause and a determined purpose. It is difficult, my friends, for us to determine how far the inspiration of that uusullied life has tended to strengthen and arm the people with courage to rush to the reseus of our country and government in this the hour of our struggle for national life. Thanks to the er of all Good for such an exanrplejto our country a: hanks t our venerable chief, wno now is presence, for all the long and faithful services rendered, amd especially for plans, now ripening in the deliverance of our whole country from the delusions of Southern pride, tyramny and ambi- tion. Long may he live to recivethe ge of a grateful je. At the conclusion of this speech threo more cheers were given for General Scott and three for Mr. y. ferris, Peter . Hunt, J. FE. Pearson ic He General Scott, being indisposed, was obliged to retire ‘early in the evening, but before he left the audience rose and gave him twelve moro hearty cheers. Quite a crowd waa in waiting for him in the street also, for as-he enter- ed his carriage be was again greeted withrepeated cheers. Altogether, the enteriaiument was one wall worth at- tonding and was applauded throughout, BANQUET AT. THE ST. NICHOLAS. The Grand Corporation Banquet at the St. Nicholas Hotel—Specc: of Mayor Opdyke, Hon. George Bancroft, Hon. Ja Brooks, General Walbridge, Judge Daly, Richard O'Gorman, Major General Sandford, Lientenant Gilesand Others. ‘The 130th anniversary of Washington's birthday was celebrated in a becoming manner at the St. Nicholas Hotel last evening by the Common Council. About one hundred and twenty persons were present, including several gentlemen of distinction. Mayor Opdyke pre- sided, and on each side of him wore seated Judges Mo. nell, White, Clerke, Barbour, MeCann, Recorder Hoffinan, Major General Sandford, A. Oukoy Hall, Richard Busted, Hon. Geo. Bancroft, Rev. Mr. McLaod, Gen. Walbridge ‘and several other persons of note. The banquet room was tastefully decorated wit the Stars and Stripes, while the tables ‘‘groaned with the weight of the feast.”’ ‘The dinner itself was capital one, indeed the Alder- men—and they are generally gonsidered fogs jndges of the ike—| inced it to be faultiess. Dill of fare compr li the delicacies of the season, ‘The Rev. Mr. MeLkop said grace, thanking God in, the mostfervent manver for the bounteous repast that was spread bofore them. He also alluded tothe recent vic- tories of our armies in Kentucky and Tennessee, and prayed that the rebellion raight soon be brought to w speedy torminasion. Upon the removal of the cloth Mayor Opdyke called the party to order, and announced she first .regular joast as follows 1. The Memory of Washington. Hie mame is the watchword of liberty among the poopie of all nations. The histery of our country i* a perpetnal offering of gratitude to his vaior and his matchloxs wisdom, Hon. Gronox BANCROFT responded briefly, Paying an eloquent tribute to the memory of Wasbington. He com. ared Washington to the greatest of the great, and said te was endowed with Ail those qualities’ which, go to make up the statesman, the warrior and she fete upon which they are established the question aa to whether we would, “he = | to matatain @ governnont founied on 6 anetitution o be settled. The thunder o Hand Teunessea, rive: would som tO” int liverty was ab tery on the € Roanoke — iaiantt citizen. If ever any man had the confidence of the people it was Washington, jy Mr. Bancroft paid a band8ome tribute to the Corporation ‘of Now York, and proposed as yoluntect tonsi, “The City of New York.” : Tho Anderson Club then sang ‘The Beys of Bunker Hill,” after whieh the Chairman announced tie second ibution of the United Statoe—The goarantes of the liberties of the American people and the charter ‘of republican institutions, firm and endearing as the land Hon. Jas, BROOKS responded to this toast in an elloquena NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, FKEBRUAKY 23, 186) triumph > den tlorions Vieh m0: and = ee#tab- m and Cae laws and: by the Ander Chairman thon announced the third regular ho Union—The offorta to sever it will only make it (ho hearts of the people of the whole ~“Plag of Our Union.?? General H. Watemines, after paying a tribute to the heroism and courago of the ‘loyal soldiers and the Union whose recent patriotic triumphs additional ta ous Washing: hod enabled us to commemorate with t Must the the birthday of continued as they de- e+ their their docrees accession to the control of the government of nt admmist Magistrate, through department of Relations, brought to tho of the European governments his. fixed pur phold, maintain and defend the integrity of the ast all domestic treason and foreign interfo- rence. In the pursuit of this purpose, the United States, according to the usages of international law, doclared the ports of the refractory States to be under blockads. We had illustrated our ability to maintain this policy by our embargo and non-intercourse laws in the early part of the present century. Intimations from the Hritieh Forvign Secretary. and his representative, the British inister at Washington, were cautiously’ put forth of our inability to maintain this effective blockade accord- ing to the requirements of the laws of nations, It was proposed by the British representative that the right to trade to the interdicted ports should continue until some ce should be given to the different foreign goveruments of commercial nations. Our government justly let it be distinctly understood that proper-notice could and would be given from the decks of our block- ading squadron, Simultaneously with these proceedings, leading English merchants in Liverpool formally and publicly proposed to Lord John Russell the fitting out, if not dissented to by him, of am armed force to break tho blockade, and forcibly export the great staple of the South. They deliberately asked the British government to give its countenance to despoil their transatlantic neighbors, ‘The British governmont were not preparod in this public way to do violence to sound international Jaw and to the moral sentiment of the civilized world. ‘The administration, alive to the necessity of energotic action, promptly despatched to the courts of the Western Powors two distinguished citizens to London and Paris. ‘These onvoys were expected soon to reach their destina- tion, their appointment having been publicly announced through the press immediately upon the opening of the new administration. On the 13th of May, 1861, our Min- ister, Mr. Adams, reached Liverpool, and the day follow- ing London, in order that the British government might be early apprised of the viows and purposes of the Ame- rican Cabinet. The British government, however, on that vory day, issued the Queen’s Orders in Counell, with phariasaical words of neutrality in regard to our domestic trouble, virtually and in fact recognizing the insurgent States as belligerents, and, in that respect, ae them ou an equal footing with the United States. Looking to the imminent struggle before us, and desirous ef an ex- plicit understanding w:\h the European Powers in refe- rence to the principles of public law which had been enunciated in the Paris conferences in April, 1°°6, with the several maritime Powers of Great Britain, Austria, France, Russia, Prussia, Sardinia and Turkey, our State Department instructed our Ministers at St. James and other courts to resume the subjeet of the four proposi- tions that had been agreed upon by the Congress at Paris after the-close of the Crimean war. This matter had oc- cupied the attention of the Pierce administration when an invitation had been extended to this government to become a party to the treaty which wes the result of the Paris conferences. Conferences in April, 1856, re- cognized as principles of public law the following de- claration:— First—Privateering is abolished. Second—Neutral flag covers enemy’s goods, contraband of war excepted. 4 ‘Third—Noutral goods are not liable to capture under enemy’s flags, except those contraband of war. Fourth—Blockades, in order to be binding, must be 80 effectively enforced as to prevent access to the coasts of the enemy. It was stipulated by those Powers that these declara- tious were to be accepted without any modification whut- ever, and further, that the parties giving in their adhe- rence to the same enter into no arrangement in the ap plication of maritime law, in time of war, without a stipu- lation, or strict observance of the-points thus agreed up- on. ‘The second of these propositions was a principle that the American people had contended for from the founda- tion of the republic. It was, in fact, the principle that free ships make freo goods—a stipulation onmbodied in the twenty-third article of the treaty of amity and com- merce concluded on the 6th day of February, 1778, be- tween the United States and France, when we were strng- ging for nationalexistence. It was. therefore, old Ame- rican doctrine. The said second proposition, as well.as the third, was not original with the high contracting par- ties at the Congress of Paris, in 1856, because two years previous the President had’ sabmnitted to the maritime Powers of Europe the same propositions, to be agreed up- onas permanent priaciples of int onal law. The fourth prop sition was disputed by this govern. meut; on the contrary, it w acquiesced in by ton, t uw our Knowle pose to U stances. Tho first proposition remains to be consie to wit, the proposition to abolish privatesring Secretary of State—Mr. Marey—under President j*iarce in July, 1856, declined this stipulation in regard to the abolition of privateering, uuless with an _amen:tment ex- yapsly oxernpting private property of individuals, though belouging to a beliigerent Power, from seizure or contis- cation by national ships in time of war; and further, he togk exception to the proposition that this government should disable itself froin ectering into any aegotiation for any modification of the Jaws of maritime war without stipulating an adherence to the four points of the Paris declaration. This last proposition was held by Mr. Marcy {o be inconsistent with the national sovereignty of the United States, The grounds taken for Mr. Marcy's amend. ment to,the first clause for abolishing privatcering— to wil, ftv exemption of private property of a belligerent from confiscation—exhibits a humane, enlarged and libe- ral spiriton the part of the American peupic. It was simply this, that whilst armies by land and fleets at sea were engaged in battle for victory’, the peaceful pursuits of trade should go on uninterrupted, regarding the de struction of private property on) the sea as offensive to the morals and civilization of the age as the destruction of private property on land. As the propositions of the Paris conferences were to be taken together without modification. of rejected, nothing was detinitely done in the premises duriog Mr. Pierce's administration, and during that of Mr. Buchanan all conferences on the part of the United States in regard to. (he master came to an end. Undoubtedly the leading obstacie was the propo- sition to abolish privateer ing, that right armof our de- fence as a great commercial power, wit a then incon siderable navy. It was quite easy mine-tenths of the parties im their adherence the Paris conferences to agree to. ap. int privateering, w! perhaps, their coun Was not suiticient to fit out a single vessel, France had been in constant‘and jostling rivairy in the aiding up, within the last ten years, of gigantic navies, ranging ‘rom seven to eight hundred sbips-of-war, as guarantees to each other to keep the peace at home. ‘The late Duke of Wellington announced, ia his place in the Liouse ot Lords, the comparatively defanceless condition of the English coasts, in view or the formidable arma menta of France, with all the modern smprovements and application of steam power. France,on the other haw, ‘as if im the remembrance of the wea'aaessgof the First Na- poleon ina maritime point of vievs, bas put forth her tremendous resources, in rivalry and power, in the crea tion of a navy, now fully equal to thasof England. Mean- while, the navy of the United States bore a inost incon- siderabie relation to our grea’, commercial marine; yet, iu the war of 1s'2, it had won unfading laurels and’ se. cured for us, in the combats avaingle year, a position destined ultimately to be subordmase to none other on the sea. The American commercial. marine bo advanced from a little more than three fourt&s of ainilion in ton- nage, at the close of the war with: Great Britain, to five and a balf m iions of present tonmage—tive hundred th .u- sand tons greater than the whole commercial tonnage of that great. maritime Power whic traitics with her sixiy colmial de ies, reachinggcound the entire habit able globe. Whilst the flests of she Western Powors have vorne.s Jarge ratio of protection to their commercial ma- rine, our navy bas remained. comparatively stationary, ‘and, untilrecently , held most inferior relation to the mag: nitude of the great commercial interests to be protected. France and England are not insensible to our immense re- sources—the skill one abiluse of our people rapidly to eu- Jargo-our navy to for:idable proportions; yet they, at “be vane time, know that «have "preferred to Sei «| rasher by the arts of peace and industry than through the agency «large standivg artuies or formidable naval armaments. They were not ignorant of the delays in le- jislating in a popular guverament like ours, and it is to Se inarod thas they made some calculations’ on the ad- vantages resulting from, sudden irruptions upon us, which, aa monarchies, thay could make, and hence their reasons for interdicting—our acknowvedged right ander the public law—of arming our commercial marine in any coutest in which wo might ‘be engaged. Great Britain had felt the wounds of instrumentality m our last struggle with her, in vindication of our maritime rights, ‘The sincerity of the Paris declarations in regard to pri vate property on the high seas was brought to thetest by Mr. ‘cy’s amendment, which, in fact, revealed the real purpose in regard to the first point of ‘the Paris con f which woe to disable w of that sormidabie means of defence whieh bad, in our, war of 1812, rendered |, such signal service. The uninterrupted peace and pros- perity which have marked our ational progress since ‘this last period bed rendered the, American public mind, insengible to the urgeat necessity of defini, fi: ond tional legicdati publicly recoguiced internat jon = tpon the questions of their maritime and nowtral rights, until } extraordinary. conjuncture present » which now disturbs us at home and conyulses and threatens the world a’sroad. Our domestic complications rendered it, necessary that ‘we should have, at an early day, a distinct understand. ing with the commercial Pewers of the Old World in re of public affair gard tw the rights of newtrals. This. policy bas been, pressed with all the dignity and ability shat be- comes @ great and nation. At an carly period mw our domestam diffoultive. it became im- portant, disable the ape nyo poutral Powars froin aiding or abetting the rel 0 prey upun commer.e of the Unitedstates,, To this end. the Seare: tary Of Stato of the United States addressed a circular to the Ministers of the United States as Great Britain, Franee, Russia, Prussia, Austria, Reigium, aly aad Den- mark, ireeting owe Of them to. ascertain whether it was disposed to enter into jabions for the accession of the United States wo the deciarssion of the Yuris Con- Grésa. at the same tine expressing the Prosideut’s ap- Proval of the Marcy ameodment, yel, in cons! of the changed comtigion of public affairs, and, in view of the raising of the standard of revolt, Propesiug & con. Yontion upon the subject of therrghts of bedigerents and nootrals, in wich the United States expressed @ willing. manner, Hocommenced by saying that mory of | ness to become @ party to the Paria stipulntions, pure Washington, he raid, lived in the constitution of the | and simple. Atas early 0 period as the 10th of April, United States; his name and fame was written on erery | 1861, the Department of State of the United States in. line of that fustrumont. If there over lived a | str Mr. Adame at Lotlon, ** that the recognition of perfect man on earth that man was George Wash. | the so-called Con! vations, muss he deemed equiwa We were living iv & great age let to @ deliberate resviation by her Majevty's govern. meat that (hie Amorieuu government, which has ®» lou ited a roversign nation, shall Le now permsrcntly dusolved, and cense to exist furever’—tho samo des, ‘atch being designed to remind the British governmony he British empire iteell is an awerecateen 4 ? t ‘Communitios, which cover a larg® portion of the carth, and embrage one Afth of its entice population, some, at least, of these communitis aro held to their cé in that kysiem by bonds as fragile as the obligu- tons of our own federal Union; that the strain will oie time come which is to try the ‘strength of these bonds, though it will be of @ diferent kind from that which is tying the cords of our confederation.” ‘These admoni- tons of the hostile as) ect in which a recognition by Great Britain of the secoded states would be regarded by this goverment, was thus pointedly brought home to the mind of the British Minister of Foreiga Atlas. The despatch conveying them beara date fourteen Guys be- fore that authorizing arenowal of the confereuce on the Paris modifications in 1866 of the public law, By a des patch on the 2ist of Muy, 1861, from the State to ourdnvoy at London, he was it 8st from all intercourse whatever, oillcial, ¢o Lung as it shall continue inte: Kind with the domoastic enemies of this country; and, fur ther, that British recognition would bo British interven- tion Wo create, within our. territory, a hostile State, by overthrowing this repubsic.”” On ihe 2tat of May, 1861, our Ministor o}eucd, with duo. formatity, to Lord John Kussoll, the proposal to negotiate in regard to neutrals in time of war, stating that the necessary powers had been transmitted to him, with a form of convention, which he prop-sed to present if there was any disposition to pursue the matter. “The British Foreign Secretary expressed his Willingness 40 negotiate, but stated is desire to leave this eubject in the hands.of Lord Lyons at Washingion, to whom, a8 he intimated, authority had been tranmit- ted to assent to any modification of the only point in issue with the government of the United States. this Apparently clears explicit and frauk understanding bas a fe scque!, which is pointedly sketched in “a despatch of the 12th of July, 1861, stating prevailing fecling his beon one of profound surprisy at the course of the British government through- out the present difficu'ty, to wit:—birst—It prepares, in the form of instructions ‘to. Lord Lyons, a paper to be Presented to the Secretary of State of the United States, among other things virtually asking him to concede the principles laid down in the declaration of the Congress of Paris in 1856. Second—When in obedience to Mr. Adams’ instructions he proposes to offer a projet to Lord John Russell, actually designed to do the very thing desired, he is told that diretiions hmve already been seat dut t¢ Lord Lyons to arrange the matter on the basis pi by the American government, of the: threo articles, omitting Yhe fourth. altogether. ‘Third—Lord Lyons ex: Presses the opinion to the Secretary of Stateof the United States that bis-instructions do not authorize him to enter into a convention with the United States. Fourth—-When, concurrently with those events, Mr. Dayton, at Puris, Proposes .to negotiate on the sine business with France, Mr. Adams 1x informed that this proposal has been communicated to the Ministry in London, and that no definite: conclusion bas been arrived at. Mr. Adams, in the courtly language of diplomacy, observes, “that « more remarkable series of misunderstandings has seldom come within his observa- tion.” He might have said, 1n strict truth, that more re- markable tergiversation, on the part of Great Britain, was never found in the records of diplomacy. Mr. Adams was given to understand that the Marcy proposi- tion was inadmissible; but ashe was instructed not to insist upon it, Lord Russell proposed to take a copy of the projet of tho convention for the consideration of bis colleagues. The result. of that -considoration is made known in Lord Russell's communication, dated July 31,, 1861, twelve days after the battle of Bull run, in which he expresses his readiness “to carry on the negotiations a8 soon as the necessary arrangements: can be perfected in London and Paris, so that the conventions may be sigued simultaneously at these two capitals,” yet coup- ling with that statement the following remarkable pas- sage:—“I need scarcely add that, on tho part of Great Britain, the engagement will be prospective, and will not invalidate anything already done.” Here is. the: first glimmering iatitnation of the ulterior purposes of Great Britain, by the assumption of a position unfriendly to the dignity and intorests of the United States. Mr. Adams, in reference to this sentence, in his despatch of August 2, 1961, states that he must frankly admit that he docs not understand the meaning of this last paragraph. Oar Minister, however, is not suffered long to rance of the real purpose of the Briti unfortunate occurrences of the 21st of J vicinity of Manassas, had ripened the purposes British Secretary, as we find in his uote of the 19h of August, 1861, from the Foreign Office to Mr. Adams, in which he propesed, upon signing the convention aceord- ing to Mr. Adams’ draft. embodying the articles of the declaration of Paris, to appeud the following extraordi- nary declaration :-— be- In affixing his signuatare to the co jon of thiada: tween her Majesty the Qi Great Byitain and T and the United Stat Ear! Russell ja of Amer! At this conjuncture of public affairs, there appeared, at the close of the month of August, 1861, « publication in the London Globe, dated more than four months previous, av th» Foreign Offic y inotiicial form, from Lord Russell to Mr. Edw 1 prop nexation of the territory of the Hominican State inionsof Spain, It is in honeyed phrases of wat lly torms, yet etepping out of the way offi vert up antry asin Aus. uption, h ent, in these terms Prevent of any pos to the a and @ resistance to the measure, by the Northern Southern confederation Aineric: Mark the words. We can best ilfn ee great injustice here done us by: assuming like: expres- sions on the part of our government when the question of repeal was agitated by the O'Cannell intluence, in 1846, to an extent that threatened the separation of the United Kingdom: yet earlier, when the Camadlas were in revolt in 1837 and 1838, secking independence; and at another period more recent, when the Anglo-Tadian mpire, with over one hundred and fifty millions of peo- lien in race and in religion, shaken to the-founda- y the storm of war, had circumstances oxisted as they did exist, in which we were in diplomatic corres- pondence with Spain, had we referred to Ireland as a separate kingdom, or protectorate, or to the Canadas as an independent sovereignty, or wo th he of India us de acto authorities, when the Englis ¢ falling before them, what would lave beenrthe spirit amd pur. pose. of such a reference but one of hostility aud gratu- lation at the supposed approaching disintegration of the British empiro* We asked to become a purty to the hnmane princieles of public jaw embodied iu the Paris declarations to which we had originally been invited to become a party, to which forty-six different nations bad become parties, including Hayti, and Ger- mau principalities so incousiderable agoot ty be even noticeable upon the map of the commercial world. But this w od unless coupled with the humiliating con. dition not required mn the most inconsiderable of uny of the other contracting It. iso matter of historical and u y that the Freuch crown has beeu in the low half between — thre the elder Bourbon Louis Phi lippe: the third, and Mil one, in the imperiak dynasty pease, in a the conferences Paris tae government had coolly suggested.to the French the importance, in the eveut of an outbreak in France, and conflict for the throne, thatit must be understood that those declarations, then signed on the part of Great Britain, shoold have no bearing upon such gontingencies as those to whicb I have reierred, there would be no Jnsion that the amicable t Britain aud Franee would be at that would not have been forgiven by the French Emperor or the Freed people. The United States ure.not, however, without 9 za0nad trintmph iu this resp Toe principles for which tae had contended und formally progosed in 1854, and.in the earliest periods: of our history, bave triumphed over the irregular and arbitrary principles contended fovand practived by Great Britain ducing tue wars of the Freaoh Revolution. Those arbitrary oxactions led. to our stonggle m 1812; but they flaaly practically gave way jn tho epening of the ¢ri- mean war, wiva the dread of coniliet with this republic, had the alempt been mude to force them upon us as a neutral and indepevtent Power, We had, at the outset of our difficulties, g.yen as a promarent Treason for our proposed adherence to the Paris declarations, the fact thata miaguided portion of ova peaple ad raised the standard of revolt, and declngel their purpose of my it- ing privateers to prey upon this commerce of the Union. ‘This reason was assigned by we as far back a (he “Sth of April, 18@iz yet, to the st of July, in the same year, the. slightest intimation hut nut ‘been gizen of ‘any dissent: 9r objection on the pazt of the British govern- ment. Thedespatehes of »Mr. laneh, British Consul at Charleston..when captured by. tie vigilance of our sea police, revealed the fact that Be was in close sad intl mate intessourse with tho. aatiborities of the revolting States, Ho communicated the-Cact that the Pritish an- thorities. kad approached the rede! government, seekin; their acquiescence in the pringiple that the gontral te covering neutral goods was to be eeted. Upon discovery our government demanded the rseali of (his Mr.Boneh (of iniquity). ‘The British Secrotexy declined, howevar, to accede %, this request; and ovr govern- ment, of the 23d of October, 1861, determined to re- voke Ube exequatur of, the Consul, “who has not only ben the bearer of communications between the insur- gonts and a foreign, government, in v'glation of our laws, Dut has abused equadty tho coniidence of the two governments by reporting, withont the suthority of his government, and in violasion of their owa policy, as well. as of our notional rights, that tg proceeding in whiadh he was was in the nature of a treaty wita the insurgents, and the first step towards the re- cognition by Groat Britain of their*scversignty.”” Upon the instant of the, Tremt affair and the capture of the tue rebel omissaries, oar government despatched ai. vices to our Minister at London thet the capture was apauthorized; and, upen the formal ication of the Britieh it... these re} ves of te re. Salted Staten. world be. surrendered. In this. onr ernment roasted Lbeir action upon the great American Sotrioes of public ‘aw, which wo have constaxtly as- serted sinco tue origin of the j.vernment. The de- spatch of Karl, Russell, ta acknowledging their release, attempts to contromert the positienns of our govarniaeut, as submitted in tie able of our Seeretary of State. Lord Rusael am bie iene =oe Liverpool Ship. owners’ Agsociation, responds. rst of apparent indignation, wiih which the Langen Times cceks to ant madvert upon, the action of our government, by closiu, n Lt ‘Agency of & stone bloc ade, the harbor of the rebellions city of Charloston. Thin stone drift, Mtemporary oxpedient, designed to bo vor rected ag ogeasion and convemience may suggest, and ‘when the Fignts of all cohserzed shall demand ‘t, is an exe limited afar tobe brought up in the form of sugh an indictment. Lot os see wheaer wo have not, in the histary of this great public censor, abundant evi: dongs to demonstrate that it is a familiar practice in maritime war, As early 48 1304, in a despatch dated Fabruary 9, of that year, marked “most coniidentai,”’ from Lord Hobart, in Downing street, to the Comptroller of the British Navy, measures were taken, by the King’s commaus, for seeretly choking up with stone the en- tranee into the barbor of Boulgne, in Franee, as Riche- lieu, the great statesman, had done ip 1628, by Vlocking up the harbor of Kochelie for the diftance of nearly a mile, When the British people were waging a war against the thirteen colonies they #unk st betruc- Hons in the channel at Savannah, Georgia, which remain In 1807 tho British Admiral ia, upon TOW entgauce at Aloxanvirit, Rgypt, sunk s loaded with, stone, Ab @ still later period, with. 10 preseg’t hour, Lard Napier, during the Cri War rogomnaendod tho sinking of rorks, te prevent fany intercourse with the harbor of Cronstait. Du progress of that war the Russians themselves c up thy harbor of Se 1! t the destruction on that side of th of France and f r opinion, therefure, was unknown in 1779, 1804, 1807 and 1854, for thon they did those very wets, and justilied hom as prinetpies of pi ble lew, which they now denounce im Our eases barbarous crimes. Pending the struggle in which we aro cagaged to preserve intact the constitu tional liberties of the American people, until recent events connected with the success of our arms demon strated our ability to settle and adjust our own domestic dilferonees if left to ourselves, for tervention has beon repeatedly threatened, Our - sinulated to thatof the ‘Turks w! strife with Grecee, resulting in the ot by armed intervention from the 1 Power, and the destruction of the Turkish fleet in the Bay of Navarino. ‘This intervention has already been extended to distracted and unfortunate Mexico, la my humble judgment it is the duty of the whole Amurican people to protest against the introdietion of such intervention im the administration of any ey on any portion of the Western hemisphere, as alike dangerous to our poace and safety. Aflor the overthrow of the great Napoleon, the despotic Powers in Karope put forth tho pretension of interfering in the internal a(fairs of France. This was done at Trapau aud Layback; but Lord Castlereagh protested in behalf of the British nation, In 1823 the Congress of Verona interfered tm the intersal government of i Mr. Canning, how- ever, declared that the principles laid down by the Allies in that respect struck at the very existence aud vitals of the British constitution. if, wader all these circum- stances, intervention be meditated, and our lawful amd sage 4 blockade, in accordance with the sound prim- ples of international ‘law, be attempted to be broken by any Power or combination whatever, they inu-t couné the cost of war with a spirited and independent people, flushed by recent everwhelming victories, with 700, armed men now in the fleld,and a country largor all Europe. destined, soonor or later . to exercise a control- ling influence in the affairs of mankind, ‘Cutamaan then read the fourta regular “The President of the United States.”” silence. Alderman Dayton here. read the follawing letters of: Pe acid the Secretary of State aud the Postnaster jeneral:— 6" of the latter toast:— Drunk ia MR, SEWARD’S LETTER. Derawrunwr ov Stare, Wasivcron, Jan. 20, 1862. Gurizaex—I have boen honored with three soveral in sieve Pe peepee the eb giipsd the apes sary o i ci our founder of the American Union. Iam also Somtbcoses by Congress to meet them for the same holy purpose t= this Capital. Never before did I s0 much lament that £ have not the power to be everywhereat once. I that Ican be hero. I should be glad to be with you, regret 1 cannot be with tho- other ‘masses my fellow citizens in Now York.. I could) be in the old capital on my own door sill at Auburn, with the army in Ken- tucky, with the navy at Charleston, in London to thank. the Queen, and in Parla to ask a tation to the sagadious Emperor; at’ Vienna, at St. Pe- tersburg, at Turin and at’ Constantinople, te bear testimony to all these places at once, thrones, principalities and powers, @@mt the chitdron of : Washington are yet equally loyal to. his memory ané@ faithful to his precepts. . Tam, gentlemen, with high regard, vour obedient ser- vant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD. ‘To the Board of Aldermen and Board of Coancifmen of. the city of New York. MR. BLAIR’S LETTER. Grxtiemey—I have your note of yesterday, and you to express to the Corporate authorities of thevity of New York my thanks for the honor they have done me by tho invitation thoy give to dine with them at anniversary of Washingua's birthday,and I assure them but for the invitation ef Congress to participate in the ceremonies ordered m the capitol for the celebration of that daw, Ushould have bees with you in the great metropolis. 1am, gentiemen, with great respect; M. BLATR:° Wasiixcton, Fob, 20, 1862. To the Joint Committee of the Common Council of the city of New York. ‘The chairtnan then announced the {fth regular toast— 9 Governor of tho State of New York.” . Music— Governor's March. ‘The sixth regular toast was then read:—Democracy— that principle in our systein of government which insurea the triumph of the national arms in the prosent confliet.”” Music—* Dixie's Land.” Judge Daty resvonded in an able manner. He had been a democrat all his life, aud never did he ap- preciate the traths of democracy i more than at present. We have an example gf the power and strength of democracy of which wo have haye nothing in history, en hundred thosand volwm + teers are in arms for the maintenanc: of democratie. principles, aud by God's hel», before many months, complete triumph world crown their noble efforts in de- fence of self-government. Song by Mr. Christian 8. Woodruff. Seventh regular toast:—< Our sister States—tho reste.» ration of our former ‘tionate relations with them a © is an event to be looked forward to with undoubting hope and confidence."? Response by Ricranp O'Gorwam. Alderman Dayton then read petriotic letters from Hom. Flijsh Ward and Commodore Paulding. kighth regwar toast. ‘he Army and Navy of.the United States. H Yheir courage and their‘conduct in the present wae testifies that pyre and noble devotion to their which animated the soldiers aad sailors of the days et the Revolution, ‘Music— Star Spangled Banngr.”” Resyonded to by Lieutenant Giles. Ninth regular toast—“The Volunteers now entigted ie . the service of our country:’—The alacrity with whieb they sprang to arms at their country’s call, and their valor and skill in battle, proves them to be worthy. soma of the republic. Music—Yankee Doodle. Responded to by Major.Gencral Sandford, A song, The Flag of;the ¥ree,’” by the Andersen . cnt ‘Tenth regular toast—-The memory of those who have lost their lives in the service of the country in the exist ing war. Music—Dirge. ‘ Eleventh regular toax—'*The Bench and the Bar.’ ‘The champions of freedom, end the conservators of jus- as ayd of the peace of the nation. fuisie. ‘Twelfth regular toast—Popular Education.’ ‘The oniy solid basis on vabioh repubiican institutions can be founded. Music. ‘Thirteenth regular toast: —Womay.”* A number of volunteer toasts were then drunk, whew . the party. separated for their homes, it being then after midnight. CITIZENS’ MEETING AT. THE COOPER INSTITUTE - Enthusiasm of the People—General Scott Honors the Day—Patriotic Speeches and Resolutions, &., &e. ‘The celebration of Washington’s Birthday at the. Cooper Institute was- a very enthusiastic affair, The Institute was crowded: im every part,and up toa date hour people continued: to pour in. ‘he platform was oc- enpiod by some of 16 leading citizens.of New York, and the ladies formed no ineonsiderable part of the andience, ‘The meeting came to order in the, usual manner, and Mayor Opdyke was called to the Chair, ‘The CaMRMAN mada brief speech, stating the object. of the raeting, andaltuding in glewing terms to the re- cont svacesses of the Union arms. He thought that the anniversary of Washington’s Birthday would this year be cclubrated witlJey and gladucss all through the coun- try, ‘9 consideration that peace and prospesity are once more within the-reach of all loysd men. ‘There was a vory fine port:git of President Lincoln. suszended ov7=tiie rear of iho-.platform, and, attracted , greak attentioo. Yar. Evanrs having been tsteoduced, spoke! at some. leagth. He said that there wore two great national hoti- daye in this country—the on vas. the cans the uly. (ceeere) He alluded to the noble character of ‘Washington, suid that there was n» nobler picture im any not‘ou’s luistory than she recollasions of this true, enuine and banored patric’. He consmlered tat jad been greatly desecrated by the attemptad tion of amas Who, for bisown ambation, was endeavor- ing to overturn the laws and every»principle of right im. one portion #? the confederacy foumted by We It was painoal to think thai while loyal nen were cele- rating the birthday of tae founde>of the republic, there wer? thow still in arms striviag flerceiy for its over— i throw, Ws Washingtow,could row arise, what would be his verdiet in such a case? What would he of such ® President, com) with him. whe was elected by the wholo and who ia. now Striving to defend the principles which he was first to establish? Mo (the Go te that shouts of the loyal psaple of the Uni would vi soon drown the cries of traitors and tae voice of treason, and thet one and al) ance citizen, would rise E power to defend that greas ‘Washington whieh It became U8 #2 to remember on the annversary of his birth- 4 Ne Hi. J. Rayosp followed in a short speech, in which he said oh nation had nos ony victories to but duties to perform. ‘The following resolutions were.read by the Secretary :— Feooved, That the citizens of New York and its vinini- ty, in moss meeting assembled, record anew their reve- Fontial geatitude to the Giver of all good for the great in tance of Nberty, mdependence and union which we have receivad from tNe courage, the wisdom and the vir- ‘tue of hero'g ancesters. and celebrate with ever. joy and pridethe day which, in giving birth to ton, gave promise of the immeasurable tenet own and all futare generations which his great lifo am character were to achieve Reeolved, That the constitnted Nberties of this nation rest upon the principles which the life of Washington was spent in establishing, and which his farewell words of wartsng and instruetion have impressed upon the hearts of hia countrymen; that the momentous experience through which tho nation js now passing displays, in characters of living light, the imperishable truth that to us and our posterity the Union is tho sure protector of Iberty nud peace among ourselves—of power and peace with other nations. Rosolved, That we must, on this recurrence of the Bribday of Washington, with hearts full of profound gravulmvion that the lessons of his lifo and character have not been lost upon his countrymen of this generation; with hearts full of the purpose and the hope that these Joaaond shall be transtnitted to our posterity, enforced and (umninated by now examples of the same heroic