(1863) Celebration At Tammany Hall

ANNUAL CELEBRATION IN

HONOR OF THR

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BAPTIST & TAYLOR, STEAM BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS, SUN BUILDINGS, COR.

FULTOX AND NASSAU STREETS.

18

6 3,

TAMMANY

SOCIETY OF

COLU]VIBIA.]Sr ff^

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^Pj

;

ORDER.

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TAMMANY HALL, On S^TURD^Y, July 4, 1863. INCLUDING

THE ORATION, By Hon.

HENRY

C.

MURPHY,

THE POEM, By

henry MORFORD,

Esq.,

THE ADDRESSES BY

HON. HORATIO SEYJMOXJR. AND OTHERS.

PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE SOCIETY

NEW YORK: BAPTIST & TAYLOR. STEAM BOOK AND " SUN BUILDING," GOR. OF

J

OB PR INTERS,

FULTON AND NASSAU

18 63

STS.

CELEBRA-TIOISr

SOCIETY OF TAMMANY; COLUMBIAN ORDER, 87th Anniversary of our National Independence,

% J"XJI_i~2^ 4tla,

The members the

of the

Tammany

necessity of " keeping

momentous

crisis

in

alive

Society,

1SG3.

fully

awake

the patriot flame "

to

at this

our country's history, resolved to cele-

brate the anniversary of the nation's birth-day with unusual

vigor

;

and, after a series of preliminary meetings,

the Council of Sachems, the following

held

by

programme of arrange-

ments, under the especial charge of Sachems Taylok,

and Brennan, was adopted and published.

Delay an,

SOCIETY OF

TAMMANY:

COLUMBIAN ORDER,

OR,

OELEBii-vnox. ?-i.vri'iti>.vv. .ii'i.v nil. OORDER OF ARRANGEMENTS :v^ The Sachems and Brothers the transaction he thrown

will

assemble

Graiul \Vi;:\vani at

iln-

iii

11 >i

1)so:j.

A. M., for

business. At li o"clook the Grand Council Chamber will open lor the admission of members, invited guests and friends of the Society.

ol'

TUB EXERlISES WILL COMMKSCE AT ONE o'CLOCK PRECISBLY, WITH

MUSIC

G iard

National

OPENING ADDRESS, SONG AND CHORUS

Band.

Bt Grand Sachkm Pi kdt.

TnK VuiC .>f oir U.mon. Father I{kkd's Quartette. Accomi)anied on the i)iano by Prof. C. K. Ol.vky.

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE Will then be read by Brother Thomas C.

t'lIOKUf-i

Kert, AVliIto

and

151

I'ields.

no

QiaRtettk.

DRAKE'S ADDRESS TO THE AMERICAN FLAG. Will be recited by Hoska B. Perkins,

BONNIE OLD FLAG,

Song and Chorus, A

I'atii.ilic

Kst].

l*oem, wriltcn expressly for the occasion

Quartette. .iiid

entitled

DEMOCRACY AND THE NATION, Will bo read by the Author,

HEMIY .MUUFOKD,

BALLAD,

By

ORATION BA LLA

1>

Esq. the Ui ARTKrtK.

By Hon. Henry

C. Murphy. Mr. Gistams Geart.

,

in the large room will conclude with the "STAR SPANGLED to be suur by Father Reed's tiuartette, accomi)anied by Prof. Olney National Guard Band, the audience risiup and JoiniuK m the chorus. After whicli the members of the Society, with their friends and invited guesls, will adjotirn to the Bani|uet Room, where appropriate toasts will be responded to by distincfuished

The Exercises

BANNER,"

ai\d the

Democrats of

this city and state. The Grand Council" Chamber will be elaborately decorated with The front seats will be reserved exclusively for all nations.

of

admission (which are

pr.tlis)

tlags and emblems ladies. Tickets of

can be obtained of either of the following

COIVIIS/IITTEE

OF

A.R,RA.lSrOEI«IElSrTS :

Sadicin ItANlKl. K. DKI.AVAN, Sa. li.m .luHN K. DKVKI.IN. Sachem JOH.V KK.I. I. Y. Sa.lioin .MATT. T. BRKNNA.V, Siuliein CH A.*;. (J. COKXELI.. Sicbem ISAAC HEI.I.. ."^hohem ANPKK KRdMENT. Sagamore G. S. MKS.<'ERVK, Sacliem PKTER H. SWKE.NV, .Sarhem F.nWAKK CDorER, Sachem RKirn It. t'O.NXOI.LY, Wisklnkic S. C. PUKYKA. .Sarheni DOIT.I.AS TAYI.fiR, Trensuret H. V AXDKW ATKH,

EI..IJA.M F. PXTRD^V,

C'ASI'ER C. fHlI.nS,

Gka.mi Saihem.

SerrHary.

RKIIARO WINNK,

JAMES

.*Tff«

H.

S\C\\U\SO^. FaUur

f\>mmlUtt from the hrmorroHr Ctneriil CnmmlH'f nf

Hew York

a/tht Cmmtit.

:

WM.I.IVM M. TWEED,

EDWARD MARRIXER,

TIMOTHY

jnllN Y SAYA(;E.

TIKIS. U. TAI'I'AN.

.lOIIN HI Kl.EY, .lOSEIMI M MARSH.

llEu

I.

I.OITRKI,.

ALEXANDER llRAXno.V, (iEO. A. .lEREMIAll. JuHN KITlH

JOU.V McORANE.

AARO.V n. RilI.MNS. .lOH.V CLANCY, .lOHN MooRE.

THDM

\S HKADY. PATRICK .McMAHON,

.lAMES

i)

WILLMM

Sri.I.IVAN,

NEIL. .Il>YCE,

ISIAH RYNDERS.

JOHN

U.

RYER

'6

A

indication of the success which rewarded the

sufficient

eiforts

Committee, and also of the patriotic

of the

existing in

the

feeling-

crowded audience, may be gathered from the

subjoined account of the celebration, extracted from the able

report of the

New York Sunday

Dispatch

:

The day at Tammany was all that the most enthusiastic and intensely patriotic Sachems of the Old Wigwam could have The controlling genius of the occasion was the desired. " Spirit of '76," who not only superintended the exercises of the anniversary, but seemed to infuse into the minds of all present the loftiest thoughts which found utterance in eloquent words, in harmonious applause, and in gesticulation prolific It did not require any great exercise of with significance. the imagination to feel that the stalwart and impressive figure of Old Hickory was standing in the midst of the scene, casting upon all, and pointing its immovable finger its influence towards Gettysburg, declaring that the " Union must and shall Even amid the festivities of the day all be preserved." appeared to feel the impressiveness of the scene, and the loyal

beating of every heart spoke in almost audible language of earnest devotion to the old flag, the stars of which shed a glorious lustre over the place. Decorated with banners and other appropriate emblems, the old Wigwam afl'orded the widest scope for patriotic meditation. It filled every heart with pride, and implanted the conviction in every

mind that "

Each day our Union's constellated banner Gives joy to every patriotic heart, Despite men's curses and the base endeavor

Of guilty hands

to

rend

its

folds apart "

The display of flags was unusually imposing. The colors, numbering several hundred, were hung about the room, entirely covering the walls, and were suspended in graceful festoons The portraits of the Father of his above the audience. Country, and of Harry of the West and General Lafayette, looked down upon the congregation, and the time-honored banners of the Society, together with the insignia of the thirteen original States, were conspicuously displayed in the " Great Council Chamber."

6

For an hour before the exercises began, the disciples of St. Tauuiiauy be*raii to assemble in tiie ohl Witrwain. The great topic of the (Uiy, the news from (lettvsbiirg formed the ]>rincipal theme of conversation, and elicited the most patriotic rennirks from all who participated in the general discussion. Of course, there was considerable criticism indulged in. and some heavy batteries were ojiened upon some of the incumbents of iiigh Governmental positions, but the one idea which was more prominent than all others was that the rebels should not only be driven in dismay from the old Keystone State, but that they should also be made to sutler a defeat which would result in the restoration of the Union and an acknowledgment of the supremacy of the old Flag, it was an insjjiriting scene fraught with suggestions of the most forcible nature. Shortly after twelve Messrs. Douglas Taylor, Daniel E. Delavan and Matthew T. Breunan, the Special Committee of Arrangements, met and perfected the arrangements for making the Anniversary a feature of the most glorious ilcscrijition. The National Guard band in the mean time aided in keeiiing nj) the enthusiasm of the audience by playing a variety of national anil jtopular airs, tilling the old wigwam with excellent music. Among those who occupied seats ujion the platform were, lion. Edwards I'ierrepont. Daniel E. Delavan. Es(i., .ludge (\ P. Daly, Hon. James llrooks, Hon. John Stryker, of Gneida. Judge John M. Barbour. .Fudge Henry Hilton, Hon. Richard B, Gonnolly, Hon. Isaac Bell, lion. John J. Bradley, Sanniel B. Garvin, Esq., Hon. A, Oakey Hall, lion. William Ah-Murray, .ludge Josiah Sutherland. Indue Ednnnid L llearne. Peter B. Sweeny, Esq.. Douglas Taylor. Esq., lion. John (Mancy, Nathaniel .larvis, .Ir.. Esq.. .John Murphy, Escp. George W. McEean, Escp. Hon. William Miner, Hon. Anson derrick, Eilward Marrincr, Esq., Aid. Terence Farley, Aid. ('. .). Ghipp, Hon. William M. Tweed, Henry Vandewater, Es(p, Hon. Thomas ('. Fiehls, Casper C. Childs, IOs(p. Hon. .lames B. Nii'h()ls(»n, Thomas Dunhqt, Esq..

—

.

and

.lustice j)odgc.

one o'clock the Sachems ;ind principal guests nuirclied in the room, the officers being decorated with bailges, and the guests designated by a rosette of red. white and blue ribbou, •Vt

and

at half-past

called to or
one the exercises began by the meeting being the (dtl "War Horse of Taunnany. lion. K. F.

l»y

Purdy, who addresst^d the society as follows:

ADDRESS OF GRAND SACHEM PURDY. Sachems, Brothers and Friends this our great

Wigwam,

Our custom

nation's birth-day.

—We

have assembled in

Columbian Order

to

do so

coeval with the

is

Tammany

In the name of

existence of our Government. ciety or

:

to celebrate another anniversary of a

I greet

So-

you with a cordial welcome.

Yes, welcome, thrice welcome to our council chamber.

This day

eighty-seven years ago our forefathers proclaimed that Ameri-

cans were of right a free and independent people.

Auspicious

the day, eventful the hour and most glorious the cause.

An

astonished world beheld a nation of freemen thinking, speaking

and acting as

The Union,

such.

the Constitution

and the laws

formed by the patriots of '76 will be preserved, sustained defended by their descendants of '63. [Great applause.]

and by

whom

and

Where

can the anniversary of American Independence be

more appropriately celebrated than in this Old Wigwam, and by Tammany Society, or Columbian Order a society formed at an

—

early period of our country's history,

with a love for

civil

to self-government

my

?

I feel that I but express the sentiments of

of the great and patriotic city of

we

live

we

founders deeply imbued

and religious liberty and the right of man

brothers of the Order of St.

while

its

will meet here

Tammany and

New

of the people

York, when

I say that

and keep alive the patriotic

flame of liberty, equality and fraternity, and smoke the calumet of peace and

Union and

good

will with all supporters

and defenders of the

the Constitution of our country.

patriot Jackson said so we say — " The Union

be preserved the Union,

!"

it

As

the

must and shall

to the other, to cease not

and rest not from our labors

was and the Constitution with

tained and defended,

:

Let us again renew our fealty to

and pledge ourselves, one

in our exertions it

[Applause.]

[Cheers.]

all its

until the

Union

as

inherent rights are main-

with one Union, one Constitution and

government on the American continent.

[Immense cheering.]

!

s

Al'ter iippropriatc

Independence was C. Fields. tion,

and

Address Ml-.

w -hi(

to

listened to with the greatest atten-

hearty and repeated cheers.

feature of the occasion

was the

recitinir

American Flag, by Hosea B.

the

I*ERKiNS h

reail witlulecided

The reading was

elititt'd

The next

Thk Declahatiox' of effect by Brother Thomas

music by the Band.

prefaced

with

recitation

his

a

were warmly received by the audience, and

of this splendid

DirVKE'S

poem was loudly applauded

of Drake's

Perkins, Esq.

few remarks, his delivery

tiiroughout.

ADDRESS TO THE A.AIERICAN FLAG.

When Freedom

from hor mountain height

Unfurled her standard

She

to the air,

tore the azure robe of night,

And

set

the stars of glory there

She mingled with

its

The milky baldric

And

striped

its

of the skies,

pure

With streakings

!

gorgeous dyes

celestial

of the

white

morning

light!

Then, from his mansion in the sun,

yhe called her eagle bearer down,

And gave

Majestic

Who

mighty hand

into his

The symbol

of her chosen land

monarch

of the cloud

thy regal

rear'st aloft

To hear the tempest trumping

And

se<> tin-

When And

loud.

liglitning-lances driven,

stride the warriors of the storm,

rolls

the thunder-dnna nf ln-aveu.

Child of the sun

!

to tliee

't

To guard the l)anner of the

To hover bid

is

given

free.

in the suljdiur smok<'.

To ward away the

And

!

f
its

battle-stroke,

blendings shine afar,

Like rainbows on the cloud of war.

The harbinger Flag

The

<.f

tl..-

of victory

i.rav.-:

!

Tliy folds shall

sign of liope and triiim]ili high

Wln'n

lly. I

sjM-aks the signal truni])et-tone.

:

—

;

!

9

And

the long line comes gleaming on

warm and

Ere yet the life-blood,

:

wet,

Has dimmed the glistening bayonet,

Each

soldier's eye shall

To where their meteor And,

brighly turn

glories

burn

as his springing steps advance,

Catch war and vengeance from the glance

And when

!

the caunon-mouthings loud,

Heave in wild wreaths the battle-shroud, '

And

gory sabres

rise

and

fall.

Like shoots of flame on midnight's pall

!

There shall thy victor glances glow.

And

cowering

foes shall fall

Each gallant arm that

beneath

strikes below

That lovely messenger of death Flag of the seas

Thy

!

!

on ocean's wave,

stars shall glitter o'er the brave,

When

death, careering on the gale,

Sweeps darkly round the swelling

And

sail.

frighted waves rush wildly back

Before the broadside's reeling rack.

Each dying wanderer

of the sea

Shall look at once to heaven and thee.

And

smile to see thy splendors

fly

•

In triumph o'er his closing eye.

Flag of the

free heart's

only home.

By angel hands to valor given Thy stars have lit the welkin dome And all thy hues were born in heaven !

Forever

float

Where breathes the foe that stands With Freedom's soil beneath our feet,

And

;

that standard sheet before us

freedom's banner streaming o'er us

?

!

After another song aud chorus by the Quartette, Mr.

MoRPORD was introduced by following- poem, written

the

by him

tomed ease and clearness.

2

the

for the occasion, with his accus-

During the reading, Mr. Morford

was frequently interrupted by applause, and enthusiastically cheered

Henry

Grand Sachem, and read

at its close

was

— 10

DEMOCRACY AND THE NATION. BY HENNY MORFORD,

Esq.

I.

Douglas Taylor, Old Tammany's printer Says •

We

'•

Say something

"

Be earnest

— pitch iu — serve

That "the rhyming friend Douglas

Let me

;

wrong

!'"

adding with pleasantest smile.

rather a bore all the while.*'

is i.s

right

— but before

him a story that comes

tell

brief,

it

the right— flog the

— be impudent — but —don't be long

That's what Dowjlas says

Our

in chief.

must have a poem, but must have

1

obiy

in the

way.

II.

Old Dan Webster, one time

As

a lawyer was pu.shing

Between

who

iwi)

Away down in He got left by

height of his fame,

the

in

some boundary claim

lacked temper to settle their

lines.

the North Carolinian pines.

a steamboat, or wagon, or stage

Overnight, in the midst of the pines— and a rage.

He

put up iu a shanty of clapboards and logs.

Where

the

people divided

Where twelve tow-headed Rat\,

their

beds with the hogs,

children, each minus a shirt,

round and seemed happy midst bedbugs and dirt

;

And their 'purients' two corn-crackers, gangling and long, From a bottle took something that seemi*d to be strong. Well, Black

And was

Dan got

his sleep, in the best

glad to rouse up at the

first

way he might. peep of

Taking breakfast of hoe-cakes and pork, and

To get

off

from that dirty and desolate waste.

When breakfast was over, and ready the cart On whicii fur '.sowc jilacr he was making his He pulled out his pocket-book (quite iu his way You remember) and asked them how much was The male corn-cracker, standing meanwhile With

his wife

had bfon

And when Webster Wiped

And

hi.-*

stirt,

to p ly.

at the door,

wbi-*;n'ring ten minutes or more,

a Wilmingtcm note

preainled

nose on the cufl'of his butternut coat,

replied iu a

manner most

That old D.m ne'er forgot •'

light,

in haste

See here, stranger

1

till

—old

ftstive

his last

and gay. dying day

woman and

I.

:

about

thai

—— —

— 11 " Just

now have been having

a bit of a chat.

" You're the big Mr. Webster, tbey

We

"

don't like to let

" Supper, lodging and breakfast "

To our trading

it

About

—now

out in the handiest

woman and

" Can't you give the old "

me, and so

tell

you pay money, you know. what do you say

way

?

me, for that ere

and quit square ?"

six shillings worth of a speech, III.

Old Dan used

And made

it

to tell off the story

foundation for

many

with

zest,

a jest,

But he always declared that what bothered him worst

And Was Two

best furnished excuse

making a speech

not in

when he inwardly cursed— to those

number, and made up of

drones

slab-sided

and bones,

gristles

"

cut down to so little a space Why, confound it !" said Dan, with his quizzical

"

My

But being

:

face

chances just then were most dreadfully small

!

" I couldn't get started for shillings, at all !"

I

am

not a

Dan Webster,

are

We

are all just alike,

Or only a

And Let

little

so having

me

as

you corn-crackers

Nor

be

—

Douglas well knows,

—yet, under

—we want room proved why

so, as

the rose.

much

if there's

in the head,

to spread.

I cannot

be

brief,

furnishing quickest relief.

IV.

Were they

And

jocular words, then, with which

sounds this like dealing with

frolic

we

begun.

and fun ?

If they were, let the time furnish ready excuse.

For looking down noses

is

never of use.

Darker days than those looming above

Has seen

And

the last time St.

To gather

us,

no man

or has thought of since freedom began;

Tammany's Sons meet

the call

for council within the old hall,

May long be remembered as dark3r by far Than any yet dimming the national star. Let us hope that the memory further will go And show joy coming next when the pulses are low. Keeping up the old maxim of ages agone :

"

The darkest hour's

that which just heralds the

dawn."

——

;

— ——

12 Let

lis

hope that

With crape on It

may meet

With

its

Tammany

if

forthcoming year. Sixty-four.

ia the

and

pride

gathers to-day

banners of warlike array.

its

hope bright as

its

t-ver

it

wore.

Every man going on with unfaltering tread

To place

the

r'ufhl

nuui at the National head.

Let us hope that two years hence, when comes Sixty-five,

Freedom's hope Treason

in

our land once more fully alive,

memory

secession a

dt-ad, foul

of

shame

name.— The Sons of St. Tammany once more may meet, With the rii/lit man firm fixed in the President's seat, And rejoice in the dangers their vigor has braved

That no man dares allow

to attach to his

the land they have saved.

met and

Id the foes they have

V. TiTET have saved

What may sound

And

—did

I

say? Yes.

I

need not recall

like a boast in the hearing of all.

this furnishes point to the lesson of truth

That to-day by the

cuuncil-fire proves to be sooth.

VL If the

nation goes down, and

its

bright records close

'Neath the constant assaults of unscrupulous foes,

Let the lesson be set for the future to read

That Old

Tammany

took part nor

lot

That democracy, national, honest and

Such as

in the

Great

Wigwam

in

the deed,

true.

so thriftily grew,

Never weakened the nation or poisoned the State,

Or gave treason

its

aid towards the national fate.

VII. If the

nation

is

saved

— and who doubts of the end

When we know Freedom's God must If the

nation

is

saved,

it

As Old Tammany taught Not the

be freedom's best friend?

must be by such

arts of chicanery

arts

to ten millions of hearts

;—

— sectional spite,

Theft or falsehood, usurping truth, reason and right,

Not the

And

arts

which crush white men as slaves, to the dust,

in pqualid

Not the

arts

black skins put a confident trust

which so err on the opposite side

And

to

None

of these are the arts by democracy ta,iight

And

State-Rights

free given to the

would

s.icrific<;

national pride

;

winds of unchained human thought.

—

;

—

;

ts vni. other

ai-ts

are democracy's

—love of the land

Spreading East, West, North, South, and on every hand

Holding

all as

;

a brotherhood equal in right,

Trampling down every wrong done by arrogant might Repairing injustice wherever displayed

And

relighting each star that might flicker and fade

Bending low

to the flag,

in

if

triumph or

;

loss,

With a reverence next to that paid to the cross

;

Thinking every square foot of American ground

The most sacred and holy

And "American

A

name

Such

in

earth's

citizen", far or at

bound,

circling

heme,

Rome.

privileged quite, like the boast of old

arts

towards the country

— such arts towards the

As within our own households draw love's Arts of love, truth, good feeling

These must save

we

us, if ever

land,

closest band,

— these hdve

welded the chain

flourish again.

IX. 'Tis

a dark day

—a sad one —so patriots :

On this day that such glory was wont When the flap of the banner, from

to

feel

reveal-

shore unto shore.

By the cannon was answered with thundering roar, And the sage in the hall and the boy in the street

On one level of pride were contented to meet, And the proud words that greeted each gathering Were known

as no hollow

and arrogant

host

boast,

But a truth that each year gave a glorious increase.

Of a great nation happy

in

power and peace. X.

What has changed us ? What dark demon frightens the And makes national pride droop its wing to despair? Nothing

less

—nothing more— than

That have mocked at

The

safe middle

all

fanatical

schemes

bound and run wild on extremes.

ground has been ^corned as a

rule.

Made the jeer of the schemer and scofi^of the fool And the man who refused to accept as his creed Some ultra belief that black discord would breed,

And

to act for onesided, blind, sectional weal,

Has been trodden and crushed

'neath the popular heel,—

Called a "doughface", a mean, narrow-spirited

With no love

for the race

air

and no

elf.

faith in himself.

"Be something!" they cried—it was no matter what,

—

:

;

14 So each addt»d some cup

And

simmering pot,

to the

did somothing to hasten the fury and storm

That the witches of treason were shaping

to form.

XL And

so each has

With

grown

mighty arrays

their torches close linked hold the land in a blazt'

The dark Southern

And And

Two

something.

his covert supporters his

weapon

traitor, his

wide over the land,

gauut Northern brother, more subtle and

Yet quite as

efl'ective for

national

to

still.

ill.

Who can talk of no sin but the slavehulder's vice, And would free every slave, with his country the Both sides labor together

:

hand

in

compass oar

fall

price.

;

They are national enemies— enemies all. And the patriot hand would be justified quite, In thU great people's eye and

That could raise

And assume

God's holier sight,

and

in this trying

difTicult

for the time such a terrible

hour.

power

As would sweep all the ultraists— East, West, North, South, Where the heathen were swept by the breath of His mouth. XII.

But remember

Though some

the.-^e

men

are not demorrols

of one class

miy dare

call

—no. themselves

They have no more true claim to the democrat's Than an oyster's a ship when it clogs up her They have never Than

made

fifth

wheel to a coach

:

more than the plunderers whose tread

of us, no

Close follows an

side

a nearer approach

many-timesquotod

that

They are

to use

so.

pride,

army

to rifle the dead.

Are part of those glorious brothers in arms Whose breasts meet the shock when war's trumpet alarms. XIII.

The true democrat

— ever the country's best friend.

Tried and faithful at In

days

the

of

first,

has been so to the end.

our peace, when the patriot's dreams

Seemed

so nearly falfilled— he avoided crtrnnes.

'Twecn

ultraists ever a

With no motive While

his

less

bulwark he stood.

high than the whole country's good,

hand held the power, although parties might chafe. its ond and the country was safe

Discord failed of

And 'twas only when power was wrested away By the band of a faction, that gloomed the dark

day.

—

— 15 XIV.

Wheu Sumter went down, for Bidding comfort

the country be rose

and defiance

to friends

His hand quickest grasped at

When

the conflict began

At every

While the joy

And

with the butternut horde

;

each victory has flushed through his brain

of

Union"

bosom

that

South has he fought, but the traitors

Nor ignored

;

watchwords have formed,

his

his country'' s the best love his the

:

defeat he has risen again,

'Constitution and

Not

to foes

musket and sword,

flag,

it

warmed. gave

;

the whole white race to favor the slave.

XV. The War For

waged

'tis

Union he soundly approves,

for the

But the mode

to preserve

of its

waging

the old country he loves is

imbecile

And that he assaults and defends at He hates Bastiles, and yet not the Can crush from

And

his will.

fear of their reach

his heart his belief in free sjieech

lie hutes treason,

;

still,

;

and luktwarmness scarcely the

less,

yet he calls out for /ree ihourjM and free press.

He

loves

To

see

it

j^^^'ce,

and

to

joy ail his

once more o'er us wave

But no peace,

icith

dishonor

While murder's red hand

is

A quick, vigorous war, men That

the

This

is

white wing

no pau^e

;

the strife,

in

yet aimed at our

life!

of brains at the helm,

treason's res urces shall

all

Till

-

pulses would spring.

its

whole world once more

beggar and whelm,

the old Uuion bands,what he will fighUor and what he demands. feels

XVI. Though

And

his

Though

the rebel foot treads Pennsylvanian soil

ready hand gathers

The weak-nerved

Thoush Sickles

And

its

millions of spoil,

the thunder of cannon from Gettysburgh heights

the soil

fills

with horror

— the timid affrights,

maimed and though Reynolds is dead, with the best blood we knew is made red. lies

—

Yet the fight must go on, and no cheek must grow For the country is lost if our energies fail

pale,

;

And

not only our sunlight in night will

But the millions who bow Will cry out:

at the

go down,

nod of a crown,

"So we told you!

The

effort is vain

!

See self-government tottering and falling again!" Shall

this

h^. so,

and freedom's best hopes

lick the dust,

——

—

16

When on

its

she has rested unfaltering trust

Over roarings I

of

cannon

—

o'er

?

moanings of wo

hear this great people wide thundering

—"NO

!"

XVU. Two

when freedom's glad

years since,

birth-day went by,

Old Tiimniauy's voice gave detraction the

And

declared for the Union at every cost.

Till

the last coin be spent and the last

One year since that Though its bravest It

was

It

Shall

be lost

sons lay in that grave of u year. first

—

it

right in the second

MiRrav whose

is

man

voice had an echo as clear,

WAi.iminoK spoke

For freedom and

lie,

voice,

was Dalt whose word we heard ;

home from Europe's old

lands,

us to-day where democracy stands.

tell

XVIII.

One word more, and with that or a dozen instead Let us heed Douglas Taylor and cut off the thread. Old Tammany, speaking democracy's voice. Has a word for the man of the whole people's choice. for President

Not

— no, let the

future

But

for Genenil: our

And

'tis

army

cide

d'

Whether Setmour may not GU that

station of pride

time, fully time for the end to begin.

Tammany

Let the shout ring a')road from Old

And For

Union the land

And though gladly it And believes in the

will yet suffer

trades off

Yet Tlic

asks for

<^iartettc

Vacant

then

Chaiij," ami

The Orator of

its

''

" our

Wiii:x this ('i:ukl

the (lay, the lion.

rnnarks allndoil

KiiiiTS

Mkade,

to lead.

ballads

the beautiful

saiiu:

fur

him succeed,—

McClkllan

armiep,

introiluccil to tho auiiiencc by cniotristic

Joe Hookkk

Ics-ion to read.

will shout to the echo to see it

:

and bleed,

pluck, vigor and speed.

latter's

That already have taught Lee a

And

Hall,

ten millions, at least, will respond to the call the

;

the great Gght must win,

Henry

War

C.

is

of

Murphy, was

Grand Sachem Pprdy, who to the past

Ccnmty brother."

After

and

tiie

''The

Over."

in

then

a few

[iresent services of

applause which greet-

ed him had subsided. Senator Mii;riiv proceeded as follows:

17

ORATION. BY HON. HENRY Brothers and Friends

:

— We

the birth of the nation, and to the Constitution under which

MURPHY.

meet to-day to commemorate

renew our pledges of

we

find protection

We meet

our civil and religious rights.

While we

but not as mere partisans. feelings of gratitude

C.

fidelity to

and security

for

for a political purpose,

recall,

and admiration, the

with the deepest

trials, the privations,

the sacrifices, the sufferings, the heroic courage, the deeds of

daring, and the unwavering devotion to the cause of liberty of those

who won our independence, we offer the like homage of memory for the republican institutions which

our hearts to their

they bequeathed to us, as the crowning glory of their revolution.

We

regard

it

as a patriotic,

and ever constant duty,

to

main-

tain the principles which they thus established, and to guard

them as well against the insidious and covert attacks of the enemies of popular liberty, as against the open violence of faction.

[Cheers.]

and who

we invite all who acknowledge

In this spirit

our proceedings this day, accept, as the

watchwords of

to participate in

those principles,

their political faith, the

CONSTITUTION AND THE UNION.

Until the breaking

out of the present unhappy troubles in the country, the an-

nual recurrence of the day has been the occasion amongst us of universal joy and pride and gratulation at the progress of the

Republic.

Under

the benign influence of a free constitutional

government, the nation had attained an unexampled growth, and

was standing

in the front

3

rank of the powers of the world.

18 Enterprise aud invention were stimulated by leaving: with the

Virtue and intelligence

people the rewards of their industry.

were encouraged by throwing open

Homes and

honors.

ment of

civil

and

upon the land,

firesides

freedom.

reliiiious

a

in

to all

the paths to public

were made hai)py

in the enjoy-

Inmiiuration

Mowed

in

bold and unceasing current, under the

protection and privileges which were extended to the oppressed

of other nations, and the fair and easy conditions upon which they were incorporated into the body politic.

Foreign nations

we extended to them all that we demanded right. The blessings of education were The arts and child of the Republic. every

respected us because

from them

made

—

^justice

accessible to

and

life

were

placed within the reach of every portion of the people.

The

The condbrts and elegances of

sciences nourished.

viruin soil yielded the ricliest harvests to a contented husbandry;

were exchanged

the products of the country

for those of others,

by moans of a connnerce whose tonnage exceeded that of any other nation in the world

;

and our manufactories gave remu-

nerative employment to nudtitudes of every haiulicralt. resources and energies of the land were marvellous. beneficent cftccts of free institutions i/.e(l

lie iiid.

They were

Tliese

were regarded by the

world with astonishment, and by despots with

could not

silently

civil-

They

fear.

making a change

The

in arbi-

trary government everywhere, and giving hopes of liberty to millions

of the

who never expected

New World —

trii)uting the

of

th(!

to reach our shores.

The discovery

an event to which historians agree

most marked amelioration

in at-

in the physical condition

nations of Euroi)C had not a greater infiuence in that

respect than the successful exj)eriment of self-government anil

republican institutions here exerted ui)on their political state.

These grand results were the legitimate

fruits

of the Gov-

ernment which the patriots of the Revolution formed.

Inde-

pendence of the mother country would have been a barren triumph

if

the freedom achieved by them

had not been wisely

19

Government established

regulated, aud a

Discord and sectional

strife

for the

whole people.

must have been the inevitable con-

sequence of divided dominion over questions of

common

interest.

Such indeed had been, to some extent, the experience under the

They therefore sought,

old Articles of Confederation. respects, to

make

us one

in those

— to bind us together as a nation,

pre-

senting us to the world as a single political power, by conferring

upon the General Government exclusive and supreme authority in conducting foreign relations ; entering into treaties with other

nations

;

making war and peace

armies and supporting a navy

:

regulating commerce

;

;

raising-

and cementing us together at home

by granting a like authority over certain subjects of general concern, such as establishing a postal system, coining money, im-

posing and collecting duties, and establishing rules of naturalization.

But these powers were not

to be

employed so as

to abridge

the liberties of the people in regard to the free exercise of religion,

freedom of speech and of the press, and immunity of

erty and peoperty, except by due process of law.

made

the depository of these powers,

life, lib-

Congress was

and the Congress was formed

by a representation of the whole people, and of the States upon bases which were compromises of numerical strength and peculiar interests.

Thus

tlie

Union gave

us one

zen of every State was an American. senting one great nation

—a banner

name, so that every It

gave us one

which, wherever

flag, it

any quarter of the habitable globe, was respected. national glories, whether battle-field, or

won by

citi-

repre-

waved

It

in

gave us

the valor of our troops

on the

by genius and enterprise in the pursuits of peace.

gave us national songs and traditions, which were sung and cherished with equal delight in every portion of the Republic. It

It

gave

us,

apparently, one pre-eminent destiny, that of the most

extended, the most powerful, the most free country ever saw.

[Cheers.J

of Washington,

"it

language of Jackson,

It did all this, because,

made

us one people,"

tlie

in the

world

language

and because,

in the

" the allegiance of the citizens of the

20 States were transferred, in the

first

Government

instance, to the

The

of the United States, and they became American citizens."

Constitntion which established our nationality and the indivisi-

named, may not be perfect, though,

bility in the particulars just

as the experience of seventy years has shown, fect

work of

Its

ment, nor was in

it

what manner

way

in

which

the Union

is

emanated from human wisdom.

the kind that ever

[Applause.]

framers did not present

adopted as such. it

its

the mo^t per-

it is

it

as a perfect instru-

In providin>>' in

it,

however,

could be amended, they pointed- out the only

To

imperfections could be remedied.

say that

mere copartnership or league of the States

a

dissolved at the pleasure of any one or more of them fore, to contradict the history, the

is,

to be

there-

language, and the design of

the Constitution, as well as the uniform action of the people

under

it,

and the solemn declaration of

the States themselves,

all

save one, at the time the doctrine of secession was

of

the

farewell address,

in his

WHOLE

forth

"!/%e Constitution," says the Father of his

in South Carolina.

Country

first \nii

'^ till

changed by an explicit act

people, is sacredly obligatory

upon

all."

That great and good man, whose memory and counsels

it is

peculiarly proper on this occasion to recall, forewarned us also

that

tiie

dangers which might beset the Union could not be pre-

vented by constitutional provisions, but only by the virtue and patriotism of the peoide: that they would be found in the eflbrts

of ambitious

men

madness of party

to create geograithical spirit.

He Ibrewained

advice has not been heeded.

encountered, and their

We

parties,

and

These perils have at

evils are lunv

upon

in

the

us of both, but his last

been

us.

meet thererorc to-day, not as formerly with exuberant

feelings of Joy

and pride,

to felicitate ourselves u|ton the bless-

ings which have flowed upon us as a nation,

of sorrow ami huuiiliation. and

in themiilst

VtuI (»l"

with emotions

a civil win-

magnitude and miseries have scarcely a parallel in history. glory of America

is

obscured,

the prestige of

its

whose

The

greatness

is

21 apparently gone, the hopes of the friends of constitutional

Government

erty are despairing, and the

itself is

This occasion, therefore,

of destruction.

is

lib-

on the verge

one which demands

we owe at those who have

should address ourselves to the duty which

that

we

this

hour to our country and to the memory of

committed to our keeping the ark and covenant of liberty. As, according to Washington, the Constitution

binding upon

all,'

government

the general

paramount allegiance of every be

government

a

at all,

people, North and South.

Union

of the

it

is

citizen

sacredly

is

entitled to the

is

of the Union.

If it

a government for the whole

It is equally the

duty of

all sections

to sustain it in all its constitutional powers,

to submit to all laws passed in accordance with them.

can be no escape by any one from this obligation. the secession of a State

The

and

There

artifice of

where the insurgent may reside cannot

absolve him from his allegiance to the just authority of the

The State can only

Union. its

own

act upon him within the scope of

sovereign powers and in subordination to those of the

general government.

Had

there been an encroachment by the general government

upon the reserved rights of the States or of the people of the South, and had redress, after proper representation, been denied

them,

it

would have presented the case where an oppressed people,

rising in defense of their liberties,

would have been

justified in

taking up arms, upon the same principle as that which sanctioned

The right of

the resistance of our fathers to British tyranny.

revolution overrides all law in such case, because

it is

the only

But

it is

not that

alternative left against the abuse of power.

the federal government has infringed upon the rights of the

States or has abused the powers entrusted to it

has deprived any portion of the country of

it

;

it is

its just

not that rights or

has failed to protect them, that the present rebellion has arisen.

Not a

single grievance of the kind has been or can be alleged

against

it.

It

may be

that

its

policy has not always been the

22 one must favorable

South, but

to the

has not been less so to

it

the people of that section, than to others.

never adojited a policy which had not

Mhat

is

more important,

rebellion

was

in

accoril with their wisiics anil could not

full

We

[Api)Uuise.J

nuist h)(jk for the motives of the rebellion

the Union, the South

may

course

threatened, frieuds

its

•

of the general govennnent.

Its

may have been

it

South had remained true to the Union and to

in the North.

And,

advocates there.

policy at the breaking out of the

its

have been altered, however nuuli if the

its

however,

has,

It

beyond the acts

In asserting its independence of

vindicates no right, redresses no wrong.

be traced ultinuitely to the fact that

the controlling })Ower in the government.

it

has lost

In the natural pro-

gress of events, the South, like the North and East, has been

and

unt numbered both in the Senate

means of

in

the popular branch of

For nearly three-quarters of a century

Congi-ess. its

it

has, by

i»ower in the Senate, dictated the policy of the

Government, and has enjoyed a disproportioned share of the honors of the Republic.

and

I>ut

the consecpient admission of

i-ontrol.

Certain ambitious

the position in which they text

l>y

new

men of

independent government

North

in

in

this

regard

feeling in this rcspoet liilter hostility.

<,)ne

for years to establish

l>anil

In

to

South the sentiments of the

slavery in the States untier the

against the North, until

this

an

purpose they have persistently

They have fomented ami encouraged a

Constitution.

the small

at last lost that

whieh they would possess a ruling

misrei»resented to the people of the jK'ople of the

it

were thus placed, and under one pre-

For

inlluence.

States

Union

the South could not brook

and another have steadily sought

power and

l»y

the extension of the

it

sectional

ripened into

they have uidbrtunately Iteen assisted

of abolitionists in the North, jmrsuing their

idea re'^aiilless

ol'

the Constitution and the I'nion.

after State in the North, under the gnidanei" of local jiower, has passed

laws

in

State

men seeking

violation of State comity

and

23 constitutional obligations in regard to slavery to satisfy these

Yet, with

fanatics.

of the Northern States, un-

all these acts

kind, but not of any serious effect other than to produce a just irritation in the South against the authors of them, the General

Government has maintained

its

course undeviatingly in sustain-

ing the rights of the South.

The final

promoters of this rebellion

object, therefore, of the

separation anil a division of the Union.

have seized the

forts

To

this

is

end they

and property of the Union within the South-

ern limits, have defied the authority of the General Government,

made war, and declared themselves our enemies until we consent The naked question is presented to us, will

to the separation.

we consent ? [No no and cheers.] To do so would be the first step in !

of the Union,

— the

!

several governments, if not into as

No

the entire disintegration

prelude to a division sooner or later into

many

as there are States.

one can look upon the geography of the country which

will be left after taking

and permit himself

Whenever

to

from the Union the Southern States

hope that

it

could long remain united.

the conflict of sectional interests might arise,

the

precedent of secession, being once established, would become the example for further separation without a struggle.

what then ? fact of a

powerful nation, demanding and securing from

disturbed peace and prosperity,

of so

many

And

Instead of presenting to the world the accomplished

we would

afford

it

it

un-

the spectacle

petty sovereignties engaged in defending themselves

from each others encroachments.

We

would gain the contempt

of other nations, and lose all influence or power to resist their aggressions.

But

to

submit to the claims of the rebellion

abandon the Union, and hands, but

it is to

not only to

incur the crime and perfidy of surrendering

to faction the sacred trust of republican

to our hands.

is

to yield our territorial rights to hostile

With ample powers

government committed

conferred upon the govern-

24 ment

lor its

own

preservatiou, with no just cause tor separation,

we would be recreant tu we have iulierited, if we

maintain

to

in its fullest integrity.

Applause.]

|

Reproach and everlasting shame

"

us in our plumes "

Would mock It is

the liberties

ol"

moment

lor a

hesitated

Union

the authority of the

uuwoithy

duty, ami

indeed said by

tlie

rebels,

and reiterated even here

our midst, that the ueneral government has the states into obedience to

autiiority.

its

power

fio

This

in

to coerce

a doctrine

is

invented for the purpose of deceiving those who, unable to dis-

cover the right of secession, would

still effect its

The power

doing violence to their consciences. insurrection

is

or qualification

charge of

:

and

in exercising this

all its lunctions,

states.

The

and the insurgents

in

avail.

power, as

in the dis-

the general government acts directly

paramount allegiance, and not

it

states can

no more interpose between

arms than they could between

merchant who owes duties

The

suppress

to

expressly given to Congress, without limitation

upon the individuals owing upon the

object without

at the

it

and a

it

Custom house.

sophistries of secession and non-coercion of states cannot

They are

etiually

They are reinignant

They are twin

unfounded.

contrary to the national conscience, grounded as constitution,

and

abortions.

and

to the natural instincts of the people,

ciili'^lilrned

it

the

in

is

by the precepts of Washington

and the fathers of the republic.

The people

when

the

traitorous hands struck at

r('|)udiated

Hag of the Union

opening scene of the rebellion, and forgetting ferences and animosities, they rushed to

its

tlieir

them the

in

part\ dif-

defense as one num.

In the spirit and alacrity with which the peojile then acted, find to-day the continuous tluty of every loyal citizen.

The

ai)plaus('.

we

[Great

relicUion strikes at the existence of all govern-

I

our dearest interests ami

who may

represent the governnu'iit tor the time being.

enough that

it is in

hands

to

which

it

riiilits.

It

not

niatlers

ment and

at

It

is

has been committed by

25 the constitution.

our children

for the sake of social order

;

as a duty to those

who founded

have laid down their

and of

lives in this contest,

who

and who are

still

[Loud cheers.]

required by the present emergency.

is

obligation its

not all

is

There

also a

is

The

from the government to the people.

The government must not transcend

reciprocal.

is

;

souls

Loyalty of the people to the government, however,

loyalty, so to speak, due

for

civil liberty

and to the brave

it,

battling under the banner of the Union.

that

and

It is to be sustained for ourselves,

lawful powers, nor encroach upon the rights of the citizen.

warning voice of the past that gives the admonition.

It is the

The

history of civil wars

replete with examples of power,

is

ending in permanent

usurped under the plea of necessity, Therefore

military despotism.

it is

that the people are jealous

of power and jealous of their privileges. there

no

is

This

is

here

our guide.

still

not a war of conquest or subjugation.

is

us,

defining the limits of the one or the

difficulty in

The Constitution

other.

Fortunately for

Such a war

under any circumstances would be contrary to the nature and genius of our institutions, which are based upon the right of the people to self-government,

by

It

force.

the present instance the

pose on

the part

to restore the Its

tion

war

is

to dominion

for a definite object.

of the government

But

in

The pur-

can rightfully only be

supremacy of the laws and to disarm rebellion.

duty and authority

— " to

and are abhorrent

would be anti-republican and inhuman.

suppress

written in the constitu-

are plainly

insurrection."

If

the

war should

cease

to-morrow, the insurgents could not be held as a subjugated people.

They would be freemen, amenable

laws for their conduct, but

still

it is

true to the

freemen possessing

all the

rights of other citizens of the republic.

Measures, therefore,

adopted for

any other end than to

compel obedience to the constitution and laws of the general government, are unauthorized, and tend to weaken the cause

26 of the Union and to effect the object of the rebellion, of that

cially

which seek

to

fjspe-

unwarrantable character are those measures subvert

fundamental

the

of the

institutions

upon the return of peace and union those

states, so that

tutions will be abolished.

As a system of

I

refer

now

insti-

to tlonicstic slavery.

whether in peace or war, the

state policy,

general government can have nothing to do with

In a state

it.

of civil war, slaves of insurgents share the same fate as their

As

other property falling into the hands of the government. I

have previously observed, the government, in using coercive

measures, acts upon individuals and not upon the states

and

:

on the other hand, the acts of these states against the authority of the government are not binding upon their citizens.

Indis-

criminate measures, therefore, which emancipate the slaves of

Union men,

as well as rcliels, are unauthorized,

and can have

no other purpose than to exterminate the institution.

their allegiance, to to intensify the

pose

the

consent.

add

war.

left

is

to the

For

It

is

in rebellion,

men

of the

country

If slavery

political, it is

to leave

it

as an

to

be

by the

regulated

as their lathers left

it.

They

to the authority of the general

alone

and hence

their lives,

to

an

institution be

evil,

one which attaches not to them,

resistance

not

not

will

not that they regard slavery and slaveholders

war a :

and

the accomplishment of sui-h a pur-

by the Constitution

They wish

number of those

constitution-abiding

with special care.

moral and

men, who are slaveholders, from

absolve Union

to

is

efl'ect

Their

and the

it

states.

see in this

government

lives of their sons, are

be sacrificed for the abolition of slavery in the South,

any more than

The idea

for the aliolition of

of subjugation

is

scridom

in Russia.

hostile to the

whole

which ihe government should conduct the war.

piilicy Its

upon

measures,

while decided, should be with no spirit of comjuest or revenge.

The still.

citizens

of the South, however misled, are our brothers

The number of them engaged

in

the rebellion

is

too

27 'great, the vigor

much

too

and energy with which

it is

carried on, show

the sincerity of their feelings in their cause, their

temper and courage have been too thoroughly tested, to permit

them otherwise.

us to treat

their acts they

we

must indeed

The

We

long as they

suffer as

could not justify ourselves

destroy them.

legitimate consequences of

to

world

the

But

resist.

in seeking

to

should rather hold out terms of conciliation

and peace, and a return

to that paternity

them prosperous and strong

which made us and

— strong enough to

resist the

world

in arms.

The masses

of the Southern people have been led to believe

that the North meditates an interference with their state rights,

and

upon the rebellion, and

in that belief they have entered

have for two years successfully maintained their independence. Such

is

not the intention on our part

made by

;

yet no attempt has been

the government to undeceive them.

unconditional

submission

on their part.

It

No

demands an

proffer

of an

The people of the

opportunity for peace has been offered.

South should be made to understand that every advantage of

freedom and protection in their rights will be secured to them, in order that they

may

them by separation. tained,

nor would

our honor or dignity,

to

be unwise or unprecedented to extend to them the

it

olive branch.

We

must never forget that they are our coun-

trymen, bound to us by a common origin, a

a common language, and a common after a fair

culable

we

shall then stand

for the great effusion of

common

faith.

and honorable opportunity, a

be refused by them,

and man

to accrue to

In the position which they have main-

would not be derogatory

it

no benefit

see that there is

just

interest,

[Applause.]

If

accommodation

acquitted before

human blood and

God

the incal-

misery which the continuance of this conflict must

necessarily cause, until peace

and order be restored.

Affecting each of us personally and entirely indefensible

is

the attempt of the government to suppress opinion in regard to

28 and

its acts,

by martial law

to punish

tary or naval service. opinion.

means

It

and measures are necessarily the

policy

Its

subject of animadversion as well as tree

ol"

praise.

only by a

It is

and unrestricted discussion of them that a weak and imbe-

cile

administration can be changed

the people will not

among

us

know how

lur without iulbrmatiou

:

Mr. JolTorson went so

to act.

inaugural address, as to say

far, in his tirst

its

government of

a

is

change every lour years by that

subject to

is

alone.

citizens not in the mili-

This

[Applause.]

who would wish

republican form,

Union or

to dissolve the

is left

of the Union,

let

combat

free to

who wish

that if there are any

to

any

change

them stand undisturbed, as monuments

let

of the safety with which error of opinion

where reason

If tliere be

'•

:

it."

may

And

be tolerated

may we

so

make peace by

to

them stand undisturbed,

say,

the division

same reason.

for the

Such opiuions do not constitute treason or an offence against the

For the people have a

laws.

For

wise.

offences, such as the actual

their peril.

immunity

They have done

the

law

by the

The

in

so

encouragemeut

so,

and men violate those laws at

may

doing,

b^'

said or written.

they are punishable by

law alone.

It

is

There

government, applause.] habeas

(ir

is

no hiwful power in

all

The suspension of

corpus

does

in

the

authorize

not

any violate

the

but

a military

to

to

do

privilege of

The

it.

authorizes the suspension of that privilege

:

it.

is

safety

but that suspension

the law authorizing such suspension may provide trial,

[Loud

the writ of

public

extends no furthci" than to subject the party to the

gress in providing such a

law,

any department of the

them comljined,

of

If

monstrous to take a citizen for

any alleged offence whatever, and subject him court.

it

of insur-

rights of speech and the press do not import

tor wliatevcr

civil

they deem

if

laws under the power to suppress

rection, Congress can pass

insurrection.

their ultimate

right, in

character in convention, to adopt such a policy

trial :

which

and Con-

bound by the guarantees

:

29 secured to the citizen in the constitution, to give him a trial

according to the course of the

The idea

common

law.

that the President has any

may

determine when the public safety

power arbitrarily

require the imprison-

ment and condemnation by court-martial of a

;

— that belongs

representatives in Congress.

executed, and as a military military

to

men and

It

He

citizen,

to

is

is

not to judge

to the people

through their

place all our personal rights at his

of the public safety

to

feet.

his

is

commander

duty to see the laws to confine his

powers

The people have

military operations.

gone into the present contest for upholding the Union for the

sake

strange,

indeed,

if

liberty.

would be

It

they would surrender that to a military

[Applause.]

despotism.

But

— constitutional

of liberty

I will

When the invaders

pursue the subject no further.

are thundering at the gates of the Capital,

might seem an

it

barrassments but his

evil

we must counsels

have, however,

admit, his patriotism

and mistakes we

a present duty to

we

will not doubt,

perform before which

and the way

to

all

It is told of the

Roman, Fabius, when the great Carthaginian had

sight, defeated his rival,

We

must deplore.

other considerations must temporarily yield. old

ill-

His em-

timed censoriousness upon the President to say more.

in his

Rome seemed open

to

the victorious Hannibal, he addressed his soldiers in these terms

" If any of you have a regard for Miuucius, exert yourselves, for he deserves assistance for the love he bears his country.

in his haste he has committed any error, this find fault with him."

In the same

is

spirit,

the President in the impending struggle by

power

to

bestow, and our

not the time to

while

remonstrate against the invasion of our rights,

we

all

The present danger happily

we

firmly

will sustain

the aid in our

patriotic prayers for

against the enemies of the Union.

If

his

success

[Cheers.]

past, let us

hope

that- the

Gov-

ernment and people, pursuing in their respective spheres a

30 line of duty, patriotic

and

may, before anotlicr anniver-

just,

sary of this day, see our country again united and happy under the Constitution and Republican Institutions of our fathers, and

made stronger by

the sad experience of the last two years, put-

ting forever to silence the sneers

friends of freedom everywhere. shall not be realized,

;

[Applause.]

i^ut if this

hope

whatever disaster may now or hereafter Union,

befall the armies of the lic

and mockeries of the monarch-

and aristocrats of the world, and cheering the hearts of the

ists

but, conscious of right,

not despair of the Repub-

let us

and doing our whole duty to our

country, let us ever hold on to the Constitution and the Union in a spirit of conciliation,

submission to

and

hope of peace, but not by

in the

the demands of those who

[Loud

other terms than separation.

Thk Grand Sachem

no

anil continued cheers.J

then read a resolution, oftered by Col.

Delavan, conveying the thanks of

Murphy and

will have peace on

the

Fields, and to Messrs.

Society to Brothers

Morford and Perkins,

and also acknowledging the kindness of Messrs. Geary, Olney, « Father Reed's Quartette," and Messrs. Bristow and HardenBROOK.

The

resolution

was

enthusiastically adopted, as

was

also a resolution to publish the proceedings in pamphlet form.

GusTAVUS Geary then sang, in splendid style, the pathetic ballad, " Dear Mother, Tve come home to die,^^ which Mr.

was tumultuously encored, and " The Minstrel Boy."'

the

patriotic

Irish

melody of

After wiiich the " Star Spangled Banner'^

was sung by the Quartette,

the entire audience joining heartily

in the chorus.

This concluded the exercises in the large

Sachem PuRDY, invited them tiie

in thanking

and Grand

audience for their attention,

Tammany

Hall on the next recurrence of

when he hoped

they would celebrate the restora-

to visit

anniversary,

the

hall,

tion as well as the formation of

"The Union."

;

:

31

"THE BANQUET ROOM." A

splendid collation, including a sufficiency of punch, cham-

pagne and edibles of every description, had been prepared by Mr. Pearsall in the large room of the General Committee,

and the larger portion of

present

those

at

the

exercises

remained and partook of the good things so plentifully provided for them.

As soon

room was well

as the

filled,

and*

while the guests were occupied in partaking of the " Waters of

Hon. Horatio Seymour, Governor of

the Great Spring," the the State of

New York,

by the Grand Sachem

entered the room, and was introduced

to the

to the tumultuous cheers

and

assembled multitude.

In'

calls of the audience, the

answer

Governor

addressed them as follows

address of governor SEYMOUR. It gives

many tion,

me

Society on this occasion.

and

Tam-

great pleasure to meet with the members of I

thank you for

for the generous support

kind recep-

you have given me heretofore.

In these days of change and disorder hall of an institution

this

it is

cheering to enter the

which has outlived so many organizations

which stands almost the sole survivor of those which were founded at the time of

its creation,

itself.

influence

was never greater than

Rumors reach

which

Age has brought with

ernment

is it

no weakness.

its

Its

at this time.

us that our soldiers have gained great victories.

This society has a deep interest in every battle-field sent forth

Gov-

as old as the

;

for it has

sons at every call, and to-day, in pursuance of

orders, a large

number of

its

members are defending a

my

sister

State from armed invasion.

This society, during

its

long history, has embraced among

members, many of the most eminent men of our State.

its

It has

proved true, not onl^ to national honor, but also to the rights of the State, and the franchises of

its

citizens.

I

am happy

to

—

:

32 meet with

its

members on

this national anniversary,

have observed for so many years.

I give

which they

you

—

"Tammany

Society ancient, honorable, vigorous and patriever in the future, as in the past, prove true to the Constitution of our country, the flag of our Union, and the rights of the States." otic

may

:

it

After the cheering had subsided and the sentiment of the Gov-

Grand

had been received with "all the honors," the

ernor

Sachem announced

that the regular order would be proceeded

with, and gave the first regular toast:

Day we Celebrate

TiiK

Cniou

:

— May the

next anniversary of this

day be celebrated in every State of the

nioinorablc

recognizing the Constitution

in

the

spirit

in

—

was founded and the entire people of our now distracted land bound together in bonds of equality, concord and fraternity. which

To

it

Hon. Thomas C. Fields responded.

wiiich the

To

tlic

second regular toast:

—

—

The Soldier, Patriot and Statesman, Ilis name and services are imperishably identified witli the liberty, glory and prosperity of the American people.

\\'ashin(;T()N

Mr. IloSKA

:

IJ.

ri:i;Ki.\s

The theme upon which

responded as follows 1

have been invited

a somewhat hackneyed one.

Cau

the

Yet

1

:

to address

you

is

would ask the question

American people ever become satiated with the name of

Washington

.'*

Uiit.

nn the contrary, will not onr

aijinii-atioii

of liim iucrease as our country increases in population and extent, in greatness

and glory

;

and when our land

shall

become

the great centre of agriculture and commerce, of art and arms,

of science, literature ami song, will not.

men

tli<'n,

millions of free-

venerate the name of hini who was the master

laving

the

spiiil in

foundation of the Republic on the broad basis of

constitutional

liberty

f

True,

we ndght mention many who

!

33 have done good in their day, and

enduring impress

left the

of their character upon the age in which they lived

;

we

to Jeftersou,

point with pride to Franklin, the philosopher

the statesman all

and Jackson, the soldier and

;

unbidden, turn with their warmest

There

patriot, our hearts,

love to Washington.

hardly a being throughout the civilized world, that

is

knows anything,

Who

ter.

;

and, while

that

is

not somewhat familiar with his charac-

man who,

does not knoAv him as the young

at the

early age of twenty-one stepped forth the fearless and undaunt-

when

ed champion of his country's rights

;

men paled and cowered

enemies

before the

and,

stood firm as a god amid the ruins of a world

know him

other brave

of freedom,

Who

?

as the gallant leader of that heroic little

band that

December

crossed the Delaware on that dark, cold, and stormy night,

and won

for himself a

name

that will outlive, in history,

who

that of the three hundred brave Spartans

pass of

What,

Thermopylse.

he

does not

Sir, is the

fell at

the bloody

fame of the great

Athenian and Spartan, when compared with the imperishable halo of glory that encircles the brow of Washington. "

Rome had

its Csesar,

great and brave,

But stain was on his wreath

He

And

died the tyrant's death."

Yes, the lustre of the their

Roman

inhumanity to the conquered

of Washington loses none of

vengeful act.

Who

;

lived the heartless conqueror,

What

but, the

diadem on the head

brilliancy by any cruel or re-

Washington

earthly being so pure as

has given so much

tuman temptation?

its

conquests were tarnished by ;

proof that he

was

so far above

Napoleon, wonderful as he was

originality of his intellect

—

grand and powerful

edge him to have been in genius and

skill

as all

—-could

the highest pinnacle of earthly renown, for his

"moral grandeur

that

makes the mighty man."

all

in the

acknowl-

never reach

was not that Napoleon was

the representative of a wild and furious democracy, that burst

34 forth like a heaving volcano in the sunny land of France

but

;

"Washington was the embodiment of those great principles of civil

and religious

liberty, so dear to us all.

His transcendent

character has inspired the lips of the orator, and guided the

pen of the poet.

It called

homage of Old Albion's

forth the

gifted child of song, "when he wrote the imniorlal lines: "

Can tyrants but by tyrants conquered be, And Freedom find no champion and no Such

as

Columbia saw

Sprung

arise

forth a Pallas,

child,

when she

armed and uudefiled

?

"Or must such minds be nourished in the wild Deep in the unpruned forest, 'midst the roar Of cataracts, where nursing Nature smiled

On

infant Washington."

my

Let US then,

great

those

and at whatever

Constitutional

Washington and

liberties

his compatriots.

us

to

by

my fellowGovernment go down in

anarchy and blood to an ignoble grave. fair

O

maintain

cost, to

bequeathed

Never,

democrats, let the light of this noble

this

Let

fellow-citizens, emulate his character.

us resolve, at every hazard,

never,

Uphold the

pillars of

temple of our liberty in your day and generation (at

least) as a

home

for the exile

and wanderer from any land.

" In the long vista of years to come,

May we not see our country's honor fade. may she retain lier soul, her freedom, And not Freedom's shade!"

But

Whenever we,

as a nation, cease to cherish the

memory of

Washington, then, indeed, will the stars of heaven shine upon an ungrateful and degenerate race. from the canvas —yon a^vjiv

— Coluinbia's

hills

bf truinbled into dust

11 is

image may

statue of bronze and granite

—

may,

in

tlie

fade

may moulder

desolating march

<jf

time,

yet, while there lives in God's bright

earth a solitary bi'ing whose heart beats to the transports of liberty,

Washington

will be to

him the great exemplar of

all

—

:

35 that

is

pure, patriotic, and glorious

Noble Washington, great

!

Old Mother Earth never nurtured

champion of Liberty!

Heaven never admitted

on her kindly bosom a truer patriot. within

To

its

the

radiant gates a more God-like

spirit.

third regular toast

— —

The Constitution

op the United States: It was founded and equal rights it must be obeyed by the Government as well as by the people. in a spirit of justice

Mr. Herny L. Clinton responded as follows

Grand Sachem, Brothers low Democrats

Tammany Society and Fel-

of the

:

Since the last commemoration of our national birth-day, the

Tammany

Society, the

New

York, of

and of the North and West, have had great cause for

the State

When we

rejoicing.

skies

Democracy of the City of

met, one year ago to-day, the political

were shrouded in black, the whole land was overspread

with darkness.

But when the news of election after election

traveled over the country on the wings of lightning, that darkness

was followed by the

light of

Democratic reason, until at

length the political firmament was studded with the stars of

The heart of every Democrat leaped

Democracy.

Avith joy to

liehold shining forth, with resplendent lustre, that polar-star of

national

Democracy

So long as our the

Union

— Horatio Seymour. It

is safe.

ents take courage,

Democracy arose

by that

star,

can defy the rocks of secession and the

quick-sands of black republicanism.

from power in

[Tremendous applause.]

political pilots steer their course

[Applause,]

Our oppon-

and would fain believe that although the

in their

might and swept republican fanaticism

this State, yet they (the republicans) as a party,

only met with a slight reverse.

Their notion of the defeat of

their party in this State reminds

me

accident

Smith,

I

of the description of an

have somewhere seen, which read like

who was standing on

this:

"Mr.

the platform of a railroad car,

36 wlion

traiu rapiilly tiirucd a curve in the road.

tlio

with great violence on the ground and broke his

dashed

\va?

7iec/c.

Ibrtu-

Itut

uately received no further injury.'*

Were

there need that any one be admonislied of the necessity

and imperative duty of maintaining the unity of the Democratic party,

him but remember that

lot

prosperity of the country

:

prosperity has been the

its

whenever that party has encountered In 18G0, the

defeat, disaster has befallen the nation.

cratic party

was rent

in twain

:

Demo-

soon, very soon, our beloved

country Avas torn asunder and subjected to

war, although the Democracy had done

all tlie evils

all in their

of civil

power

(ex-

cept to concentrate their whole political force upon a single

war, yet, when enraged,

ticket, at the last election.) to avert this

insolent, organized

upon the

flag of

and God-defying treason insulted and

fired

our nation, the Democracy, as one man. sprang

to arms, rushed to

the National

the support of

with a noble patriotism which sank

all

(lovernment,

party ditfercnccs, in the

single indomitable determination that the authority of the laws

should be restored, that the glorious stars and stripes should flout in

triumph over

all

parts of our country, and that at all

hazards the Union and the Constitution should

be preserved.

[Great

applause.]

True, their beau-ideal of a L'nion was not a union of pestilent abolitionism

and fire-eating secession,

born fanaticism and infernal treason,

— not a union of

— not

hell-

a union crimsoned

with the blood of helj>less children and defenseless women,-

not

a union seen thi-ough the blazing tires of a servile insurrection,

enveloping the hal>itations of millions of people, but a l'nion such as cxisteil in the halcyon days of the repulilie. -a union of

— a union of prosj>ority, — — a union unfading

interests,

of

gloi'v.

wliieli

a

union of atleetion.

was

liorn

a

union

of the ncH'CSsitics

of the people, which was rocked in the craille of the Revolution

of

'7<).

and which grew

to

powerful manhood, under the foster-

ing protection of the Constitution of the United States.

and long continued applause.]

[Loud

—

;

37

The Constitution would be day

A

!

to rehearse

noble theme

!

To recount

merits

its

the history of the nation from its natal

to the present hour.

It

is

that sacred instrument which

has given us our domestic prosperity and greatness, and secured for us our

proud name among the nations of the earth.

sentiment,

"The

The

Constitution must and shall be preserved,"

indelibly written on the heart of the Democracy,

is

ijigrained in

Overthrow the Constitution and you cannot

their very being !

long avert the decay of Democracy and the irretrievable ruin of the country. It

was

to prevent such a calamity

was impending over this

us,)

that, last

(which wise men believed

Autumn, the Democracy of

great metropolis rallied in their might, as they had never

done before, and rolled up a majority of over thirty-one thousand in favor of placing in the gubernatorial chair Horatio

Seymour, the great champion of liberty and the Constitution, " now and forever, one and inseparable."

Most fortunate

and nation

[Great applause.] that the

Empire

City gave to the Empire State of this glorious Union a

Demo-

cratic

for the State

Governor who knows how

it is,

to hold the reins of

guide the State to prosperity and renown. since the Republican

power and

It is but a

few days

Governor of Pennsylvania called upon our

Democratic Governor for military aid, to protect that State from the invasion, plunder and devastation of the rebel hosts.

nobly did our Democratic Governor respond. that while he will protect the citizens of the their legal

and Constitutional

rights, he

He

Most

has shown

Empire State

in

stands ready to aid

with the iron hand of military power, in crushing the rebellion

and with extraordinary promptness, he sends the brave militia of

New York

to protect the soil of a sister State

from the un-

hallowed tread of the armed legions of Southern treason. [Loud applause.]

But

in fighting the treason of the South, it

part of his mission, nor

wage war against

is it

is

no

the destiny of the Democracy, to

the liberty of the North.

Let the Democ-

J

38 racy sustain the Government in

and the good old ship of

measures,

and Constitutional

all its legal

against which the

state,

billows of fanaticism dash with remorseless fury, will yet outride the storm.

The time

for

a Presidential election will soon come,

the voice of the People will be heard uttering the

vacate

to

and

Lincoln

President

high places

the

make room

in

whom

those in

for

composing

those

the

gift

when

mandate

of the

and

nation,

Our

can confide.

the peoi)le

to

administration,

his

Republican friends will then no longer deny that the people one

with

accord

statesman of Americii.

|

Seymour

Horatio

prochiiin

the 4th of March.

on

hests of

people,

the

may not

18«).^,

when,

(lovernmcnt,

dig out the jtriceless Jewel of the nolilest

faliric

the

expressed

meantime,

may

tlif'ii-

bethe

to

branches of duty

first

— liberty — from

beneath

world ever saw

— the

let the

to

the ruins

Constitution

Democracy slacken not

patriotism, but continue manfully to

iiiKJ

all

not be their

the

through

[Applause.

of the I'uited States! In the

it

be such, that

obedience

in

constitutionally

ballot box. the Hcmocracy take possession of

the National

God grant

Tremendous applause. J

that the condition of our institutions

foremost

tlie

in their zeal

the

tight

battles of

country, and preserve our beloved, time-hallowed, bloodriiioH

sealed

|(Irrat

:

Union

a

a|')phiuse|

which

for

over

three (piarters of a century has brought us prosperity, greatness, glory,

and has given us the

first

rank

the family of

in

nations.

To

paraphrased)

of

our

chosen chief, the (iovcinor of our State, "Therefore

it is

that

we

lioii'ow

tell

vou.

servative colunnis

the

and

jiarty

of

Heaven than

llic

it

language

\vc tell

the

(he

(slightly

whole world, that

Democracy

I'liion.

Wc

will

was before, and from

greatness, there shall ever

erect

will lilt

it

great con-

the

shattered

liiLdici-.

its lofty

wave your

this

still

nearer

top and growing

nation's flag, with every

star

— —

:

:

and every

stripe that has

and whatever other parties

country;

derful progress of our

may

been placed there in the won-

and the breaking

say— as for the division of the Union,

up of that great natural

God

nature's

— the

alliance,

which

is

made by nature and

Democracy will never consent

to

it.

No,

never, as long as they have a voice to raise or a hand

to fight

Permit me

to con-

[Loud applause.]

for this glorious land."

clude with a toast

" Horatio Seymour and the Constitution of the United States the mandates of the other constitute the creed of the Democracy and the immortality of the [Enthusiastic and prolonged applause.] nation!" !

— The teachings of the one and

The Grand Sachem then gave

The Federal Government

:

the fourth regular toast

— We

will continue to render to

Government our earnest and united support in the use of all legitimate means to restore the Union as it was, and maintain the Constitution as it is.

the

And

introduced the Hon.

Edwards Pierrepont, who spoke

as follows

Grand Sachems and Gentlemen op the Tammany Society I do not know who wrote this toast, but I know that it was :

printed before the news of these splendid victories of the Union

reached

us,

and

I

have observed that

Tammany is

not accustom-

ed to wait for events to shape her principles, but she boldly

announces her principles and leaves events to be directed by the " Great Spirit "

who

will do all things well.

responding to this toast.

United States"

to

It

is

— but

have joy in

the

which we pledge our "earnest and united

— not to man, nor to any of men do we owe — not to men nor any of men will we pay allegiance

support:" giance

the

I

" Government of

set

to

to

the Government ;

with one united heart,

Have you ever consequence

if

we

alle-

set

'tis

our Government, and to that,

give our full and earnest support.

considered, fellow-citizens,

what would be the

the democratic party should withdraw

its

sup-

!

40 port IVora the Government

have taken some pains to k'ani,

1

/

from the best sources, something of the aiul

I

men

can assure you, that of the gaUaut battle, a

to

who have

soldiers

left

homes

their

And have you

!

war

Sumter

a separate

—

their

If

that

life,

the

Southern mind that they sufier

in

— inevitafur tiiat

For that they

for that they

;

had long on

Fort

fight

like

that they tired

for

every sacrifice and

and on that they stake

;

withdraw

tiicni

the South deterndned

and independent Government.

fur

brave men

Let

Dissolution

?

The leading statesmen of

scattered the Charleston Convention

prepared

to peril their lives in this

The war was begun

dissolution of the Union.

definite end.

have

lead our

considered what consequence would

swiftly follow such ending to this

to

who

from the Government and the war would end

their support

an hour

officers

vast majority are democrats; of the brave

large majority are democrats.

conflict, a

ble

politics of our urniv,

their hopes, their jtride,

their all

you will look at the map of the United States you

two great nations cannot

will see

and preserve a vestige of

live

freedum between the great lakes and the (iulf of Mexico: there coukl be no lasting peace, and without peace there could be no

Between the Lakes and the Gulf there

freedom long. dividing line the

our

the waters of the

;

Xorth through the South rivers

in

great rivers roll

— can

we

the possession of an

Monroe which threatens New York,

live

enemy

the

all

not a

with the mouths of Shall

?

Fortress

mouth of the Chesapeake

Bay, the Capes of Florida, the entrance to

Gulf of Mexico, the command of

is

down from

tlie Mississipjii.

the

our trade with California,

with South America, with Cuba, the "West Indies, the entire I'acific

Ocean and with nearly

foreign power, whii-h

may

at

all

Do you imagine

be

helil

by a

any time become an insolent and

Shall New Orleans, hostile foe? free ports, and Boston, New York

by a tarifl?

the world

Norfolk and Baltimore be

and Philadelphia be closed

that the

Xorth

will long

remain

41

West

united with the

we have made an

after

ignoble peace with

?

There can be no peace except on terms of Union.

The sun

that sets on an ignoble peace will never rise on a

the South

When

nation of freemen.

wipe the dust from her

ignoble peace

is

on the North and

feet

made Liberty flee

away

will

forever.

Great standing armies, enormous disbursements by Government, oppressive taxes and a great rival nation by your side with

which you may at any time be at war, are sure and swift destroyers of liberty.

[Applause.]

This war has lasted much longer than

pated

;

but,

battle between those of kindred blood,

over the

field

"

of strife

at first antici-

On each

And

;

it is

and could we hover

we

side could trace

Some lineaments

I

many

remember, we have been fighting Americans

of the

same brave

father's face,

in their spirit all of him."

rejoice that the South, since fight they would,

valiantly; they are

day when, side by

my

have fought

countrymen, and I look forward to the

North and South

the

side,

shall

contend

against the arrayed despots of the world and tell with pride

how bravely each past away. I

side fought in the

mad

civil

wars which are

This Union will be restored by honorable peace.

have seen families contend about estates with such bitterness

that brother would wish to tear a brother's heart, yet finally the controversy find that

when

their sister

the union for her defense

with us North.

if

we

time soothes the hate, and the brothers

is settled,

is

is

assailed, the past is forgiven

cordial and complete.

are true to our

So will

manhood and stand united

and it

be

at the

[Loud Cheers.]

Tell our Government, and those that they dare not

who cry

make ignoble peace

" stop the war,"

— they dare not meet the

brave soldiers returning from the war, whose valor they would disgrace by a disgraceful peace 6

— they dare not look into the re-

42 proachful eyes of the wives, the daughters,

widows of those who, leaving

war with for

hands

life in their

all

tlie

the

to

and union

to fight for that liberty

which our fathers died.

ami the

sisters

most dear, went down

[Great applause.]

Those entrusted with the present administration of our (Jov-

No

ernmeut have received extremest censure. faults, tliese

many

are dillicult times

war, and

it is

earnest

;

to

mind

the public

many an

efforts

many

doubt

errors have been conmiitted, but is

excited, this

is civil

Honest men and patriots will

easy to find fault.

pass over lightly in

many

mistakes,

error which

preserve the

may have been committed

integrity

beloved

of our

country.

Many

a life-long democrat, too,

is

severely censured for the

errors which he has committed while engaged

nance of our Government.

I

see in this Hall,

mainte-

in the

on the right of

the immortal "Washington, the almost equally immortal llenry

Clay, and ins look from the canvas recalls

vote in Congress; suffrages,

them

if

and

was

he

offering

his constitufor

hiia

himself again

vote had lost him their favor,

his

for

his

their

lie asked

they had a gun which had served them long and well

winch had saved

which had never failed in

their lives,

which had never misseti

fire,

throw the gun away

?

Kentucky

till

is

the })ast fidelity fiint

and

and

:

aim, off,

trust,

try the

llenry Clay continued to represent

he died.

way

but one

to

You cannot

of the States.

a subject race denies that.

all

or would they pick the

old faithful piece again?

its

but should once snap and not go

whether they would, forgetting

There

when

Kentucky, sharply censured

ents, the hunters of

— no power

i)o

an honorable peace, and a re-union bring back the Southern people as

can do that

you think that

land were heartily united, that

if

all

New

no right mimied man "^'ork

and

New

{"lug-

the rest of the States could

— impose serfdom, or sell a white man for debt? No more can we subjugate the South. We can break their

subjugate them

.'

-

— 43

we can close their sea ports and destroy their prosperity; but make them a conquered people, with unequal they are of our own blood, born with unconquerrights, never But they have sense, and when beaten in able loTC of freedom. military power,

;

the field,

and when they see that separate government

is

hopeless,

and that there can be no peace without union, peace can then [Loud applause.]

come and without disunion. I

would pledge my

all

—my

life

— that

peace would come in

ninety days if the North with one united voice would say to the

" Division

South

:

of us

all,

end

this

is

impossible,

unnatural

our fathers made, under which

fatal to the prosperity of

it is

return to the Union which

strife,

we have been

so long blest,

and

every right which the Constitution gave shall be faithfully and

But one country we will have from

sacredly preserved to you.

the lakes to the Gulf, and for that

mined heart and soul If that voice

we

will fight with one deter-

[Cheers.]

until the last syllable of time."

was honest

it

would be heard, and

would bring a speedy and an honorable peace

;

if

heard

it

the clouds of

rebellion which have blotted the Southern constellations from the sky

would

roll

away and

primal brightness, and

their stars

this majestic

would shine

in all their

nation would again

move

on towards the fulfilment of her great destiny.

To

the fifth regular toast

—A

wise, patriotic of the State op New York and gallant leader. His career amid the trying duties of this dark period in our history is a bright example of his honesty, capacity and fidelity, worthy of the Empire State and of the great Democratic Party which

The Governor

:

elevated him to power.

The audience loudly called for Governor Seymour to respond, who, after silence was restored, eloquently addressed the enthusiastic assembly,

and in the course of

his speech

received

repeated assurances from the audience of their continued approbation and support.

—

—

—

44

The

was then given

sixth regular toast

The City

Xkw York

of

:

— Renowned

throuehoiit the world

standard of her good advanced still higher by the conduct of her thousands who have rallied in defense of those institutions which give security to her prosperity. fur her eomincriial
name

To which To

is

Hon. Samuel

the

J.

Tilden responded.

the seventh regular toast

The Democratic Party

:

— Upon

its

uuion and success depend

He wiio would seek to of the Republic. lower its standard of patriotism and principle, or to distract and divide its councils, is an enemy to the future

the

country.

The Hon. Robert It is

C.

impossible for

Hutchings spoke

me

just been proposed, for

it

to

opens a

field so

He who would

vast that

much

less

is

could not

it

upon an occa-

speak justly of the democratic

party must repeat the pages of the history of history

:

respond fully to the toast which has

be replied to even in a series of orations, sion like this.

as follows

that of the country from

the year

tiie

Republic. Its

1787

presentative spirit of a sectional revolutionary, because sectional Jetl'erson,

March,

to

1861, when the chief of a new political dispensation

and levolutionary

ascended to the seat

— the rej)arty tilled

by

Madison, Monroe, Jackson ami others of the long and

illustrious line

of democratic presidents, and those few others

of a dilTeront ritual, but acknowledging the same great national

I'aitli.

i-

It

union, peace union,

civil

histoi'v of the

tlir

ami

[tri>sperity,

strife,

for so long,

and of

hail

(lie

in

the days

of

its

not of these latter days of dis-

and disaster.

pure Republic which

(•(tiiiitry

It is

the history of the only

ever existed, visioned and contended

only people

mysteries of self-government

who had ever fathomed

— not the history

of the

last

the

two

years, of the [)roniineiamentoes of military eensoi's, the edicts

of praetors and

the

imperial rescripts, uiudelcd after those of

45 ancient Emperors, and like those supreme aboTC the Constitution, the

This was never the record of

laws and the people.

the democratic party through

its

representative chiefs.

gov-

It

erned with only the delegated and defined powers of the Constitution, based

upon the limitations of authority

essence of all free political institutions. as in peace, in prosperity, greatness,

and

— the secret and governed

It

guarantees of personal freedom and local rights. the dangers of centralization

many governments.

It

— the

in

war

in recognition of the

avoided

It

seed of destruction to so

recognized the States in the language

of Jeflferson, the inspired apostle of the democratic faith, to be " coordinate parts of one simple and integral whole " in the

—

belief

and practice of which there was a long reign of union,

peace, and prosperity, until the faith of the

was

substituted.

when

This was

in the history of

happy people?

its

policy as

it

new

was

its

dispensation

Where was

there ever

And

record.

mankind was there such a

free

and

made

a nation that

such a national advance in such a short duration of time

Spreading over a greater territory position,

because

it

was not

creator of commonwealths

free

institutions,

in ancient or

it

grander

prouder sway

ruled by the moral influence of

and not by

three-quarters of a century

a

to

the destroyer of States, but the

— commanding with a

than an imperial one, because its

— reaching

'?

its

sword, in

what took

little

the only rival

modern days a thousand years of

more than it

has had

contest.

That greatness, power and glory of the nation

is

of the past

with the greatness, power and glory of the democratic party.

When toric

the latter descended the steps of the capitol on

the his-

and ever mournful day the chosen apostle of the new

faith

ascended, attended with no auguries of another cycle of union,

peace and prosperity, but surrounded with armed power bol of his aggressive creed estate of greatness,

and

— the nation decended from

its

once resplendent banner

from the capitol of a disintegrated Republic.

— sym-

its

high

waved

40'

Who new

would exchange the great realization? of the

of

fruits

democratic creed, for

the

faith

— that

faith

which seemed

great philosopher of

Germany

and heathen

"This

faith:

be prophecied by the

to

in his dissection of a fanatical

of misconceived

Paraclete

false

promise and idle phantasy, brought and announced a prophet without miracles, a

past, the

the promises of the

all

t(»

the world,

without mysteries, and a

faith

morality without love, which has encouraged the thirst of blood,

and which began and terminateil

Who,

ality."

in

in the

most unbounded sensu-

review of that illustrious past in comparison

with the miserable present, except the fanatic, would not exclaim

" Better a cycle of democratic supremacy than a thou-

:

sand years of the abolition visioned paradise,

if

we have

to

pass through such seas of blood, and sutler under such tyranies

and humiliations,

to rcaeh

the gates of the anticipated

which open into the promisctl land of universal

Union and

cijuality

freedom ?" But the democratic party

iinist

not be content at this time

with the mere retrospections of the grand

It

i)ast.

must deal

with the sad realities of the present, and the dangers of the future to

the shattered

commonwealth.

opposition and detestation

and patriotic

so justifiable

foolish

and fanatical mou who are now

central

Government,

sacrifice

the

laden with the freight of a nation.

less

This polity

of its

watch

all time.

— so high above

all

who pray

polity

—

our heritage.

It is

the peer-

poor oppressed

toil-

for the success of the Republic

others in the magnitude of the blessings or

il('p(Mid

upon

it,

ami whicli

the balance," like the ancient Rc{mblic

whole earth."

to the

of the

It is

for its overthrow, as well as to the

ers of the world, and

miseries which

is

—

lieliii

its

— even in these days — to the despots and i)arasites of absolutism who

heritage of liberty to mankind. humiliation

the

at

great American

the heritage of our i»ostrrity for

It is

must not in

It

Let our statesuien, then, "

'•

hang trcm])ling

— the

"Tower unlike Kdmund

in

of the

Burke,

47 never give up to party what was meant for mankind." polity

— the

This

ultimate conception and perfect realization, the

masterpiece of civil structure, to which the political dreamers, thinkers and philosophers of all ages contributed parts, which

were joined together by the statesmen of our party, of a preBut in our respect for the

ceding era, was meant for mankind.

federal authority whenever constitutionally exercised, let us be

jealous of the dignity and honor of our

own

the defender of our persons

is

authority

ever ambitious and encroaching.

is

of our State

is

the

bulwark of our

of local self-independence

And

forever.

occupies

is

in

State.

It is

and homes.

State which

The sovereignty The reservations

liberties.

when parted with are parted with

the proud position which this great State

not only the

present triumph of

the

democratic

party, but the promise of its future national restoration. the position

which she assumes

invitation, but

our

Central

it is

in the

For

not one of entreaty, nor of

is

form of an imperial mandate.

Let

our party continue to educate the people in the principles of civil liberty

— lessons which history with

us are more important in the eras of

its

sad warnings shows

war than

also teach our armies, as they are not taught

in peace,

and

from the seats of

federal power, the true and original policy of the war, so that

they

may bear

in

place of the results of a barbaric warfare,

the promises confirmed by their acts that wherever their eagles

are planted in triumph the blessings of the old Union shall follow.

Upon

the success of the democratic party depends the resto-

ration of the

History ters of a

is

Union

the

argument of

century.

by men of a the argument.

— not merely

in its forms, but in its essence.

this

—

The record of

different

faith

for

This polity of ours

the history of three-quar-

the government, controlled the last two is

when administered by wise and conservative men.

When

thus administered,

it is

years,

is

also

only perfect and enduring as well as strong

stronger and more endur-

1

48

When

iug than muiuireliies or despotisms.

helm, shape

its

its

men

the

wiio are at

away from

policy and gnide its destines

the

constitutional moorings, and are sectionalists or fanatics, it

is

"voyatring" like France, as described by Lamartine, "to un-

known

two of

seas,''

are however known, anarchy and

wliicli

military despotism.

Let

us, then,

on

this

day

— the anniversary of

and on which the creed of

irave conception to the Republic,

democracy was proclaimed to the

world

our best generals

— renew

our covenant

and fanaticism may seem

Tliougii imbecility

("nion.

cDiitrdl. thitULih

to the

day which

tiie

may

to

be forced to rest with

swords in their scabbards because they believe in our

their

faith, let us

not falter in devotion to our heritage.

not the responsibility rest on us.

lost, let

If

it is

If the Republic

to be is

to

pass away, the historian as he gathers up the records of our

patriotism and the heroism of our soldiers, will place no censure

upon

us, Ijut will

write this

epitaj)li

:

"That

it

died because

its

rulers

hated the democratic party more than they loved the

Union

!"

It

the

ha? been lieautifully said, that there

month of July delightful

freedom

— not only

is

many great overthrows

dom.

There

is

every friend of

day of disenthralment, and the

to us as our

destruction of the Bastille to France, but a for

a fragrance about

anil refreshing to

month memorable

of tyranics and sacrifices to free-

an inspiration

in

covenanting on

this

day

to the

cause of a ro-united Rojiublic.

The

(JiiANH Sachk.m then

announced the eighth regular toast:

Thk Akmv

of Till-: Unitkd States: - Raised and organized from volunteer civilians after a long era of j)eace, it has in spite of imbecility and criminal mismanagement on the part of the (lovernment, excelled in courage, t'udurancf and gallant achievements the veteran arnues of

l!lll-o|ie.

(leneral \\'m;i> GttANit

II.

l>ri:Ni;TT lu-ielly res|ionded as follows:

Sacuhm.

P)Uotiii:ks

and

Fki.f.ow

Cointuvmk.n

:

—

49

my

thank you for the cordial manner in which you welcome

humble name.

In responding to the toast just offered by our

worthy brother, tained

in

Having served

it.

forces of the

and proper

cannot endorse

I

of the sentiments con-

all

and volunteer

in the regular

United States for several years,

to say a

it

is

but right

few words in their behalf, on an occasion

of this kind, to cheer our army

onward and

keep alive the

to

memories and deeds achieved by the army of the United States

on many a hard

fought

may

well as

hereafter,

as

in

field,

those who may emulate And whatever may " who do not go

order

now

those

the achievements of the victorious past.

be

individual

the

down any

opinions

of

to the fight," it does not

way

be in any

reflection, or

those

that

serving,

—

become me,

as a soldier, to cast

associated with an idea or pur-

pose calculated to cast any reflection on the conduct or action of those to

our armies.

whom

are entrusted the direction or

The conduct

of the war, the course of the adminis-

tration or questions pertaining to discuss

—

the question of

left to the

gallant army

many

a

how

I leave to the citizen to

go in that direction

it

of the present and

has b^en

camp and many a

can give

it,

far he can

judgment of the individual with

With many

lities.

my humble

management of

my good field,

to

be

all its responsibili-

past leaders of our

fortune to be associated in

and without being invidious

I

testimony, that for military genius, per-

sonal bravery and courage, they

may proudly

challenge com-

parison with any army ever organized in ancient or modern times

;

their history

country's history.

and deeds are written on every page of our

And

national holiday, which

I

we

trust

and hope that on

are here to celebrate,

this

may be

gurated by our gallant armies, a series of victories, the of

which will be the return of our rebellious brethren

allegiance, so that

on our next anniversary we may

with our national poet — " we now have

all

our

inaueft'ect

to their

exclaim

—

:

;

50

A

"

union of hearts, a union of hands,

A union

A

of States

none can sever

union of lakes, a union of lands,

And

the Flag of our

/

To the ninth reguh\r toast The Xavy of the United States lustre to the reputation

:

'nion forever I"

—

added additional had beibre achieved

It has

which

it

against an insolent foreign foe.

Captain Isaiah Rynders responded.

The Grand Sachem announced Religious Liberty

:

— The

patriotism, at whose

whose image

And

called upon

it is

Cyril

the tenth regular toast:

parent

the

ol'

common

creed of worship, and at

may

altars all

no idolatry to kneel. II.

Brackett

to respond,

who was

received with loud applause, and spoke as follows

Grand Sachem and Friends :^As feel

it

an humhle democrat

no ordinary compliment to he invited to

within the time-honored walls of

I

address you

Tammany, where

so often in

the past have been heard the shouts of triumph for victories

which have assured religious and

civil

liberty.

"We belong to

man

for his birth or

that proud old party which ostracises no religious opinion.

Stand lirmly the hope of

in

the ranks of the democratic party which

men struggling

Another prcnidontial canvass

will give the nation an Executive

as wise, efficient and honest as our ill

thi'

jifrson

member and celsior." fearless

name

is

own

of a Governor, whose

glorious State presents \tv'n\v

it

is

to

ever re-

act in reference to the motto of the State

11 is

is

throughout the world.

for rights

— "Ex-

most enduring wreaths have been won by a

performance

of constitutional

a household word of alVeetion

obligations,

in the

homes

ol"

and

his

the hills

and valleys of a neighboring commonwealth. Fanaticism and intolerance stand rebuked by Statesmen will

who

not allow rights to be assailed, or freemen persecuted for

exercising their rights.

—

——

51

The writings and the memory of

Thomas opinion

this

is

to be tolerated

and though in

it;"

by

Jefferson, are revered

the illustrious Statesman,

He

all.

where reason

his time he

age has done justice to

was

said

is left

assailed

his opinions,

" Error of

:

free to

and

combat

reviled, yet

— they are adopted by

the intelligent freemen of this land.

The church and the meetings of tions

American freemen, will remain sacred

and while a

;

the school-house, the courts of justice,

civil

institu-

and free speech will pass unscathed

free press

through the storms of

and

war,

— the puny

efforts of those

who

would destroy them will be remembered only with contempt.

One year from to-day we 'tis

—mourning

true, "

The brave, who sink

With yet

shall here assemble,

all their

prepared to battle for the Constitution and the Union,

still

and upon the eve of a victory, whose

To

to rest

country's honors blest,"

you.

Grand Sachem, who

fruits will

be enduring.

for a quarter of a century

stood firmly by this organization, too

much

have

credit cannot be

Your years

awarded, and for one I give you hearty thanks.

have been well passed, and the patriotism you have evinced in the past will be

With the abiding kindness which summoned me to speak will

remembered

confidence that the

in the future.

generously pardon any errors, I bid you

all

good day.

The Grand Sachem them gave the eleventh regular

The Press:

toast

—The

enemy of despotism and the pioneer and defender of freedom, it will live to vindicate its power and impart instruction, when military censors and order

of suppression exist but in historical infamy.

To which

the

Hon. Conrad Swackhamer responded.

The twelfth regular

Woman

:

— As

toast

mother,

was then announced

sister,

wife

or daughter

— the

most

charming solace of our hearts. Col.

George W. McLean responded

to

this toast as follows

:

52

Brothers:

—

consent, but not without some hesitation and

I

my

doubt as to

comply with the order of our much

ability, to

beloved and venerable Grand Sachem, to respond to the senti-

ment which has "

Woman,

just been

drunk

as mother,

How With

daughter, the most

!"

and yet how nmch

brief the sentiment,

the dear

wile, or

sister,

charming solace of our hearts

name of mother crowds

all the

it

expresses.

pleasing and fond

recollections of early childhood upon our memories,

and touch-

ing the sympathetic chords of our hearts, carries us back

to the

now missing voice filled our young who watched by us and prayed for us as

days when the sound of that hearts with joy, she

we

slept,

and with blessings and good wishes asked the protec-

tion of the Father of us all for her child

and dangers which surround smiling thanked

Does not

God

anguish, were forget for a

and

shared by her

moment

affection

prompt

us

ever

to

and happiness, our sorrows and

our joys

all

and amid tears of anxiety,

us,

that he had blessed her witli an offspring.

gratitude

filial

remember how

from the temptations

not a pleasant duty to

Is it

?

the busy present, to return to the past, and

dwell for a time on that charming solace of our hearts, the

memory of mother?

fond recollections that cling round the " 'Tis thus,

And

though wooM by

fed

This heart,

With

Woman,

with fame

my own

(if

flattering friends

fame

be)

it

dear mother bends

love's true instinct

as sister, wife, or

back

to theo."

daughter, or sweetheart,

may

I

add, what a charming solace to the more nuitured heart of man,

who, having mourned the comfort

have

in the society

little

Without her

life

fall to

the

to dispel

the

and

would

charm, no hope, no joy, and man's sorrows no

balmy comforter which

loss of mother, still fnids delight

of the sex.

soft,

dark shadows of disappointment

lot of all, only to

be removed by the

warm

— 53

human sympathies

of woman's heart.

As

the first genial rays

of the sun dispels the gray mist of the morning, so sorrow and

sighing

fly

away and give place

homes, by the soothing presence of

woman and

happiness and peaceful the influence of

the influence of the love and passions which throb

only in woman's heart, then let

to

woman and

every well

let the toast

be dear woman, and

bumper be drained

filled

to

the

dregs in

honoring her. "

Then raise, raise the goblet in transport, The spell of life's best joys impart. The cup thus devoted to woman Proves the only true balm to the heart. toast, be dear woman. manly approve. Then the toast, then the toast, be dear woman. And nine cheers for the girls that we love."

Then the

toast,

then the

Let each heart that

is

The Geand Sachem then gave

the thirteenth and last regular

toast

The Tammany

Society

:

— In

its

very foundation identified with

the establishment of the Union, ever faithful to its obligations, she has added another proof of her devotion by sending forth her sons to protect and maintain it.

Which was responded

At

to

by the Hon. Samuel B. Garvin.

the conclusion of the last speech

Grand Sachem Purdy

adjourned the meeting until next year, " at the same time and place,"

and the audience separated, having given three hearty

cheers

for the

Governor, three for the Grand Sachem, three

for the Orator of the

Day, three more

and, finally, three times three for the their celebration.

for

General McClellan,

Tammany

Society and

54

LKTTERS FROM

HIS

.

EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR SEYMOUR. State of

Nkw

York, Executive Department,

Alhasy, June

—

30, 1863.

}

received your invitation to attend the celebration of thi' Eighty-sevt-ntli Anniversary of our Naticuial Independence at Tammany Hall. IJet'ore the receipt of your letter, I liad accepted an invitation to speak with other perMUis at the Academy of Music on the same occasion. If it is po.ssihle, I will he at Tammany Hall at some time during your celebration. I shall be most happy tu unite with your ceremonies, as far as I can do so, con-

Ge.ntlemkn:

my

sistently with

Iiav(>

I

i)rior

engagement. Truly yours,

To

*

iNcc

,

HORATIO SEYMOUR.

Messrs. Elijah F. Pi-ri.y, JaS. B. NllHOI.SO.N,

M. Tweed,

\V

Vommittef.

LIEUT.-GOVERNOR To

H'lll

V.

V.

PrnDY, (Irand

1).

K.

KI>OYD JONES.

Stir/ii'tn.

Alraxv, Jinif

—

23, 1863.

lind on my arrival at Albany, to-day, an invitation to unite with tlie " Society of Tammany," in celebrating the ajiproaching anniversary of our National Independence. being in th(» city of New Kngagenients for the Kcmrth will jtrevent

My

i>i:ar

Sir:

I

my

York on that day. At no time sinct; the commencement of our existence, as a nation, does the value of the Union of these States seem so yialpable and inestimable, or the duty of using all constitutional means to elfect its restoration, so imperative as at the present, when wiiked efforts are being made to render the former impossible and to weaken tlie obligations ot the latter. Yours, very truly, IX

M.V.IOb'-GENERAL

JOHN

R.

FLOYD JONES.

A. DIX.

11eai>-(4i'.vrters Di:p.aktmknt of Vikimnia,

Seventh Army Corps

Hon Elijah

F. I'ritnv.

Whitf Hopsk,

Va.,

\.<st

)

)

Juli/, 18G3.

(iriind Siirhrin Tiimin'inij Sotieti/.

Dear

—

have received your invitation to unite with the Tammany the coming anniversary of our National Indejundence, renew our vows to preserve the frei-dom of our country, "its Union

Sir:

I

SfM'ietv in ceh'brating

and

to

55 and transmit the sacred inheritance unimpaired to succeeding In all these purposes I sympathize with you most cordially, and it only remains for me to tender to you, and your brother Sachems and officers of the Society, my grateful thanks for the remembrance of me, and my regret that the unhappy condition of the country, which has separated me from my family and friends, renders it impossible for me to accept your kind

and

integrity,

generations."

invitation. I

am, dear

HON.

Sir,

AMASA

JOHN

truly yours,

J.

A.

DIX.

PARKER.

Albany, July 2, 1863. Purdy, and others. Accept my thanks for your kind invitation to join with you Gentlemen But, in celebrating the next anniversary of our National Independence being engaged to address a meeting at Concord, N. H., on that day, I am Elijah

F.

:

—

obliged to decline. In discharging the patriotic duties of the day, the people will, everywhere, look with intense anxiety to see how our unhappy and distracted country can be relieved from the imminent peril in which it is placed. In my oi)inion there is but ont^liope for the country, and that depends on

bringing into power at Washington an entire change of men and of policy. But This cannot constitutionally be done till the next presidential election. if done, even then it may still be in time to gather together the broken fragments of our Constitution, and ret'stablish the government of the Union. Conservative men of all parties should unite in endeavoring to accomplish this most desirable result, and I am sure your ancient order will lead the way in this great enterprise. I

am, very respectfully. Yours, &c.,

AMASA HON. LIVINGSTON SPRAKER,

NEW

J.

PARKER.

YORK.

Palatine Bridge, Jnlj

1,

1863.

Elijah F. Purdy, Grand Sachem.

—

Your favor of the 18th ultimo, inviting me to attend the celeDear Sir bration of the approaching anniver.sary of our National Independence, to be heid at Tammany Hall on the 4th instant, is just at hand. It would adbrd me great pleasure to be x>resent and participate with you in celebrating the birth day of our nation, but find myself unable to be absent from home on account of previous engagements. The day is one that should be commemorated by the great American people, because it serves to remind us of the little band of patriots who dared to put forth that declaration of rights, in the face of the crowned heads of Europe, and particularly of Great Britain, which was ratified by the people of this country, and secured after seven years of suffering and privations by our ancestors, and by them bequeathed to us to be transmitted to future posterity unaThough our country is passing through a firey ordeal, yet if we will bated. but put forth the same energy to crush this rebellion and preserve our Union that our revolutionary sires did to maintain the Declaration of our Independence, we will soon bring this unhappy war to a close with the Union restored as it was and the Constitution preserved as it is. :

Yours truly,

LIVINGSTON SPRAKER.

:

56

SENATOR SAULSBURY. OF DELAWARE. GbobgetuW-n, Del, July 2d, 1S63. Elijah

Dear

F.

Purpy,

!?ir

:

—

Esq.,

my

rt-gret

I

inability to be present at the celebration of the

approaching anniversary of our National Indcpi-ndtnce at Tammany Hall, on Saturday next. luJept-mlence of a foreign power will avail us but little if wo tanu'ly submit to a continuance of ext'cutivf usurpations, wliii h liavi- well uigh already destroyed the lil>erties of the peojile. Even amid the gloom and darkness of the present hour, 1 would say to my countrymen, if you would preserve your lilierties, see to it that the military shall not be independent of, or superior to, but subject to the civil power.

Very

respectfully,

WILLARD SAULSBURY.

HON. JOHN

T.

HOFFMAN, RECORDER. City of

Hon. Elijah

My

i)E.\n

F.

SiK

:

New York, Recorder's No. 63 Wall Street. New

Pckdy,

—

I

am

very sorry to say that

of July celebration of the

York, July

Office

| )

1, 180:5.

cannot participate in the 4th

I

Tammany Society. state of my health,

to leave the city for a short time. compelled, by the did not feel it absolutely necessary to go I should remain to unite with you and the other members of the Society in celebrating the day, which old Tammany has never failed to honor. I have'l>efore me this moment, certain resolutions of the Tammany General Committee, adopted April 20, 18iJl, to which your name as chairman is affixed, and which will in all future time receive the approbation and challenge the admiration of every American i>atriot. One of these resolutions I beg leave to oiler as a sentiment which I hope you 1 aili

If

I

will

have read.

It is

as follows

'^Resolved. That the citizens, as one man, to

Union, defend the

tlag,

Democracy of this city are heartily united, with all its uphold the Constitution, enforce the laws, sustain the and protect the Capitol of these United States in the ;

this i)reservatiou of our national unity, is the only securitv for the rights, liberties and power of our own people, and the greatest hope ol oppres.sed humanity throughout the world." full

and lirm Wlief, that

With great

resi)ect,

Yours very truly,

JOHN HON. JAMES

T.

F.

HOFFMAN.

BRADY.

New Elijah

T.

York, Junt 30M, 1863.

Pcrdy, Esq., (Imud Siichcm.

—

1 am sorry that my engagements for the coming 4th of July are Dear Sir such, that I cannot have the pleasure of jiarticipating with my brother democrats of llie Tammany Society in the celeliration of our national anniversary. For the invitation to be present on the occasion I render my hearty thanks. :

:

57 The

letter

is full of suggestion at the present juncture. Its are, just now, of peculiar significance. The rock on of liberty rests is, indeed, the Constitution, and we rejoice to

of invitation

and watch words

devices

which the temple

see the surges vainly beating against its impregnable base. It is only on such a foundation that the fabric of free government can be permanently mainWith such a support it may defy the violent assault of physical tained. power, or the insidious schemes of perfidious underminers thus protected, it can and will resist folly, fanaticism, or treachery, retaining its strength and beauty despite of the weakness or wickedness of any, and all the while held high above the bad aspirations or machinations of party. I am glad to find the duty of preserving the Union, and ensuring civil and religious liberty inculcated in the two mottoes with which the devices of the

—

shown that neither can exist we will inevitably have rival, and aristocratic governments on our soil, depending for existence upon the swoi'd and not upon the atfections of the people. To prevent such a doom is the highest duty we have to perform, and from that duty no man will

letter are

embellished. All experience has Destroy our Union, and

without the other. hostile,

swerve who deserves to be called a democrat. Allow me in connection with these views to

olfer a

sentiment

The Memory of Andrew Jackson — who loving peace much, loved his country more and who never hesitated to unsheath the sword against either the ;

foreign or domestic foes of the

Union

or the Constitution.

Yours truly, JAS. T.

BRADY.

EX-GOVERNOR SEYMOUR, OF CONNECTICUT. Hartford, Conn., July Messrs. D. E.

Delavan, Douglas Taylor, M. and

Gentlemen

—

others,

C ommittee

have the honor

T.

2d, 1863.

Brennan,

Society of

Tammany.

acknowledge the receipt

of your invitaattendance at the " Society of Tammany," tion of the 18th ult., soliciting oil the occasion of the coming celebration of the " Anniversary of our National Independence." Having previously accepted the invitation of another patriotic society in yoiir city, 1 am of cour-e unable to comjjly with your obliging request. These celebrations will, I trust, have a good etfect on the jiublic mind, and serve to revive in all a deeper devotion to the best interests of our whole country. Your excellent motto, " civil and religious liberty, the glory of man" furnishes a grand text for the present crisis. Permit me to give for a sentiment the brave words of revolutionary birth :

I

to

my

—

:

''Kternal hostility

to

every form of tyranny over the

Very

respectfully,

mind of man.''''

Gentlemen,

Your obedient servant,

THOS. H. SEYMOUR.

HON. ISAAC TOUCEY, OF CONNECTICUT. Hartford, July

—

2d, 1863

have received the invitation, which you did me the honor to send me, to participate with you in celebrating the Anniversary of our National Independence, on the approaching Fourth of July. I concur with you that " the pre.sent vital exigency in our national affairs attaches to the com-

Gentlemen

:

1

58 ing celebration a peculiar and absorbing interest, and should induce every lover of Lis country to renew upon that day his vows to preserve its freedom, maintain its Union and integrity, and transmit the sacred inheritance unimpaired to succeedinu generations." It is in this view that unusual importance is given to the celihration of the day which ushered in the declaration that these States are, and vi right, ought to be fiec, soi-rrtii/ri and independent This is the great "jufstion now presented to the country, whether the f'reedovi, son rciijpili/ and indrjundenrv of the States, in regard to all that vast mass of iingranted j^wers by which are regulated by State laws the rights of personal liberty, of personal security, of private jnoperty, and the domestic relations, are to be maintained, subject to no limitations whatever, excej)t those voluntarily assumed by the States and enilx)died in the Federal Constitution? Shall the Federal Constitution be restored to its suiin-macv throughout the whi>le country, north, east, west and south, under the same limitations, by the exercise of the granted powers which it contains ft)r its own jinservation ? Botli these are the one and the selfsame question. This is the only issue l>efore the country. It will receive its solution within the next seventeen months. Those in the affirmative are on one side those not in the affirmative until the slave laws of the slave States shall l)e repealed by Federal bayonets, are on the other. These two opinions are irreconcilably ojiposed to each other— the conllict between them is inexiin-ssible and not until the latter is sujiplanted by the former, not until political jiower is transferred by popular suffrage to conservative men, who unconditionally desire the restoration of the Constitution, is there the least hope that it will be restored to its supremacy or the Declaration of Independence be of much value to the present generation. Regretting that I shall not be able to participate in your ;

;

celebration, I

am, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

ISAAC TOUCEY.

Hon. Elijah F. Pi-rdy,

and

others.

HON.

S.

S.

COX, OF OHIO.

Gun

A
Dear Sir — Your invitation was received by me away from iionic and shall be detained here until :

;

Illinois,

June

26, 1863.

I am at this city to-day. after the Fourth, so that I

cannot be with you. as I would like. 1 have been attending lueetiugs so large and enthusijistic that they may as Well l>e called meetings of tmk pkohlk. Though called in the democratic name, they are inspirtfl by a love for the welfare and lu>nor of the wliole j)eoi)le. Tlie " vital exigency," which you refer to in your letter of invitation, .seems to have aroused the great west and like the fabled giant of Sicily, its movement niake.s the earth i|uake and the heavens resound with the jtower of iU step and the grainleur of its vince. I-et the east an«l the west be claspeil, not only in maternal but in jiatriotic bonds of fraternity and time and effort may give to us again, under God, that bb-s.sed unity and honored government, so seriously periled by the thoughtle.s*; and violent anarchs of this generation. ;

;

I

E.

thank you

for

your invitation.

F. Pt7RI>Y.

Sincerely, &c., S.

S.

COX.

59

SENATOR PRUYN, OF NEW YORK. Albany, July 2d, 1863.

—

I have received the invitation of the "Tammany Society," to Sir: join in their celebration of the coming anniversary of our National Independence, and regret that I am not able to accept it. I am glad to know that the members of your Society, notwithstanding the distracted condition of our country, do not abate in the patriotic spirit which has always been shown by them, on this occasion. Their proceedings at this time will, I am sure, tend to the preservation of the Union, to increased respect for the laws, and to the maintenance of the Constitution. I am, yours with great respect,

Dear

Elijah

F.

JOHN V

Purdy, Esq.,

.

L,

PRUYN.

Grand Sachem, New York.

SENATOR GANSON, OF NEW YORK. Buffalo, June

Elijah F. Purdy,

Grand Sachem,

26, 1863.

Sfc.

— In compliance with the request

in the invitation of " The Soreceived by me, to participate in celebrating the approaching anniversary of our National Independence, I send you an early reply. Other engagements will prevent my attendance at Tammany Hall on that

Dear

ciety of

Sir:

Tammany,"

occasion.

Under ordinary circumstances I would be content with saying nothing more, but " the present vital exigency of our national i),fFair3," as yoiir invitation declares, " attaches to the coming celebration, a peculiar and absorbing interest, and should induce every lover of his country to renew, upon that day, his vows to preserve its freedom, maintain its unity and integrity." Having from the beginning of the pending rebellion, regarded the preservation of our nationality as paramount to all other considerations, I have uniformly advised and advocated the meeting of armed rebels with arms, and opposed any policy which tended, in any degree, to a dismemberment of the Union, and discountenanced any roa;- which had not for its sole object, the restoration of the government under the Constitution as it was framed by the wise men of the revolution It is our duty to make every effort within our power to suppress the existing insurrection, and not to submit to any peace which has not the accomplishment of that object in view. It is our duty to compel, by arms, those who have taken up arms to sever the Union, to submit to the enforcement of the laws. While we are engaged in this effort it behooves us to be w'atchful, that those in authority do not weaken the government by the exercise of arbitrary or doubtful powers. If, in attempting to suppress the rebellion, we silently acquiesce in a disregard by those in authority, of the Constitution or the laws, especially where the administration of justice is unimpaired and unimpeded in our Courts, by arms, we fall far short of our duty. We should not exact obedience from others to a Constitution which we are unwilling to obey ourselves. We should be jealous of our own rights, and be willing to secure the rights of We should, standing and acting upon this principle, declare others to them. there should not be peace till the Union is restored, our nationality preserved, Constitution maintained, the and the laws enforced on every foot of our soil, or that we will perish in the attempt. We should make the rebels feel that their rights would be protected, if they will lay down their arms, in accord-

00 ance with the guarantees of the Constitution. Let our motto be " While the rebels are in arms, v?e will meet them with arms when they submit to laws, they shall be jirotected by laws :

;

'

Your obedient servant,

JOHN GANSON. HON. DAVID Hon. Elijau F

L.

SEYMOUR, OF

NEW

YORK. Trot, July

PtrBDY,

1,

1863.

—

Sir I am in receipt of the invitation of the Tammany Society to join them in the celebration of the next anuivorsarj- of our National Independence, and regret to say that previous engagements will prevent my attendance on that :

occasion.

The circumstances surrounding our country at the present time are fraught such imminent danger to our goverumeut, that an unusual interest

witli

attaches to this anniversary. The natal day of the Rej)ublic recalls to our recollection the glories of that revolution in which our j)atriotic ancestors achieved our indejiendence and established tlie great Republic of the west, founding its in.stitutions upon the principles of eternal truth, and making it the asylum of the oppressed of all nations.

Kor eighty-six years this government stood, strengthening itself and extending its limits until it had spanned the continent, and its power had beSuch come known aud was respected througliout the civilized world. was the position of honor and pride which our nation occupied but yesterday.

And

as in the ancient Roman Rejmblic, so here, every American however be, felt a glow of exultation and national pride, as pointing

humble he might

country, he exclaimed: '• I am an Amkrica.n citizkn." all is changed. Our glorious Union, the source of our strength and prosperity is severed. Our prestige of power as a nation is gone. A bloody civil war is raging in tlu- bosom of our once paceful and prosperous An hundred battle lields are strewed with the mangled corpses of laud Our armies massed arouud those who have fallen in tliis unnatural contest the Capitol, are rt'qnired to proti-ct the Chii-f K.xecutive and the ortici-rs of our government, while i>owerful armies of the insurgents are ravaging the country from the Rappahannock to the Susnuehannah. The patriotic citizens of the North when they inquire for the causes of these great disasters which liave so sadly reversed the glorious picture of our former greatness and glory, will readily find it in the principles and policy of two extreme parties in our country tlie secessionists of the South and the aboliTliey both have combined to war uj)on that Constitutionists of the North tion and its comiiromises, which has made us North and South one people. They both to-day mutually exult in its prostration, and hope for its utter and final overthrow. There is but one party which can save our country in this most trying exigi'uc}' of public afiairs. That party is the i)arty of the Union aud tlie Constitution; a i>arty embra<'ing all the democratic and conservative masses of the country a jiarty not organized merely to attain power, and to distribute the spoils of ortiee, but inspired, moved and directed Ity the one all-ab.sorbiug idea that the salvation of the country depends upon maintaining " the Constitution as it is and the Union as it was." Your tirae-honoretl a.ssociation will, I doubt not. lead, as it has always done in this noble work, to reestablishing order, Constitutional right, and the sway of the laws. Free speech, a free press, and personal liberty, now ruthlessly a.s,sailed and trodden down, must be re!ts.serted and reestablished at all hazards. to his

To-day

—

;

61 The liberties of a people can only exist while these defences are maintained, nor can peace and Constitutional Union ever be restored to onr country, until the Constitution and the rights of all the States of the Union, and of all citizens North and South under it, be respected and protected. Very

respectfully, yours, &c.,

DAVID HON. JOHN Elijah

F.

R.

BRADY, JUDGE COURT OF

COMMON

New

Pdedy, Esq.,

L.

SEYMOUR.

PLEAS.

Yoek, Juhj 2d, 1863.

Grand >achem.

Dear

—

am much my

pleased to have the opportunity to renew, through to preserve the freedom of our country, to maintain its Union and integrity, and to transmit the sacred inheritance unThe democratic party has stood firm in impaired to succeeding generations its support of the Union, its institutions and its laws, and it will never prove recreant while one voice is left to proclaim its devotion. Dauntless and unswerving it will rise and rule, though vanquished for a time, and under its sway the Republic shall flourish, and make still stronger and broader the base upon which its columns must rest forever. The sovereign gift lias a sovereign remedy when abused, and to the ballot we must turn when the power we have conferred is violated, leaving our rights meanwhile to the tribunals In peace and in war the motto of our party has been " The of the land. Union, it must and stall be jireserved." For this our brethren have fought and died, and for this, to-day, they are front to front with the fratricides who would sever our home and rob us and the world of that great united inheritance, which among other blessings Miich as we have done in council secures to us civil and religious liberty. and in the field, much is yet to be done by us to restore the Union under the Constitution, and to make it as it has been in brighter hours, a beacon guide and asylum to the oppressed of all climes. I regret that 1 cannot be with you to express more in detail the love I bear my country, and the hope that our party shall ever be foremost to protect its interest, integrity and honor. Very truly yours,

the

Sir

:

Tammany

I

Society,

vows

:

JNO.

R.

BRADY.

HON. WM. W. EATON, OF CONNECTICUT. House op Representatives,

May

Session,

1

a. d.

1863.

)

Hartford, Conn., June 26M, 1863.

—

My dear Sir I desire to express my sincere thanks for the honor conferred upon me by the Tammany Society, in requesting me to participate in the celebration of the anniversary of American Independence. I regret to say that my official engagements will j)revent my being present on the occasion The present condition of the country demands the wise exertion of every friend of order and of Constitutional law, and, while we should use our utmost efforts to restore our old Union with all its checks and balances, the democracy should sternly demand that all public servants should faithfully adhere to the powers conferred upon them by the organic law, and any departure therefrom should be denounced by the people. :

;

62 That time-honored old Tammany will perform her our history I do not i)ermit myself to doubt. I

have the honor

Very Hon.

E.

F.

your obedient servant,

WM. W. EATON.

PrRPT.

VAN BT'REN

Penny,

Grand I

to be,

truly,

HON. JOHN E1.IJAU F.

full part in this crisis of

Ki.nkkrhook, June 29th, 1863.

S'ncAcwi.

greatly regret that

it

will not be in

Tammany t>i»ciety, of which taius so many valueil friends, to the

my

power

to accept the invitation of

have long been a nieinlier, and which conunite with them in celebrating tho ajiproachI

ing anniversary ot our Indejieudeuce Vou do right in assuming that the jiresent exigency attaches a peculiar and absorliing int<'re^t to the day, and to no celebration of it will that interest .Membi-rs of an ancient and honbe more raretuUy exteiid'-d than to yours. orable fraternity, established in 178'J, not as a jxjlitical as.^o(iation, but bearing on its roll the names of some of the truest patriots that ever lived, our action in this crisis should be worthy of the reputation the society has now, and the resiion.--ibility that belongs to us. The country is involved in a war, for the commencement of which, as well as the mode of itr- i>ro.-^ecution, we are in notlegree responsible. Kebels against the lawful authority of the general government have assumed to dissolve the In such a crisis you fitly recur to the patriot's pledge: " The I'nion L'nii>n. must and shall be preserved." The whole ellective force of the loyal States should be bent to this object a cordial union of sentiment slmuld sustain our armies in the field. Measures of ijuestionable expedieiny should be avoiiled a generous forbearance should be used in criticising or opposing the action of I'arty considerations, and action should be hushed the general government. in the jireseut peril of the R -public, anil the absorbing jiatriotism which presided over our revolutionary history, and marked the initiation of our society, should resume its sway. Kely upon it, those who act upon this idatform now, will not only serve to save the country, but will jirove in the end the truest That this spirit friends of their party organizations and j>olitical associates. And again exi)ress will breath through your celebration, 1 trust ami believe. my regret at being unable to participate in a festival which will thus reflect credit ujion the society, and go far to sustain the honor of the country. Thanking you for the kindness of your invitation, :

I

am, truly yours, .1.

Jl'DGE

ALONZO

C.

VAN BUR EN.

I'AIGE. Schknectai'Y, ./u/y

Elijah

liranil Sarhi

Dkar

1,

1863.

F. I'i-ri'V,

Sir:

Tammany

—

to

I

in of'

regret

meet and

thr Surii

my

ti/

nf J iitiitiidiii/.

inability to accept the invitation of the Society of with its niemlters in the celebration of the

i)articipate

next anniversary of our lnde]>emlence. Nothing can be conceived by any lover of his country m'>re ajipropriate, than on that day "to renew his vows to preserve its fr>e«iojii, maintain its union and integrity, and transmit tlii> sacred inheritance unimpaired to succeeding gem'rations." This object, dear to the heart of every American citizen, can only be accom-

63 plished by the preservation of the Constitution. Tliis Constitution created Devotion to it, and reverence for its maintenance will restore the Union. It was the violation of the obligations it imposes, and it, must be cultivated. the open assaults upon it, and upon the rights it guarantees, that destroyed the fraternal relations between the North and the South, and arrayed the two The example and the warning sections against each other in deadly strife. The farewell admonivoice of our revolutionary fathers were disregarded. Sectionalism was suffered to tions of Washington ceased to influence us. spring up in the North and South to divide us. Fraternal love by the acrimony of Northern and Southern disunionists was turned into fraternal hate. Political fanaticism at the North and devotion to Southern institutions at the South, and exasperation there at Northern attacks made upon them, suggested at the North the dogmas of the higher law, and that the States must necessarily become all slave or all free and at the South the Revolutionary docThe authors and advocates of these false trines of nullification and secession. and disorganising dogmas and doctrines will be held by the future historian responsible for the civil war which is now devastating our fair land with The nomination of a sectional candidate for the presidency, fraternal blood. standing upon a sectional platform, and elected by a sectional vote, as might have been expected, and as the supiDorters of this candidate were during the canvass daily admonished, was seized upon by Southern disunionists to preciThe celebration of the ensuing pitate the Southern States into open rebellion anniversary will be an appropriate occasion for constitutional union men, the democratic and conservative citizens of the United States to survey calmly the present critical and disastrous condition of our country, and to determine upon means and a policy to accomplish a restoration of the Union upon the There will be a demand iipon them for the principles of the Constitution. exercise of all their wisdom and patriotism, and of the greatest forbearance. They will, doubtless, see that there is a class of politicians at the North who are enemies of the present Constitution and of the old Union and that these reckless men seek to annihilate the insurrectionary States, to subvert the Constitution and to reconstruct the Government upon the principles of aboliThe moral guilt of these tion of Slavery by the aid of the military power. men is not less in degree than that of the rebel in arms. The designs and machinations of these men must be watched with ceaseless vigilance and deThe unconstitutional policy which has been adopted by the President feated. and Congress in the conduct of the war, and which by iiniting and exasperating the South, changing loyalty into treason, has given increased power and energies to the rebellion, must be abandoned. The war must be a constitutional war, prosecuted solely to restore the Union with all the dignity, equalOnly men who respect the ity and rights of the several States unimpaired. Constitution and the principles of civilized warfare mu.st be placed at the head of our armies, and selected as the advisers of the President. But the most eificacious remedy for our national calamities is the overthrow of the party in power by the agency of the peaceful, but the resistless ballot. have waited long and anxiously for an improvement in the management of our national affairs. But we have waited in vain. Disaster has succeeded disaster to our armies, until we have become satisfied, that unless the President will dismiss his cabinet and change his policy, it is only under a democratic and conservative administration that the war can be prosecuted with That it is only sufficient vigor, wisdom and skill to overthrow the rebellion. under such an administration that the Constitution and the principles of a that the wealth of the nation and the civilized warfare will be respected blood of our heroic soldiers will only be expended in the cause of the Union, and that the several States can be re-united upon the principles of the Constitution, witli all their original rights unimpaired.

—

;

;

We

;

Yours, respectfully, A. C.

PAIGE.

64

BRIG.-QENERAL JOSIAH State of

T.

New

MILLKK. York,

)

Inspector General's Office,

Albany, July

1,

)

1863.

—

Oextlemex I am in receipt of an invitation to particijiate in tlie ct'lebration of thf iipproarhinir anniviTsarv of our National Independence, with the I des^iro verv mui-ii to meet witli Societ}' iif Tammany, or Columbian )rder. you ou this occasion, and regret that unexpected otlicial duties i)revent my acceptance of your invitation. I'ermit me, however, to return my thanks to apjtreciatiou of the the Sachems tor their courtesy to me, and to express jiatriotic services, in the past, of tlie ancient, and very honorable order, which :

<

my

they rei)resent.

Tammany is inseparably connected witli the best days of the Republic, and with the brightest ])ages in the history of the democratic party, and of the American Union When dangers tlireaten, the eyes of true men turn to her Council Chamber, and they have never been disappointed. Tammany has never failed to declare for the riglit with a will, and with a power. She will not fail in the dark hour of our country's humiliation and trial

Had the people of the North heeded her warnings in the past, the present alHiction would have been spared our land, and if lier teachings shall be followed in the future, i)eace and prosperity will again return to, and bless our That sucli may be the speedy issue of our nation's trials, is the people. sincere wish of your humble servant, Eluau

JOSIAH

F. Pubi>y, Esq.,

and

HON. FRED.

A.

others,

T.

MILLER.

N^ew York.

TALLMADGE, CLERK COURT OF APPEALS State of

'

New York,

)

Court of Appeaas, Clerk's Office. E. F.

Albany, July

PuRKY, Esq.,

— Be pleased to

1st,

)

18G3.

my

sincere thanks to the officers of " the Sotietv of Tammany, or Columbian Order," for their kind and cordial invitation, to meet with tliem and j>articii)ate in the festivities of the coming anni-

Dear

Sir

:

pre.'sent

versary of our National Independence.

Descended from an ance-^try, who zealously, but feebly, aided in its attainment, I should jirove a reckless .scm were I to liesitate to unite with the patriotic sons of "old Tammany," in commemorating the glorious results of the etforts of our fathers. I shall be proud to be with you on tliis interesting occasion, if the duties, incident to the situation, in which your kind partiality has placed me, will permit, and am truly and sincerely the Committee's humble .servant. F. A.

nOSWOUTH, JUSTICE OF SUPERIOR COURT. New Y'ork, Jum 25, 1863.

HON.

J.

S.

Hon. Elijah

F.

Pi'Rhy,

(irand Sarhetn of thr Socirti/ of

—

TALLMADGE.

J'limmdiii/.

It will give nie pleasure to unite with the Society of Tammany Dear Sir in celebrating the next anniversary of our National Independence, if it is I must go into the country on Monday practicable for mu to be in the city, :

65

my family, one of whom is too much of an invalid to travel withmy personal assistance, and I may not be able to return by the Fourth of

next with out

July.

The more we see in our present condition to awaken apprehension and alarm, the more necessity there is for cool and earnest reflection, and for united efforts to preserve our common country. Every honest man and true patriot must feel humiliated that the free States are now invaded by the rebels their citizens despoiled of their property and driven in panic from their homes, and that our vessels, navigating the ocean, are captured and burned in the close proximity to our city. There should, and as it seems to me, there can be but one feeling and purpose, and that is, to put an end to a condition of things so alarming and discreditable, and make a vigorous, common and cordial etfort to crush the rebellion, uphold the Union in its integrity, and defend and preserve the Constitution, under which we had uninterrupted prosperity, while observing its guarantees in good faith, according to their letter and spirit. That the proposed celebration may tend in some degree to so auspicious a result, must be the earnest wish of evei-y one who has any regard for the interests and honor of our common country. ;

Very

sincerely

and respectfully yours, J. S.

HON.

C. L.

Hon. Elijah F. Pukdt,

BOSWORTH.

MONELL, JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT. New York, June 24,

Grand Sachem of

1863.

Taiitmanij Societi/.

—

am in receipt of the invitation of the Sachems to meet and them in the celebration of the approaching anniversary of our National Independence, for which please present to the society my warmest acknowledgements. I regret that having already made my arrangements to pass the day out of the city, I shall be unable to meet the society on the occasion referred to. At no period in the life of the nation, has there been occasion for more profound solicitude for its future existence. The long continuance of the war the desperate resistance of those in rebellion the defeats and disasters to our arms, and the unparelled magnitude of this wide spread defection from the government and its authority, must fill all with deep anxiety and apprehensions. But our hopes, although thus deferred, are not lost. The nation still its vital powers remain, and with the blessing of heaven, it will again, lives and soon I trust, be restored to peace and happiness. Such a peace can now only be effected by the power of our arms. A peace procured in any other way would be war forever afterward. The approaching celebration will be a fitting occasion to arouse to new and more determined efforts to end, by quick and decisive conquests, this deep laid plot to destroy the Union of the States And I doubt not that the Tammany Society will speak with emphasis in expressing its abhorence for the rebellion determination to and its stand firmly by the government and the country. Dear Sir I participate with :

;

;

!

I

am, with great respect. Very truly yours,

CLAUDIUS COL. H.

S.

LANSING, SUPERINTENDENT

Hon. Elijah

F.

Purdt,

Grand Sachem,

Dear

Sir

:

—

I

NEW YORK

New

L.

MONELL.

TROOPS.

York, 24th June, 1863.

Sfc.

accept with pleasure the invitation to join in the celebration

.

66 coming " Fourth of July," with the noble ordtT over which jou preand I shall be present, if my dutit-s at the present crisis will permit The coniinc celebration falls upon us in a most critical liour, and it behooves every good citizen and lover of his country, to rally round the old Constitution and flap, for tlie jireservation of the Union and having always been unshaken in my faith, that this salvation lay only with the great democratic party of our country, I can join on this occasion with a full heart and earnest hope for its final restoration.

of the side,

;

I

am,

respectfully, &c.,

H.

LANSING.

S.

EX-RECORDER TILLOU, OF NEW YORK. No. 42 Laight Street,

New

York.

.Iul;i 2,

—

1863.

have received your kind invitation to attend the meeting of Tammany Society, at Tammany Hall, on the 4th instant, the anniversary of our National Independence, for whii h I thank you, but for which, from circumstances which control me, I find, to my regret, I am unable to avail With all the sentiments expressed in your invitation I cordially agree, nay more, such do I consider the degree of the existence to which you refer, that I lM?iieve, that not only should every lover of his country renew the vows you mention, but maintain them, by contributing freely— even if needful to the extent of all his energies in his power, his abilities and his means, and of the sacrifice of life, towards the preservation of the Union, the Constitution and the Government, (in my judgment the most beneficent now on earth\ and the

Gextlemex

:

I

—

integrity of the nation. Though unable to be personally with you, be assured that I shall sympathizi- with you in the enjoyments which you will justly have at a meeting so patriotic, and so excellent in its purpose. I

have the honor

to be,

Gentlemen,

Your obedient Delavan, and others, Sachems.

Daniel

servant, F.

E.

HON. ELI Hon. Elijah

F.

I'iv.,

P.

Tammanij

NORTON,

NEW

TILLOU.

YORK.

New

Pcrut,

R.

Societi/.

York,

./m/// H,

1863.

—

parSir: I regret that previous engagements will prevent me from ticipatim; with the Tammany Society in their celebration f)ii the 4th of July. It is grateful to a patriotic man to see that your old Order still adheres to the custom of those better days of the Re]iublic, when tlie ronnnemoration of our Independence was in the midst of the soldiers and sages of the Republic who still survived. One's memtiry runs back to the year in which your Society was established. It was the year in which in our own city of New York, our government was Faithful to that government, whose organization was coeval with organized. its own, old Tammany has given us all lessons of patriotism wliich will not be forgotten. May she ever continue to l)e true to the maxims of the Fathers of the Republic the men of 1789 Yours truly,

Dear

—

!

ELI

P.

NORTON.

—

—

:

:

67

The Hon. Richard Yaux, admirable letter like

of Philadelphia, concludes

— in which in

his

a comprehensive and statesman-

manner, he discusses at length the questions of the day

with the following patriotic counsel " Let us, then, on the couiing 4th of July, make a solemn vow on the altar of our country, to devote our lives, fortunes, and sacred honor for the reestablishment of the Constitution and the Union as our fathers made them, by the means our fathers used, for the end our fathers labored, with the hope which gave our fathers strength, with the wisdom they asked of God to give them, with a determination and a will which God blessed by turning the water of purity of purpose, into the wine of " triumph at these results

—

!

The Hon. Gilbert Dean,

New

of

York,

after alluding to

the critical condition of the country, and the necessity for har-

mony and union

in the democratic ranks, terminates as follows

" Let us say that there shall be no war except to restore the Union, and no peace but on the basis of the Constitution and the "

Union

restored /

The Committee acknowledge

the receipt of letters, (which

they regret their inability to find room for,) from a number of well

known democrats,

Hon. CHAS.

including

W. CARRIGAN,

of Pa.,

Rear Admiral PAULDING, Gen. Hon.

AARON WARD, WM. H. LEONARD,

WM.

DELAPLAINE, UDOLPHO WOLFE, Esq.,

Hon. ISAAC

WM.

E.

WM.

E.

Hon. a.

Hon.

C.

CURTIS,

BENJAMIN RAY,

A.

KOBBE,

DANIEL

F.

Esq.,

TIEMANN,

royal PHELPS, CORNELIUS MATTHEWS, Hon.

Esq.,

PHILIP W. ENGS, Esq., JOHN E. BURRILL, Esq.,

Esq.,

WARREN,

INGRAHAN, of New York, MONCRIEF, of New Yotk, RICHARD O'GORMAN, Esq.,

Judge Judge

Esq.,

W. CRAVEN,

B. F. &c.,

&c.,

&c.

DELANO,

Esq.,

Esq.,