The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-16
The Great Union Meeting Mt the AGA
denny of Music.

denny of Music.
At the call of three or four thousand mer-
chants of this city, a meeting is to take place
on Monday evening next, which will be one of
the most extraordinary, curious, wonderful,
fascinating and suggestive assemblages that
ever congregated in New York. 1t is desig-
mated Union meeting. and these gentlemen
have signed the call. though they did not ORR
ginate the movement, because they are fright
ened-as we'll they may beat the consequences
hat must ensue from the hundred thousand
politicians who control the two great parties
of the country rushing headlong like two loco
motives on the same track, meeting each other,
without engineers, or conductors, or brakes
men, or, what is the same thing, with these Off
GERS all intoxicated and utterly reckless of the
coming collision. 1t is to prevent this catas-
trophe that the merchant princes of this great
commercial metropolis are coming forward to
take part in what they call Union meet
ing. But what do they PROPOSE In what way
will they arrest the career Of the two parties,
and prevent the inevitable smash? Is it by
uttering few generalities about peace, and
harmony, and brotherly love, without doing
anything to stop the antagonistic forces?
In their call these merchants tell us that the
sentiment to which they desire to give utterance
is "abhorrence of the crimes of John Brown
and his confederates." Now, that point has
been already settled in New York. The late
municipal election has settled it. But they
''solemnlyp pledge themselves, by their influence,
by their example, and their votes, to discount
tenance and oppose sectionalism in all its
FORMS" In what practical way, we ask, will
they do this on Monday night7-for there is not a
day nor an hour to be lost. Have they any
plan of operations, or is this meeting merely to
afford an opportunity for buncomb speeches,
tending to nothing: Is it to be mere cor et
preterea nihil-talk and gas, but no action?
And are the signers to be mere instruments in
the hands of artful politicians by which they
may accomplish their selfish Objects
The corrupt clique at Albany known
as the Regency, tainted to the core
with abolition, knew very well that
this Union demonstration was to take place,
and its depraved utilization in this city
Tanmany Hall-knew it still better The free
soil junta at Albany, and the kindred faction Of
Tammany, defeated together in the late NUM-
cipal election, and their Buffalo platform made
heap of ruins, resolved that they would take
| time by the forelock, and take the wind out Of
the sails Of any genuine Union movement, by
being first out with their call. Desperate after
an ignominious defeat, they resort to this expe-
dent to regain their lost prestige, and to come
into public favor with the Union tide, which
they see is setting in, deep and rapid and
strong, and which is likely to leave them high
and dry on the beach Their principal spokes-
man and representative at the meeting is to be
Horatio Seymour, virtually one Of the owners
of the organ Of the Regency, whose editor VIC
lated every principle of honor by publishing
the private letter Of Governor Wise, Of Virgil
mia. Seymour is one Of the firm, and is respon-
sible for its acts, which he has never disa-
vowed. He has, therefore, no right to
take prominent part in meeting Of
honorable merchants whose object is to
assure the South generally, and Virginia
IN particular, Of the friendship and sympathy Of
New York. Will not Virginia and the South,
Judging from appearances, be apt to set down