Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-12-18
Union Meeting in New York.

NEW ORR, Dec. ia meeting of prominent mer.
chants and politicians of the city and State Of New
York was held to-day, at at the Office of Richard
Mathers. Pine street, TO consult as to the best
TO be adopted to avert the danger now threat
enng the Union, and to assure the South sufficient
protection to their constitutional rights in the Union
The meeting was called by circular addressed tc
leading citizens without distinction Of politics. and
was well attended. Among those present were Tx
President Van Bnren, Ex-Congressmen Israel T.
Hatch ofBufalO, Washington Hunt. Watts Sherman.
Erastus Brooks, James 7. Brady, Erwin Crosswell.
Wilson G. Hunt, c. COmstock of the Albany Atlas
and argus, Girard Hallett, James w. Bakman, Fer
nando Wood, Augustus Schell, Richard Lathers and
many other gentlemen Of prominent position ner-
chants and public men. The condition of the Union
was freely discussed and several suggestions made
of which that Willard Fillmore be requested
to proceed to South Carolina as Commissioner from
the State Of New York to exhort temperate action
and delay on the part of the fo.mer State. Il was
understood that Mr.. Fillmore would accept the duty
desired but he expressed the belief thai the mis-
sion would be unsuccessful, unless he could bear
with him some authorized pledge of conservative
policy from the party about to assume the control
of the General Government No definite action has
been determined on by the meeting.
Chas- OCOnnOr presided. and speeches were made
by John A. Dix Daniel AcKeOwn. and others Mr.
Mckeown expressed the opinion that the Union was
already dissolved; that it would be peaceful sepa-
ration until after the 4th Of March; and that civil
war would then ensue at half past one.
Speeches were still being made on the motion to
appoint commissioners to proceed 70 South Caro-
Ina
At the conclusion of Mr. MeKeownis speech there
was an earnest appeal for the correction of North
ern public sentiment in regard to the slave States
Hon. d. S. Dickinson addressed the meeting. He
prayed with Daniel Webster, that when his eyes
should turn to behold for the last time the of
heaven. he might not see it shining on TIE broken
fragments of a once glorious Union. The publii.
sentiment of the North must be changed. He had
little fsith meetings The South aw.wth Just fear
that in little while the North will have two-thirds
Of the Senate and House of Representatives. The
know that stream cannot by any natural process
be made to rise higher than the fountain. The
North must get rid OF is pernicOus sectional senti-
ment-a sentiment promulgated by demagogues.
It was absurd TO say that all this would blow
over; he who says so is demagogue South Caro-
Ina on the 18th or 18th of this month will go outof
the Union. The rest of the Cotton States viii fol-
low and in time every slaveholding State. This ne
regarded as certain chat the sun will rise. The
North should repeal all its unfriendly laws and in
their place should set up different public sentiment
as the brazen serpent set up in Israel that all
who lave been bitten by the poison serpent of Abo
htiOnism NAV look upon il and be healed.
Mr.. Dickinson was frequently greeted with ap-
plause during the delivery Of his speech.
Hiram Ketchum spoke more hopefully, and be
heTed that public sentiment and home influence
might be reached and corrected-at least he was
for making tie effort.
Letters were then read from large number Of
distinguished gentlemen residing in different parts Of
the State after which Hon. M Fillmore Hon Green c.
Bronson and Richard Mathers, Esq, were appointed
a Committee to visit the South.
Among the letters read were those of Millarl
Fillmore. Washington Hunt, Rev. DR.. Hawks, Judge
Page, John a. Green, and others.