, 1860-12-17

NEW YORK, Dec. ia meeting OF promi-
ncnt merchants Of the City aud State Of New
York, was held ut noon to-day 1t the Office Of
Richard l.at'4crs, on Pine street, to consult as
to the best means 10 be adopted to avert the
douger nuw threatening the Union, and to as
sure to the South sufficient protection to their
constitutional rights within the Union. The
meeting was called by circular addressed to
leading Citizens without distinction Of politics,
and was well attended. Among those present
were Ex-PrcsidcntFan Buren. .Ex-C Congressman
Israel T. Hatch of Buffalo, Washington Hunt,
Watts Sherman, Eraetus Brooks, James r.
Brady, Edwin Croswcll, Wilson G. Hunt, c.
Co1nstock of the Albany 44nds d; Aygns, Girara
lIal1ock, Jas. " Bcekmau, Fernando Wood,
Augustus 6cile11, Richard Lathess, aud many
other gentlemen OF prominent position as
merchants i public men.
The condition 0. the Union was freely ais.
cursed, mud several suggestions Mnde, one Ut
which was that Mi'lar.l Fillmore be requested
to proceed to South Carolina as Commissioner
from the State Of New York, to cxhort temper
ate action and delay Oh the part Of the former
State. 1t was understood that Mr.. Fillmore
would accept the duty, but he expressed the
belief that the mission would hc unsuccessful
unless hc could hear with him some pledge Of
conservative policy from the party about to as
sumc the control Of the General Government.
No definite action has yet been determined on
by the meeting.
Chas. O'Conor presided, and speeches were
made By john A. Dix, John Mckeon and otls-
crE. MIR. Mekcon expressed the 0pini Il That
the Uniuu was already dissolved; that it would
lie a peaceful separation until after the 4th Of
March, and that civil var would then cnsuc.
At the conclusion of Mr. 3[ckeon's speech,
Hon. Daniel s. Dickinson addressed the meet
ing lie prayed with Daniel Webster, that
when lis eyes should turn to behold for Tho
last fine the sun iu heaven lc might not Fec
it shining OIL the broken and dishonorcd fEag-
ments Of n once glorious Union. The public
sentiment Of the North must bc changed. lie
with just fear Tint in 4 little willie the North
will have two-thirds of tho Senate and House
Of Representatives. The repeal Of laws will
not satisfy the South. They know that astream
cannot by any natural process be made to rise
higher Than the fountain, The North must
sentiment promulgated by demasosucs, 20:
litical and ministerial. It was absurd
over; lie who says so is n dcmagoguc or IL
mad. South Carolina on the l7lA OF 18th OF
this month will 20 ont of the Cnion- The
rest Of the Cotton States will follow, and III
time every rlayeloldin. State. THIS he re-
:,nrdcd us certain us that tic sun will rise.
,ihc North should repeal oil its unfricndly
laws, and in their place set up different pub
lie sentiment, as the brazen serpent Was fct
up III Israel, isn't ali WHO have been bitten by
| the poison serpent of abolition, 1nny look upon
| it and be heAlo.l,
str. Dickinson was frequently greeted with
applause during lie delivery Of his speech.
Hiram kctchum spoke ,norc hopefully and
believed that public sentiment at home might
lie reached and corrected; Mt least hc was for
making the effort.
| Letters were then read from 4 largc number
| Of distinguished gentlemen, residing in differ
tnt parts of the State after which Hon. Ail1arl
| Fillmore, Hon. Greene e. Bronson, and Ricli-