The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-29
MEETING At THE COOPER INSTITUTE.
THE INCOMING PRESIDENT
PERVERSE VIEWS CONCERNING Him.
Three Commissioners Appointed to
Confer with the Seeding States,
As., Ae., As.,

Pursuant TO public announcement grand meeting Of
the friends in New York city Of the Union of States
held at the Cooper Institute at eight O'Clock last
evening In the present precarious condition of public
affairs every effort made to gather up the lisHcnts of
the body polite and to bind up the wounds o. the
ton favorably regarded by almost every man IN.
community, irrespective Of creed party. Tse terri
BILE disasters which have fallen upon the land have
spread their dark shadows so far abroad, that
feen TO be otherwise than deeply impressed with tho
solcmnity Of the national crisis.
The Union meeting of last night was in every way
worthy of the and OF the who conceived the
movement At half past seven O'Clock the grand base
ment ball OF the Cooper Institute crowded
to its fullest capacity, by an immense assem-
blage Of Of the most Etelgent people OF
this city. The platform, which has become historical
from the Importance and variety Of political doctrines
that have there been expounded this occasion
fully occupied by leading citizens Of the metropolis.
The outside excitement was considerable. Guns and
rockets frequently discharged in front Of the Inst
tute, and large number OF people assembled,
evineng the greatest interest in the proceedings.
In the inside Of the Institute excellent band sta
toned platform, and during the gathering Of the
people executed of the well known ars of tho day
in highly sreditable manner Among the most popu-
lar meeting the tastes Of the immense audience the
immortal melody OF Burns SHOULD aud acquaintance be
forgot" Of those great metrca compositions that
commends Itself 10 the denizens Of every nationality b.
meath the sun.
The meeting called to order by Elijah F. Purdy,
who made q brief speech introducing worthy fellow
citizen - Depyster Ogden asPresident Of the meeting
Mr.. j. DgrsIx OGDEN, assuming the chair, spoke
- follows
BLEED IN our primary capacity Of citizens, 70 de-
hberste upon onr national crisis. We meet, indeed,
irrespective Of party but lot us remember that we ell
allegiance and indissoluby bound 10 party
and that party Is common country. The occasion
that oonvsues us this evening is Of more solemn and
momensus import than any that has before occurred IN
the history OF eur goysrnment Tns dismembermept VI
our Union 10 threatened. The South n separating from
the North State AFTER State where the system Of slave
vestieni resolves accomplish the end, they aye
Withdrawing from our coIfederacy and our once glor
Gus republic Keeling under the elect, destined to
- rent In twain. let us inquire briefly and impair
TALLY how stands the cause when our csnstitution
was framed the system q slavery recognized and
it's admitted rights defined and established. without
such recognition Union could have been formed
Unless be acknow edged and respected have right
70 expect that the Unien be preserved For thirty
years the spirit OF abolition has directed its efforts
against slavery exsis under the constitution In
half the States a republic. and the warnings Of the
parties N interest 1T the south and the OF
the friends OF the Union at the North go long and SO
often uttered have been unheeded and dfclt But the
present republican party, 80 called claims exemption
head AMI chief VI that party year after the passage OF
che compromise measures q 1850 speaking OF the at
tempt 70 enforce the Fugitive Slave law said the attempt
n this government 10 enforce II has aroused
constitutional resistance, which will not sceasc until
the saort .hsu be renqusbed adding that be retained
Staee had no Jurisdiction Of the subject We all
aware how many Of the free States have passed
late Union address 1T Boston be quoted We
forced socmnly TO declare that believe the State
Of hasao huets has violated our great national compact
with the coastacn and laws Of the United States The
republican chief at Rochester when he declared favor
Of the irrepressibe conflict said "Ths country
be wholly free altogether slave territorya revolution
has begun, and all know revolutions never 90 back
ed thu, their csndidasss cain % .isc,,o ~ srose
from his confession Of hts obligations 20 hhc
higher law, and his being soldier for life
and slavery that this great policy about 10 be
gursed in the government and that with this victory
States But II tbeee merely teachings Of an in.
diyidus not binding the party what was meant by
the motion IN the House OF Representatives IN March lt
which received sixty votes, In favor OF bill TO nterdct
slavery In all the naval depcs spd armores OF the United
states az wei IN the Dstrctef CoiurbiG and what
was the purpose TO be obtained by the recommendation
and subsp ton OF than sixty OF the leaders OF the
party TO Helper shameful book This inquiry is not
grateflt " hardly worthy task; bat II eutsses us
10 ak whether all this and FAR more that might be
added IL TO be considered compliance with the man
dates Of the constitution, or reacti9n Of V provisions
Is this the way 10 ensure domestic tranquility and
promote the public welfaref Il II act then natural for
the South cay they dad say long before the result
OF the election known that the republican candi.
date was elected they sboud feel degraded by living
under government controlled and ccuduaed by party
syowedy hostile 10 their interests and rights and which
openly Insults their feepgsS And Is not reasonable
for TO feci saRrieved at party that would resort TO
such dangerous means 90 subservc the ends OF political
ambition but, has the South Naelf doae nothing TO IN.
ve opposition and rcsstancef The repeal Of the Missouri
compromise, with the legislation that followed ~ was not
acne an act Of evil and wrong but q grievous ohcy
The public conscience was wounded, and the arrow
tshkled IN the wound u made. There had long
oeeh an aggregate of provocstion that went FAR
~ panate but not perhaps Justify the error. II Is
Wv uaed 10 only TO remind yon that thence came The
cyserVstve element that united all the active spirit Of
aDoon and contributed materially Ia aid the result OF
me last election and the South NAV rest assured that
he strength OF the votes then given was not so much in