The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-24
Letters from President Lincoln, Secretary
Seward, Lord Lyons,


Presidenk-William NJ. Evarts
Fir.t Vice sident-Henry A. Hurlbut.
Second Vice Presidert-C hares A. Stetson.
Cognselo's-Hon E. D. Morgan, William Curtis Noyss
LII, D., W. N. Brakeman, N. D.. and S. N Stebbins.
Assistant Counsellors-Le Grand Lockwood Edwin ]
Brown, Nathaniel Hayden, Simeon Draper. John W
Quincy, Samuel L. H. Barlow, Joseph II. Choate ant
Elliot c. Cowdin
Observation-Disclosures b wyman and L. P. Hubbard
The dinner, which was provided in the sumpuoui
style, was served at half past six O'Clock Among III
invited guests on the occasion Governor Curtin O
Pennsylvania General Robert Anderson and his brother
Judge Roosevelt, Judge DAILY Collector Barney Robert
Walker Jno. j. SAKE, &C. About $50 persons sa. dowr
10 dinner. Grace was said by Rev. Dr. Adams Among
the letters Of apology received by the Committee Of In
yitation were the following
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION
WASHINGTON, Dec. IL, 1861 I
Ny DEAR sRI have the pleasure to acknow ledge the
receipt this morning Of your kind invitation for the 22d
December next and to state that nothing but the exgen
CLOS OF public affairs could prevent from awaiting my
tender. -
regret the deeply the necessity that deprves
on this OCCASION since at former time have the memory
and the example Of forefathers furnished more in
ernctve our contemplation than when the
institutions they founded threatened armed nsur
fecton and all tho powers Of the government pledged
70 the support of the principles winch they toed and
suffered have the honor TO be. with great respect,
your obedient servant, ABR. LINCOLN.
To L. b. VIVIAN, Esq.,, Chairman.
LETTER FROM SECRETARY SEWARD.
DEPARTMENT STATE
WASHINGTON, Dec II 1861. (,
10 A. SrErsoN, Esq, Astor House.
EAR SR-Pray present my apology to the Sons Of New
England for declining their invitation to the annual New
England dinner My duties here allow little enjoy
men Of holidays. II IL Old England dinner in.
stead OF New England feast would certainly strain
attempt to show to across the seas that there
s no material benefit influence that can accrue
70 US that viii not also increase the prosperity and great
ness OF Great Britain and that every disaster that beas
the United States is also pregnant with suffering and sor
row sooner or later to DO borne by Great Britain. Ex
press my warmest acknowledgements 10 the Committed
ana believe me, ever faithfully, your friend.
wM II. SEWARD
LETTER FROM LORD LYONS.
Lord Lyons has only to-day had the honor to receive
tne hvitation dated the 2th Of last month"; which the
committee Of Arrangements Of the New England Society
to him He regrets extremely that his official engage.
make it impossible for him to accept ii.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 1861.
DESPATCH FROM GOVERNOR MORGAN.
Expecting to be able to accept your kind invitation
have not before acknowledged it. that duties
land festival this evening WIN you express your dis.
tngushed guests my regrets this and accept my cor,
dial thanks for the courtesy with which have honoed
meP am, &c, E. D. MORGAN.
LETTER FROM GOVERNOR sPRAGrE
No section OF our country is deeply interested the
war in which we are engaged New England, and
sometimes imagine that on the Of the Solth IL Is
war for the reconstruction Of the with New
England only left out. While thus far suffer only in
with the other loyal States 1t is yet apparent
enough that towards us, as New Engllnders with our
ultra anti slavery notros and high tariff interests
the feeling Of downright hate is chiefly entertained by our
Southern neighbors. How far we have deserved this
distinction will not discuss. II is enough for me that
our faults--and for o1e frankly acknowledge their ex
istence-have not Justified. and do not justify
this terrible assault Of wicked and misguided
upon national Institutions Tie South NAV
have been unnecessarily irrtated, and unjustly dealt
with; she may have had cause Of complaint but she
present reasonable and valid excuse for this war upon
the best government that the wisdom Of ever pro-
dnced But the war exists and the necessity is forced
upon loyal men Of defending their government not with
words merely, but with strong right arms. / am glad
that in such an exigency the men Of all parties New
England, as in other loyal States, have promptly
sponded IL the governments call Where much is given
much is required; and where much is at stake much is
expected in the way Of labor and sacrifice Much is ex-
pected Of New England and feel sa in saying she
viii do her whole duty. ! think know what Rhode
Island is and for her will pledge my word that while
this war Is prosecuted for tho maintenance
OF the constitution and the restoration Of the Union
dsloyal or neutral indifferent citizen will be found
within her BORDERS. Ny dear sir, trust shall not
forget that this rebellion Is based upon mis take that
the of the South have been deceived by reckless
and ambitious men touching our sentiments and pur-
poses. 1t should be object while vigorously prose
ting the war TO give the lie to- and substantatc
the statements by which thousands thousands of
honest men at the south have been missed Let
to it that when the war is ended
the Southern people shall blame their leaders for
having deceived them, and not for having confirmed
the THESE leaders nave reference
our motives In this way only It seems to me can we
store the Union--a union Of hands, and union of
hearts-and become again happy prosperous and pow
erful nation. do most heartily disavow other wish
than that of bringing together the belgerent States
without the loss TO any CT them of a single
right or privilege which il has heretofore enioved
But have time to enter the wide field towards
which these remarks are leading Allow to close
abruptly by Offering the following sentiment
The Sons OF New Engand--Wherever Providence may
cast their lot may their motto for their
that Of New Englands most gifted states man - Liberty
and Union, now and forever. one AMI mseparable
Thanking you most heartily your kind invitation
am very respectfully your obeden servant
WILLIAM spRAGuE.
LETTER FROM GOVERNOR ANDREW.
Governor Andrew, in declining, Of illness
and business the invitation Of the committee, wres:-
lie. us all hope that the next Pilgrims anniversary
will find our national peace restored the rights Of the
people secured, the government unchaenged by rebel
lion the happiness and welfare regarded Of every child
OF humanity beneath our flag, and our country started
blessed Of peaceful glory and of gene
benefaction to mankind. JOHN A. ANDREW.
LETTER FROM GOVERNOR BUCKINGHAM
Governor Buckingham, of Connecticut, declining the
invitation, says
With love the Of New England and for the in
sttuons founded and protected by their benevolence
wisdom, with admiration for their independence energy
integrity and love of liberty and unwaverng con.
huence in the perpanenco Of the American Union am
your ooeaient servant, WIN. "A. BCCkIAGHAM
l.. Is. WYMAN, Esq.
LETTER FROM DANIEL s. DICKINSON.
BNGBAMroS Dee. 9. 1861.
MY DEAR SIR am honored by your kind Invitation TO
the anniversary dinner Of the New England society in
the city OF New York. for the 22d Instant and regret
that intending 70 be absent from the State at the time
shall be unable to join the proposed fcsvt,es "a
greet my inability to attend the occasion must he
Of peculiar interest and he celebrated by every son Of
New England with unusual pride and praiGcation yhen
he points the efforts q his native land 10 resist ra
lion and preserve the Union. Sincerely yosrs,
, D, S. DICKINSON.
storrs and number of ladies admitted the ntcec,na,
entertainments Of the evening introduced hv i.
speech from Mr. EvARrs the President Of the society H
expressed thanks for the honor conferred on him !,
choosing him as President They had met celebra,,
that day which the rock Of Plymouth PRESSED
the first iootstep Of that energetic and creative powe
which has since the continent, and is stopped
be stopped at all in its sublime progress only by tn
all combining sea- Hitherto certainly until last ann
versary have only had occasion to congratulate our