New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-02

by the entrance OF fO4Ic NatN EVNc-ei' ufO ia az
pcssible-with banners bearing such inscriptions as
"Hit him again Opdyke, :
He is only " God ~
Alta o'clock Russell SMITH, Chairman of the
Committee of Arrangements, called the meeting to
order and nominated for President the Hon. Edward
p. Cowles. The nomination was acceded TO with en-
thusiasIn.
SPEECH or JUDGE COWLES.
Judge CowLES on taking the chair said:
FELLow-ClTIzEXs: thank you for the honor Of
being called upon to preside over the deliberations OF
ths large body of NY fellowciizens of the City of
Eew-York. The periodical time Tor electing the
Chief Magistrate of our city upon us; and rarely II
ever in its history have her citizens been called upon
10 discharge this duty under circumstances more In
teresting or important than now exist, when their
action would arrest to greater extent the attention
of the country Ell large. The municipal ailsirs of
this, the great commercial emporium ofthe Western
eontinenteat all times subjects OF vast interest to
our citizens-demand at the presenttime our peculiar
attention. 1t has been a subject, not alone Of
anxious observation, bur of wel1Ounded ALARM that
during the last decade the OF this city, in
q time OF profound peace aud Of great commercial
and general prosperity, have been nearly If NOT
uuite trebed; while facts, elected by authorized IN
vestiealions and the action Of grand uries, have &C.
nonslrated that, for large portion u sucu increase
OF the burdens o. the citizen, we are indebted 10 the
frauds aud abuses peryadiDg different departments Of
our City Government. To arrest these evils nothing
more Is needed than combination OF all good
citizens IN electug 10 the different Gerartments Of
our MunjciUe Government honest, capable and faith
ful men--nieu the patty Of whose past characters
are guarantees for TIE faithful administration OF
their rusts In the lull confidence that we are prop
erly performing our share OF this duty, We have IS
sembled present 70 the electors OF tins city and
10 recommend for THEN SURFACES IN the approaching
election for Mayor, orr wel-knowD highly hoAored
and DISTINGUISHED fellow-Citizen, the Hon. GEORGE
OPDYKE. Loud applanse.l / snail not pause to
pass any eulogium upon hImi n needs none. AZ "a
man we all know him TO be honest, upright
End honorable; as merchant, to have
been one OF aekno lodged ability, successful
enterprise and unsullied regulations as repre-
sentative of the people IN our Legislative halls
10 have been devoted and faithful to the best inter-
ests Of the city and State. Into his hands we all
feel and know ihat we may commit, with safety, the
municipal affair Of our city, And upon all OF these
grounds we present him TO our ielow-ciNlcns, feet
INC thai In toe election Of such 10 the Chief
Magistracy of our city, We not only promote It's best
interests, but do honor TO ourselves. Applause
might pause here, treating tle OBJECT OF ms meet
ing one having Sole and eAei9sIVe Le1eIenoe 70 gu,
Iocal affairs aud government. But the pres Mt we'll
known oceupa6t Of tine Mayoralty OF this city, who
Is also the leading competitor OF our freud for the
future possession Of that place OF trust ana power IN
n recent address 10 portion OF ms iellow-eltl1ens,
has challenged the propriety OF a support OF Mr..
Opdvke uDon the ground that In the present great
national conflict OF arms, Mr Opdyhe-as he AYERS
belongs TO party which iavoIs the waglng OF thu
war for the sole purpose OF eftctlng the elnauclpa
ton of the slaves. Having boldly made this charge
II is proper that 1t should receive some notice.
will not stop here to canvass or comment upon tie
political anecedents, as regards ttis rebellion OF the
author Of this charge II Is TO be hoped that he has
changed some of bis views since the period when he
pronounced the Withholding by our police authori-
ties of cargo of from Southern traitors az an
outrage upon the rights OF State in open rebellion
which be would redress ii he possessed the power
If he has changed these views--if he has ceased TO
advocate or 10 aid in seeking to accomplish the
withdrawal OF our city from the Federal Union
either with a view TO its ultimate alliance
with the rebellious Confederate States, OF Of
making her free city, like those Of Germany
ii, as he now assures us, he is true 10 our
Tag and ready to 60 all iii his power TO
crnsh this rebellonwe will accept the declarations
with all Of hope and confidence with which be may
inspire But, with reoollectious Of the past
shall Also in turn, challenge bis right 10 Sit
In judgment upon the merits of bis distinguished
peutor, whose name is now, as IL always has been,
Synonymous With patriotic devotion to the country
and loyalty to its flag. Applause. 1t is proper,
however, for ne 10 say that baye the authority of
Mr. Opdyke himself for the assertion that i. is not
true-as has been charged-that our candidate nas
been is in favor OF prosecution OF this war as
war of emancipation merely. applause He be-
leves that the part Of the Union tina Is war Of
eefense-a war waged by traitors and rebels against
the integrity OF the United States for the overthrow
of te Constitution aud the destruction of the Union
And he Is for resisting that and for putting down
this vast, widespread rebellion, with all the power
of the Government, and all the means it can COM
mand. Tremendous cheering From the time this
conspiracy against the Union first began TO make its
demonstrations in the hgTbor Of Charleston down TO
the present time be and we all have seen tho African
population Of the South used and employed by the
Coniederates for the construction of intreDchmente
batteries forts, and the mounting OF guns in bostl-
ty to the power OF our Government. Tie batteries
that frowned upon fac al Fort Sumter
were constructed mainly by slave labor The
same has been the CAGE regards the Rebel batteries
st Fort Pickens. Those guns which, from the earth
works at Stone Bridge, hurled death upon our Ma.
t,onal soldiery, were mainly mounted and in part
served by slaves. Sensation. At this point the
Eighteenth Ward Opdyke Club came in, and re.
ceiyed three cheers. They bore Wide-Awake
torches, aud a banner, on which was portrait OF
MI Opdyke. Organized working-parties, consist
ing OF slaves, are now regularly engaged in the
Southern armies, and graphic descriptions OF their
spirit and zeal are found ia Southern journals. Or
gained corps OF armed soldiers are now being raised
for and are found in the ranks of Southern troous
Proclamatons, since tie landing of our gallant
troops on the soil Of South Carolina have been issued
by the authorities there calling for the services Of
large bodies OF slaves 10 throw W ntrenched works
for the protection OF Rebel troops while nea,iv IN
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