The New York herald., 1862-02-23
CELEBRATION AT COOPER INSTITUTE.
Grafton by Hon. George Bancroft.

Club, and the delightful instrumental performances OF
Wallaces full band In order to prevent any overcrowd
ing Of the hail. tickets of admission issued by the
Committee, by whom they distributed gratuously
but notwithstanding this precauon to secure comfort
for ALL the hall literally crammed and four or
five thousand persons obliged 10 leave without
getting near the DOORS
At the appointed hour his Honor the Mayor intro
ducsd to the audience by the Chairman Of the Joint
Committee Of the Common Council, who mmsdiatey
opened the ceremonies with the following remarks-
LADIES AND GESTLEMEy-We enjoy rare privilege TO-
day. We are permitted to assemble here under most
suspicious circumstances to commemorate the hun
dred and thrteh anniversary OF that day which
civil liberty its truest friend and ablest defender
Since we became nation hallowed memories have al
ways clustered around that evenul day; but be-
fore have these memories been vivdly awakened.
Traitors have attempted 10 destroy the noble political
ediice that Washington spent his life in establishing
But recently their wicked Efforts assumed the most g
gantic proportions To-day, thank Cod the dark cloud
is passing away The strong and stout hearts Of
our noble enthusiastically nerved by a righteous
cause and by that venerat0n for the Union which Wash
ingtOn so eoquenty enforced in his Farewell Address
dealing blows under which the rebellion is al
ready staggering 10 its fall never trust to its
hallowed head again.
1t is under these bright promises that
the day and to listen TO the lesson teaches from the
lips Of one whose native eoqHence and historic
admirably qualify him for the task.
After prayer by tho Rev. DR.. Tying and music by
wallace's Band, washington's Farewell Address was
read by George H Moore ESQ., Secretary Of the Hisor
cal Society, in which he enthusiastically appaudcd,
particularly when he 10 those points Of the address
which treat Of foreign and domestic difficulties.
A new national anthem, by William Ross Wallace,
entitled God Of the Free" given by the Union
Glee Club and in which the audience joined We give
below the words, in order 70 AFFORD all opportunity Of
learning and singing it. The air is cold Hundred.n
GOD OF THE FREE.
God OF the free upon Thy breath
Our flag s for the right unr0ed,
Az broad and brave a. when ts stars
First lit the halowed time Of old.
Tor Duty still its folds shall fiy;
For Honor still its glories burn ~
Where Truth, Religion, Valov guard e.
Tho patriots sword and martyrs urn.
No tyront's impioue step is ours;
No luntsf power on nations rolled;
Our nAgi-for friends . starry sky
For traitors, storm In every fci!
thus wen keep nation q lif>
Nor fear tho bolt by despots hur.-
The blood Of all tho world ID here,
And they who strike as strike the
God Of the free. nation bless
And make its life star Of hope
For all the struggling Of the earth
Then shout beside thno oak North
o South wave answer with thy palm,
And in our Unions heritage
Together sing tho nations psalmi
THE GRAFTON.
Mr. GEORGE BANCROFT, the orator Of the day. was mex
introduced by the chairman, and spoke as folows-
MEN or NEW YoRK-As the organ of the citv OF Nev
York this occasion, it is my first duty to remind vou
that thanks TO Almighty God for the patriots who
achieved the independence Of the United States and who
formed "ths unity Of government which constitutes MS
people, To-day we declare TO peoples and princes
that that Union complete and shall be impaired is
dear to U.s. and shall be preserved. (Applause) The
wise and the good in each hemisphere desire us 10 CON
one every fibre Of the sensitive heart the ndi
visible France in spite Of appearances throbs in
favor of existence nation the people OF England
shall believe are with us so long as there among
them men like Bright and Stuart Mill applause The
most wonderful Of Improvement the history of
the race is the witness that n nation Italy
has learned from us to adhere 70 her passion FOR
bringing together the parts which the senshpess
Of oppression had dismembered, and the III cement
ed fragments OF Germany derive from us a hope
Of better reunion. Now. in the day of our tribuia
tion the people have proved that they inspired with
life by the grandest spectacle the world witnessed
in their uprising the majesty OF undivided conviction
power and determined purpose in Their mn
repnng resignation to suffering and prvaton their SUBJ
lime patience under strange discom6tures and weary de-
lays and long continued inactivity, from inability and
perpexty or from judgment and choice In their out
spoken Joy when the spell broken Of the seeming pa
raysis Of their gigantic preparations in the heartness
OF their response Major General Grant when he pro
posed "to move Immediately on the enemys works
Applausc) Now the rulers OF the earth will come TO
know that under the constitution which makes us one
people, there exists authority that ALLEVIATE sn-
gle inch Of the territory Of the United states-(ap-
plause)-that while claim for each individual the
right emigration, there possible conspiracy com
binaton convention that discharge any one citizen
from his aeg lance SO long as he remains on our soil
though each may for himself dissolve allesiance
by self exile and flight These many and increasing
United States one now and for coming ages (Cont
nued applause
PRINCIPLE n or THE GOVERNMENT
The only ground Of hope for the perpetuy our Union
ington spoken in this city. when in the presence OF
your fathers Washington standing under the canopv of
the sky took the oath to support the constitution he re-
turned into the Senate chamber 10 interpret the rst
Congress the principles Of great charter the nt
policy the nation TO pursue 1hsn that he laid
down as their rule the pure principles Of
priv - Uth0 eternal md
right which Heaven itself has ordained" And the House
Of Representatives usng the pen Of Madison to frame
It's answer, accepted his enlightened maxims, and
owned the obligation 10 "adors the Invisible hand
which has led the American people through 80 many
destiny Of republican liberty" On these principles the
government which makes people WAS put in mo
ne anS Ss 70 were
ton Of the Middle Ages were falling During the half
century which succeeded France underwent more revo-
lutions than can readily count up; Spain had many
forms Of rapid succession the dynasty OF
Portugal driven for refuge TO South America the
empire Of Germany down In the whirlpool OF reyo-
luton Russia has been convulsed by fearful blot for
nsurrcction; Italy many times reconstructed; the
Pope lost and won temporal power, and has been al
most shorn Of II again the institutions Of Great Britain
have been thrice essentially modified by the annexation
Of Ireland, by the reform OF Parament-which was in
fact a revolutonand by opening the doors Of its two
Houses 70 Of all creeds.
PROGRESS or CORRUPT INFLUENCE
During all these convulsions the United states stood
unchanged admitting none but the slightest medinca
tions In charter, and proving itself the stable
government Of the civilized world. lApplause) But at
last we have fallen evil days" The propitious
smiles Of Heaven -such the words Of Washington
can never be expected nation that dsrcgards the
eternal rules Of order and right" During eleven years
Of perverse government those rules disregarded
and IL came 70 pass that who should firmly the
sentiments Of Washington and Jefferson and Franklin and
Chancellor Livingston dsfranchised for tho public
service that the spotless Chief Justice whom Washing
ton placed at the head Of our Supreme Court could
or confirmed. Nay, the corrupt influence in
vadcd even the very home Of Justice. The nnal
decree Of the Supreme Court, IN IT, decision on q
be present Cpef Justice has on one smorabo appeal