The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-02-24

tho material aid propretors Of the S. Nicho-
las Hotel where tho banquet spread there was muci
to elicit sy npathies aud excite tho patriotism Of thu
latter day admirers Of the immortal Washington Among
the dsting ushed guests present were judges aldermen
common ooanclmen, police commissioners, superv eors
heads Of departmsnss clerks, doosksepers &c To midi
vduallze the head OF tha table, the right Of thu
Mayor, was seated United States senatoresct Morgan
and the len Judge Holman. At the guests
table aIso ~, John Van Bursn, Judge Accunn,
Judas Sutherland, ". Valentine, nc, &c Al
Moncref, Leonard, Mccarthy and Hilton General Wal
orage, Assemsyman iedwith, .. ridden, R. = Hutch
nGs Charles Cornell street Commissioner Assembly
men Sherwood and Brockett, &c. &c.
Ample justice having been done to the good things pro
yided and inc cloth removed the first regular toast OF
the evening was proposed by Mayor opdyke the follow
MAYOR oPDyKxs SPEECH.
GEsTiEAEN-in compliance with resolution OF the
Common Council Of this city, meet This evening V
honor the memory OF Washington by celebrating tho
hundred thirty FIRST anniversary Of his birth IL
meet that tins event, suspicious 70 the cause Of
popular government should be held in sacred rernem
bsanoe by every friend OF civil liberty .hroughous
tho wotld But to the Cosntrymen Of Washington.
who have enjoyed the benencent fruits OF hts life,
hore special fer generating HIS memory
th noe earnestnoss than before Passing events
prove the nestahle value OF his example and precepts
portion OF cSnnrymen regardless OF his teachings
and WARNINGS, have basciy attempted TO break up tho
glorious Cneuwhc Washington did much TO create,
aud 10 bring discontinue dpdshane the STARRY mt
Sasy and od 10 their own Sest u"rests II our
ssterhoOd Of Staes havo raised tho standard Of revolt
against the best government that dumas WISDOM ever
devised For nearly two years they nave opstt-
nately resisted authority. In this suicidal work
| they have displayed an energy and determination
worthy OF q better They have taxed their re.
tho 81, and have succeeded, by an OK
haustive transcription in bringing into tho field an army
Of at least 500 ,0CO Nor is this ali Through ap.
pe,s the envy and hatred which snccessut expert
ment democratic government has engendered IN the
hearts all arsocras and despots shcy have secured
the sympathy OF leading governments OF Eu
rope, This sympathy Is not wholly passive but ever
and anon crops ont IN acts of renaness TO u.s. ami ia
thrAnt caf nsor he
resortng every possible device 20 the seeds OF
dssenson at the North and especially between the Fast
and the West but il these efforts trust they doomed
to utter disappointment. With such an enemy, thus
active and adToit, and stimulated by the hope OF
foreign alliances Of tho most formidable character
it behooves every friend OF tho constitution and
the Union the glorious Inheritance bcqueathed TO US
by Washington and his coaborers, TO stand fr as the
everlasting hills in their defence. All party questions
should be postponed all party dscord hushed into sence
until their SUPREMACY s secured by the perfect re
establishment Of the national authority throughout the
land. II the rebels should succeed IN making an offensive
alliance against with Great Britain and france,
either OF tnet IL would present combination Of hostile
power which could not fail to excite the anxiety OF every
lover Of hin country But il would also, trust nerve
F,z amss when unexnectedly Confronted py tho hosts
clan or Roderick Dhu and in his defiant words TO say
the allied Powers who should thus menace our country
Como ono, come all, this rock shall ay
| From its Arm base as soon as l.
Tho MAYOR, in concluding, gave the .oowinS senti
The Memory OF Washington III his coun,rymcn no
|
| ampc,
Tie toast was drank in solemn silence
| Music By the band.
| Hon. .IoHa a.. HoFFNAs responded
| The Mayor proposed the next toast which US fol
lows--
The Constitution Of the United states As written in
srumont tho REGULAR feature OF institutions ordained
aud established TO form more perfect union, establish
JUSTICE ensure domestic tranquility, provide or the
defence promote the genera! welfare and secure tho
blessings Of liberty 70 our and posterity may
IL eyer be maintained invioate % carry out all the objects
for which II wi9 established.
The toas. was drank with great enthusiasm
Music by tho band <, +,
SPEECH or HON. JOHN VAN BCREa
Hon John Van Buren, responded Ho said he was not
one Of those who looked with apprehension upon tho do
parIures from The constitution which had occurred until
they had reached individuals and resulted In which
mps. be resisted corrected The time wiil however,
when there win DO full and perfect redress Cor every
individual who suffered during tho war by those
departures the constitution These Questions viii
then DO discussed without danger the pubic a
charge OF impeding tho progress OF the war; Whether
for good or evil, we were engaged III war, ana IL was
% Ss every mean % ha NJ o
down this rebellion. ds rot believe this DO
put down by discussing how il orginatcdwhether tho
past acts or tho oycrnment have been wise uEwsc
believe TO take II az fnd IL, and 70 70
through with Il TIL IL Is finished And when il is
finished there will be day VI reckoning for those who
bought il about day or settlement tho orgi-
majors o: tho wherever they may be found. II is
undoubtedly true that differences OF opinion OK
ist ~ 70 tho origin OF tho war, but tho war
Is here and 10 determine what 70 do with
gard 70 IT, took occasion lately to announce VIA, my
course would be in regard TO t. II rs, my judg.
ment carried by those who resist tho OF
the United States. and who arc IN open defiance to tho
stution. There in tho constitution
any state to secede from the Cnicn and TO set up 60
vcrnmcnt in hos lly to tho government OF the United
States applause Ten or eleven states have doIe so,
but IL violation OF the constitution, ~ wich you have
done honor. And that violation DO The only
way such vioiatan can no met that 49, b. Tho armed
force Of tho government and every loyal ci,zca tho
| United states IL, in my Judgment, boand to assist
| the government IN putting down this rebellion
J constitutional rights. II has been charged
against that have changed my position since the
election with regard 10 the have not ne Ii
had should hesitate IN admitting IT, never CLAIM,
to act speak Tor anybody Dat myself. ! am but a
private citizen and delegated authority and there
foro have q right TO change my opinion every ton
minutes II like. and nonc have right 10 complain. But
am mol awar that have done elect on
declared mysc favor OF vigorous pr 0. tho
| war. Believed that we had come to That in the
condition Of things In this country when party urgaLa
tons and party consideration ought Mt crate tlal
tho whole country in war on The brink of ruin
and hen y was Iexa constitutional duty 70 have au
etectioa. II believed The prosecution o. the could
worth, would have haso voted i@ him. Pa, be
prsecutsd by the election OF Seymour, voted for
The pcslti maintained then precisely the position
.inninair now at this moment. Always said that the
wr should be- prosecuted; but that my udmclt Tire
way 10 do IL ,yas 20 ,at down amitia mayor, who was
The bitter q sny o. the Inm.5der and that !;
Grnera Mcclellan (Appliufe.) kapported ''cy mour,
who declared himself IN favor Of aygoroda
Of the wr and who declared himself opposed 10 sunion
or tho recognition OF the Southern coniedcracy and
| that while he had voice raise or an arm 10
! strito-so long his life spared he would
! never assent to the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of tho United
| States. 'ppause.) la the meantime attempts
! made To salts those who aFrayei against
the government that they might give their hostility
as there warrant In the institution Tor their
secession rnm the uniou aud that they could not succeed
a. such an attempt, except by gons Lto convention
consisting Of other states THIS pro sion received
| with entire want OF cordalty-wih entire want VI
rcspcc, indeed They declared that they hal perfect
right TO 20 out-that they a ~, and nde
pendent and that they will not treat with
any who do corced. their rgtt to SELF
TO their right scpa cSsten e. and Their cam
10 boundaries ho ascesaued by Congress. To ibis
! vii assent long God spares my lic.
(AppLusc.l II Is perfectly die To talk of tcat-
| ing with them. At the present. time have
doubt that tho motives Of those who desire confer
with the Souh.are entirely honorable aud Just The ide,
originates with mea who have my sympathy. Take toe
example Illinois, No in the United .t,tes has q
warmer rcga for tho people of that state ihan I'VE
No New York democrat can fail to take IN hterest In
the eope that state. AZ the Charleston Cow ntou
the obi ct of MASON, Slell and Ell. Iays Z" Gus,
stephen A. Douglas as an Illinois dcmocrat tchee }
II ought not 10 DO forgotten by any loyal moi
tina, however bravely all tho people Of the