New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-19
THE wORkINGMEN OF NRw.YORK
Protest Against Mayor Gnnthcr's Letter

III
Protest Against Mayor Gnnther's Letter.
The officers of the Workingmen's Association
Of New York called yesterday at the Mayors Office to
protest against the destinations against their character
MS law-ahding citizens in which the Mayor INDUCED In
his late letter to MsorGen. SANFORD. The Mayor be
ing absent the following letter was served upon bis
| Chief Clerk:
NEw.YoRK July IS, 1861
TO His Honor, c. GODFREY GuSHER Mayor Of @e Guy
| Of Msp.fork
enoe Of the Workingmen's Democratic Republican
Association" respectfully ask leave TO submit for your
consideration brief statement of some OF the views
they entertain relative to the duties and responsibilities
Of the Workingmen Of this city at the present
| crisis IN the history Of our country. This
expression might. on superficial view. bc deemed
| impairment and by be treated with
contempt hut believing that the Industrial classes
have an important duty TO perform In the Held the
workshop aud at the ballot boxhcse manifold duties all
contributing the preservation Of our beloved country
take the hazard Of appearing presumptuous N order
that may thereby make contribution TO the great
object dear 10 every loyal heart-the restoration oil
peace and Union. We should not have presented our
selves to your notice in tits relation did We not con-
ceve that your letter TO Maj Gon SANFORD affords US
| o warrant for 50 doing.
We confess TO feeling surprise the reading OF
that letter At time when the incnrslons OF armed
forces OF Rebels engaged In nal gnant and desperate
attempt TO overthrow our Government, threaten the
most serious consequences and the Government pceds
the support Of every In tho effort 10 restore tie
national iursdctio the voice II New. ork should bo
heard oudest in the response Yet you feel justified In
declining the aid required under apprehension that
the military force will be necessary 70 repress disorders
In city We feel warranted In dissenting from
the view tins expressed. We believe the Workingmen
Of New.York have had exhibition Of the nature and
results Of civil war In oar country. and OF violence
and lawlcss outbreaks IN own stTcct sufficient ~
make them than guarded ng nst the met AZ
empts to precipaie OF tie events Of last
July.
=, o.. loo many xlcs In our midst
who bear evidence o. the terrible results Of that memo
rabc weekthcrc have been too many taxes 10 pap and
too many lessons ughtso 10 renew the eNperi
ment Of 1893. The BorkH9neH o. Now-York are not
rioterS A few reckless and dssou'e men, who ybrate
between The pcniteniiay ard the dark dons Of crime
are not the Representatives Of the Workingmea OF the
metropolis Nor tbs class again teTrify the honest
workngmen into submission 10 their brutal demands.
We believe that sou throw yourself back with full
confidence the industrial masses and appeal ~ the,
TO sustain you In the maintenance II law and order aud
you will have bodyguard OF which you may well be
proud. IL would Lave been In perfect harmony with
your character the reprcsesatiye II Democratic re-
form ~ have thus trusted yotsef 20 the people In your
efforts at "a aid the Government and preserve the
| honor Of the city.
| You remark that "enlightenod solfnterest Is en-
phatcaly the synonym VI patriotism" Permit Us 10
say that the converse Il not less true; Pofriosn IL
empkdicdly the synonym Of sal7AtsHed sSf isies. II
especially true Of tho free country 10 which We i've
Under the fostering c1e the benecont Legislation and
the democra institutions OF our country the poorest
citizen has opportunity for advancement and pros
perity not equaled in any other nation Oh The globe
There here titled nobtics privileged classes.
no restrictive land tenures no established barriers 10
prevent the humblrst citizen from gaining place of
honor education and wealth If ho possess the elements
Of character to attain IL. The destruction Of these
nstiiuions-or their material notification b. innova
tions-wouh be disastrous 20 the interests Of every
nottingham Hence. pdlTt0'tsE. Loyalty and devotion
TO the Union becomes only another word for that se
interest which shOnld lead every pledge all his
influence and ELL hs resources 10 maintain the Govern
ment In the fierce ordeal through which 1t lie called TO
pass.
with established laws Of trade. and high taxation for
few years are nothing compared 90 the restoration Of
eur former peace and union. The costy sacrifice We
ere making IS indeed great; but this Is the purchase
money for the generations TO come and for the OF
universal liberty
The Workngmcn OF This clty and OF the country
should speedily learn grand truth Wc arc now
gagged a. nation in fighting the battle OF DeInocracv
against Aristocracy and Tyranny Tho petty attempts
OF denagog1es to narrow doEn Cat great contest into
mere struggle for oftc, for ftyore political
, iGea cannot tnd rs 10 the grander nature Of our
struggle. We are to-day fighting sor Democratic
government against the combined forces Of Arsocrncy
In tho Soutwhch believes that al abOrcrs should be-
slavcsand the advocates aud agents OF Monarchy in
Europe who believe in the divine tight Of kings"
Althe influences and interests OF the adyocates and
friends Of tyranny aud arstocracy In the Old World
well the New, are to-day srayed ia the effort 10 de-
stroy the only democratic government In the world
The hundreds OF thousands OF men from other lands
who have sought homo ia our country and an asylum
from the oppression and burdens Of monarchy ia Eu.
rope bound by all the principles OF liberty and the
and resist the efforts OF the arstocratic enemies OF
democracy in their attempt TO destroy tho American
Union
We are as O nation the advance guard Ia the cause
of human liberty and progress. At this hour are
doisg picket duty Oh grand scale IN the great strug
gle Of human rights against sbsolusm and despotisn.
We have no right TO sleep at our post, aud he who
weighs this contest in the scale against few dollars
few ia reoreant to bis trust. and unworthy
Of home In the free land Of our love.
We take this opportunity to caution the Workngmon
of the city aud country against class Of insdous aud
deadly enemies Tho agents Of the traitor aud their
sympathzers. In New.YoIk and other cities en-.
gagged In their efforts TO destroy the confidence Of the
Woraingmcn in the Government and then ao elton Tor
tie Union end 10 array them in opposition 20 its inter
ests. These plausible ana well-drCssed traitors, Ia
order 10 obtain influence among the Workingmen pro-
frss TO be " Democrats" They c1fsgpi The air they
breathe with their pretensions Of DcmocTgcy while
they at hcart seeking 10 crush ou The rights and
interests OF the Democratic MASSES. TLcy are Dn.
base cOnnerfcits OF Democracy, and have no more
right within the ranks OF the tsua Democratic party
than has wolf in peaceful shccgfod. We vain the
Wcrkingmcn against the rcachey O! thoeo agents Of
Rebellion for 50 surely rs they aIe sodnoed into com
piance with their schemes 80 surely viii iloy be be
trayed they have been by the ineS who have plunged
TIE country into wef end bloodsicd.
We would rc;nnd your honor that the Workingmen OF
the country did not commence tie Rebellion II ggas
the WON or a class OF leaders who had entered into
secret conspiracy Of many Years growth. and who de-
fled the will Of tie people. The first gun that opened
the var at fot >amter was not fired by wOrkingmnu
but By Mr. hnfiu. veteran traitor OF Virginia WHO
had Joined TIC c0rspiraiOrs. The WOrknQmcn of Vr-
gnia voted for the Union but the Governor and few
OF the leaders determined Secef sion and war and
supported by Of the arist0crats and ssy
dealers OF the state Virginia, by this act Of few 81
the politicians has become the cemetery FOR the Union
and has paid fearful price for tho honor Of being TIE
baffle ground Of tCIsOn The Leaders have bce fhc
destro,ers Of tie people. The Worlt.qnen OF New.
York did not originate the riots ~ lrt} They were
the result Of long and careful abors the part Of