The national Republican., 1866-07-06
THE FOURTH OF JULv IN NEW YORK.
The Fourth Of July was celebrated In New York

toru, ~ nine O'CLOCK, tne DIVISION took up Us I'M
Of march through the designated streets and ave
nuss. The Mayor and Common Council were hon
ored with . marching saluts at Union square
Major General Hooker and his lady we're present
The veterans Of 1917 also made their usual turn.
out, and marched with drum and afs to Crooks
Hotel where they toasted "ths day We celebrate, "
and fought their battles DER again.
The sscbems, warriors and chiefs Of Tammspy
Hall celebrated the ninetieth anniversary Of oui
national Independence in due and ancient form.
Their council chamber had been appropriately dec.
GRATED, and was we'll filed with an enthusiasts
audience. Grand Sacbsm John 7. Hoffman deiiv.
cred the opening address, and letters from Prssi-
dent johnson and Secretaries Welles and Seward
we're read amid much enthusiasm. The exercises
included the reading Of the Declaration Of Inde-
pendence, the recital of an original poem, and an
oration delivered by Richard 0'Gormsn.
| PRESIDENT JvBssoss LETTER.
| wAsHiSGroS d c., July 2, 1896
| Sin: thank you for the eordia, invitation ofthe
time -honored Society Of Tammany to participate
with them in the celebration OF the approaching
anniversary Of our national Independence. =
The national tone and patriotic spirit Of the In.
vita,ion meet my hearty approval They are indi.
cations Of a growing public sentiment, which, now
that the bitter strife of civil war has ceased re.
quires a renewal Of the pursuits Of peace and re.
turn to the Constitution Of fathers, rigid ad-
hercnce to its principles, increased reverence for
its sacred obligations; a restored, invigorsted and
permanent Union, and fraternity Of feeling that
shall make us, as q people, one and iudissouble.
There can be for the patriot no higher duty, no
nobler work. than the obliteration OF tue passions
and prejudices which, resulting from our late
culinary conflict, have retarded reconciliation and
prevented that complete restoration Of all the states
TO their constitutional relations with the Federal
UOyoFnment Which essentiul q he ma Ace unitv
strength and prosperity Of the nation.
Regrettng that my public duties will not permit
me to be present at your celebration, an, vory
respectfully, you're, ANDREW JOHNSON.
Hall, New York.
FBoA SECRETARY wELLEs.
NAVY DgPARrsEsr. July q 1859.
GENTLEMEN: have received your invitation and
| should be happy to participate with the Tam.
many Society, or Columbian Order,n in celebrating
the approaching anniversary Of our national indie
| pendence were l not prevented by public duties
10 the honor Of your society, it has in all times and
under all circumstances in war and In peace, been
faithful to the union Of the States and the rights
Of the States. At no period since Its organization
have its teachings and services been more required
than at the present, when the victorious arms OIL
the Republic, having suppressed sthe false theory
that the Union be divided by secession, or the
voluntary withdrawal Of a State from its Federal
relations and obligations we are compelled to en-.
counter the opposite extreme of compulsory exclu-
siOn by which the centrasts deny to eleven States
the representation in Congress which is guaranteed
to them by the Constitution This doctrine Of com
pusory exclusion is scarcely less Offensive than that
Of voluntary secession Each is fatal to the perpe.
tuity Of the Union After long aud exhausting
war, which has cost much blood and treasure,
the country needs repose, that industry. commerce.
and the arts Of peace may revive, and friendly re
lat'ons between the States and people may be re.
established. Friendly confidence among the people
to be encouraged, and must supersede hatred and
| revenge. No portion Of the States or people eau
be deprived Of their just rights without producing
estrapgement. respond most sincerely to the cor.
rect and patriotic views expressed in YOUR invita-
ton, and, regretting my inability to be present
with you respectfully submit the following senti.
ment: The Union of the States, only to be main
tained by faithful observance of The rights of the
States
Very respectfully, GIDEON wELLEs.
ToHs T. HoFFMAs, Esq., City Hall, New York
SECRETARY sEwARDs LETTER.
DEPAsTNESr OF STATE,
To m, Hon John E,Sa M1m,s'1SS G% S;; Ssrr r. isss
SIR: have had the honor TO receive the invita-
tion Of the Tammany Society for the celebration Of
the approaching Fourth Of July. am highly
pleased with the form Of the invitation. like
the motto which is placed at its bead-"The Union
must and shall be preserved" like the viguette
which IL ustrates IT, i like the associated hues
with which it is colored, namely: the red, white
and blue. like the temple oi liberty based upon
the TOck OF the constitution and protected by the
eagle OF the american continent like the stripes
and railroads, indicative of prosperity and pro-
gress; like the significant conjunction of dates
l776 and 1866 period Of ninety years. Why,
In looking Mt these figures we almost feel assured
that our republic has life Of at least one century;
alas, how many republics have been shorter lived.
would have had the flag of the Union which Is
on the right present In its azure field only th.
thirteen original States but especially delight in
the flag which is on the left hand, and in whose
enlarged field twenty.three stars are blazing which
have come out from tho deep cerulean within the
past Linety years, while the original thirteen star,
yet remain in their ancient place. all their morning
Iustre undimnshed.
| have had me differences, In my time, with
the Tammany Society, but long ago forgot them
ALL when recalled the fact that the society has
never failed to observe and honor the anniversary
| of National Independence; and the further fact
that during the recent civil war the Tammany So
cety sent its sons to fight for the Union, and with
unswerving d I.lty heartily supported the Federal
Government In Its struggle with sedition. In view
Of these facts and of the noble principles now
avowed i hail the Tammany SUcisty as q true
Union league. l rejoice with the society that the
conflict Of our arms has ceased that the rebelliOV
has been suppressed, that the authority of the
Government has been vindicated, and that the fsg
Of the Union aoa,s triumphsntly over ever foot
Of national domain. On the other hand, mourn
with the society that the perfect Union given to
us by our patriotic fore'athers has not yet been en-.
tirely restoredi that eleven sovereign States are
denied representation to the Federal Congress- and
are not recognized as coordinate parts 10 the ma.
tional Legislature.
How strange all this 10! We have killed disunion
outsight, and have killed African slavery with It,
and yet we are not completely reunited. II did
not feel assured that the American people cannot
suffer so great and fatal a soecisn to continue,
should say, as many others do, that we are at a
crisis But / have unbounded confidence in the
wisdom and virtue Of the American people 1t Is
said In Of the denial Of representation that
the States and their CHOSEN representatives still
continue to be sedtious and disloyal ask, Is
Tennessee disoyalR Is Arkansas seditious' Are the
Senators and Representatives Of either of those
States disloyaR desire In this respect that each
Of the two houses Of Congress will apply the consti
tutonal test, with oil the improvements Of legisa
tion upon it, and thus admit those States and Rep
resentatwes who are loyal, and reject only those
against whom the crime Of dsoyaliy shall be estab-
lished.
l believe with the Tammany Society that the
Union was created to be perpetuaj that the States
are equal under tho Constitutions that the restora.
tiOn of the Union by the recent war ought to be
acknowledged and recogn red by all departmou uts
of the Federal Government that n spirit Of ma epa.
uimity and fraternity should prevail in all our
councils, and that the soutb, having accepted Of
the lessons Of the war and reDquished the heresies
OF secession should lust far and 40 fast as she