The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-26
LATEST NEWS BY MAIL
or Conservative Men-Address and Resolu.
tions-Speech OF Secretary Seward.

In pursuance OF a call signed by william g
Bryant, George Opdyke, Thurlow Weed, ant
other leading members OF the National Unior
party, a public meeting was held at the Cooper
Institute, on Thursday night, 'of the citizen,
OF New York who sustained the national
authority In the war against the rebellion, who
the President In his annual message to Con
gress, and also In his recent veto message, anc
who earnestly desire to promote harmony In
the public councils OF the country, TO the enc
that full constitutional relations between the
Federal Government and all the States In the
Union may be speedily and happily estab'
lished." Thousands responded to this call, and
manifested great enthusiasm. Secretary Sew
ard was present, by special invitation.
The Hon. F. B: Cutting presided over the
meeting, assisted BY a large number Of promi.
nent citizens rs vice presidents. The meeting
was very enthusiastic.
David Dudley Field presented an address tc
the people of New York, and resolutions. The
address Is to the effect that the first question
before the people Is the great one OF pacifca.
ton, and what the country needs IL repose,
The conflict of arms has ceased, and the con.
fict Of passions, which led to that Of arms,
should cease also. Our heroic soldiers cherish
no enmities the only element Of disturbance
is the political condition Of the freedmen.
There Is no substantial disagreement
amongst loyal men respecting their civil
rights. We all agree that they must have the
civil rights Of any other class Of citizens. The
IISul Vi pclSOu ruo plOpSlt W w ouu II bc
sued, and to certify-in short, equality before
the law but whether they shall also have the
suffrage is n pending question. There can,
however, be no question whatever that, under
who shall or shall not enjoy the elective fran
chise belongs exclusively to the respective
States. New York has no more right to say
who shall or shall not vote in Virginia than
in New York. The elective franchise is not
a natural right, but a political trust. 1t is
even true that every person who is subjected to
the laws is entitled TO a part In making them
then every sojourner amongst us, every
foreigner, the moment he lands, is entitled to
vote.
Because blacks have fought for the country
that does not necessarily give them the right
to govern IL, or to participate in the govern.
ment. If 1t were otherwise, every brave boy
Union ranks should have n vote, without
waiting for years TO participate in the govern.
ment TO which he Is subjected.
The blacks fought for a country, and they
have it; they fought for freedom, and they
have it; we should welcome our emancipated
brother to the rights of manhood but when
we are asked to give all men of his race, at the
moment of their emancipation, the right to
participate in the Government, we must
answer In the words of one of their own mum
Der, more intelligent than many others, white
or black, "the able bodied only bear arms, the
able-minded only should vote" The address
cummends the Presidents veto, and says that
the exclusion as representatives from eleven
States now unrepresented in Congress OF
loyal men who were fairly elected and can
take the oath Is n manifest u%surpation. Ii
concludes by expressing confidence in the
integrity and fidelity OF Andrew johnson to
the principles in reference 10 which he was
elected, aud hearty commentator OF the gene
raj doctrines Of his two messages, and readi'
ness to support him in all constitutional mea-
sures for the public welfare.
TIL resolutions are to the same effect, and, In
addition, approve the action of Senator Nor
gan and Representatives Raymond and Oar
ling, in sustaining the Presidents veto.
The reading of the address and resolutions
was frequently interrupted by cheers and other
manifestations of approval, especially at those
points commencing President Johnson's policy
for restoring the Union, and his veto of the
Freedmen's Bureau bill.
SECRETARY SEWARD INTRODUCED.
Mr.. Cutting then introduced Mr.. seward
amidst the most deafening applause. In doing
SO, Mr.. Cutting said " tell the majority In
Congress that II they proceed 10 maggie ana
bargain for other and better terms, instead OF
fastening to make peace, they will be dis
placed by almost the unanimous voice OF the
country"
SECRETARY sEwARD's SPEECH.
Mr.. Seward said, after a few words ofintro'
duction: .
"What shall / speak of or about! The call
Of your meeting specifies the subject. But
first let me say / am not here as an alarmlst:
I am not here TO say that the nation is in peri
or in danger in peril if you adopt the opin,
ions, or in peril if you reject them in peril l.
You adopt the views Of the apparent or reaI
majority of Congress, or If you reject them
it is not in peril any way nor DO 1 thlnK the
cause of liberty and human freedom, the
cause of progress and amelioration or civil
zation, the cause of national ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
present or future, material or moral, is IN
danger of being long arrested, whether you
adopt one set of political opinions or another
1.-THE Union, that is to say, the nation, mas
been rescued from all its perils. The noble
ship has passed from tempest and pillows into
the verge of q safe harbor, and is now securely
riding into her ancient moorlngs Withouta bro
ken spar or a leak, starboard and larboard
fore and aft. There are some small reefs yet &c
pass as she approaches these moorings. Ont
pilot SAYS she may safely enter directly through
them; the other says that she must back, and by
lowering sail take time TO go around them. IL
is merely a difference of opinion between the
pilots. / think them both sincere and honest
but the vessel will go In safely one way OF
the other.
"The worst than can happen will be that by
taking the wrong instead of the right passage,
or even taking the right passage and avoiding
the. wrong one, the vessel may roll q niue, ano
some honest, capable, and even deserving
political statesman, President, or even Con
gresham, may get washed overheard: IL this
cannot be helped, 1t can be borne. Ii am one
OF the unfOrtunates, let no 1rlenu De cohcerneo
on that account. As honest, as good, or capa.
BILE politicians, statesmen, OF President, viii
make their appearance hereafter faster than
will be needed to command the ship as wei
and as wisely as any that have heretofore
stalked their hour on deck. Although l do no
think we are in a crisis, the question to-day IL
worthy of deliberate examination and conside-
ration"
MIR. Seward then went on to specify the
issue between the President and Congress, and
supported the veto of the Freedmen's Bureau
bill. He as much Us announced that q procla.
nation would soon come forth announcing
the Union restored, when he thought the
Freedmen's Bureau should cease its opera
tions. He fully supported the Presidents
policy.
Mr.. Seward drew a happy illustration from
the farce Of the NERVOUS Man and Man OF
Nerve" and remarked that "this, i think, Ia
the difference between the President, who Is q
man Of nerve, in the executive chair at wash
ington, and the nervous men who are In the
House of Representatives. The President is
In harmony with all the States that were In
rebellion. Every executive department and
judicial department are in operation, or are
rapidly resuming the exercise OF their func'
tons. Loyal representatives, more or less
from these States, nen NlToseA loyalty may DC
tried by any consiitutif 81 legislative test,
are now standing at U81Sd0ors OF Congress,
and have been standing there for three months
ia anAAn HrhAnh n A