National Republican., 1876-08-12
Tilden's War Record.

From the Burlington On. ID ENTERPRISE
The following declaration was telegraphed
to the st. Louis convention while in session,
and was intended as a bid for the influence of
War Democrats, and, as the sequel proved,
was successful in giving him the nomination:
"Governor Tilden's record, so far as the war
is concerned, cannot be assailed. His record
in the war upon public corruption and thievery
is also one that his opponents may envy or
libel, but cannot match"
As this telegram was intended to indorse
Mr.. Tilden's loyalty, an assertion so utterly
false and reckless demands statement of facts
which sets at rest Samuel J. Tilden's record
during the rebellion and his integrity as pub
lie man.
The day following Presi lent Lincoln's proc
lamation of April IA, 1861, officially announc-
ing the rebel attack on Fort Sumter, and call
ing for $4,000 ninety-day volunteers to defend
the integrity of the Union, few earnest men
assembled at private house in Fourteenth
street, New York, to consider the gravity of
the situation. Their deliberations resulted in
determining to issue a call for public meet
ing in Union Square, and the call was issued
In these few plain, expressive words
"Citizens of New York, in favor of maintain
ing the laws and Constitution of the United
States, are requested to attend meeting at
Union Square, on Saturday, April 20, at l
O'clock"
An invitation so entirely removed from par
tisanshiP, so imperative upon every lover OF
his country, was enthusiastically accepted by
men OF all parties, and resulted in a gathering
OF the people, in numbers, enthusiasm and
earGestness, never before or since equaled in
this country, and which electrified the entire
North by the sternness of its resolve to main
tain at all hazards the integrity of the nation.
The first name signed to that memorable
call " las that Of John A. Dix, but little more
than month before the Secretary of the
Treasury, under Buchanan, and the author of
the heroic order, "Whoever attempts to pull
down the American flag, shoot him on the
spot" John A. Dix was most fitly chosen as
the president OF that memorable meeting, sup
ported by the most emineGS men of all pro-
fessiOns and pursuits as vice presidents, among
whom were Peter Cooper, Archbishop Hughes,
James Boorngn, James Lenox, William B.
Astor, Moses Taylor, William +. Dodge, Robt.
B. Minturn, A. T. Stewart, Commodore Van
derhilt, VIM. NJ. Evarts, indeed, scarce q name
popularity known in the city of New York was
absent from that list.
The authors of the meeting, desirous to
unite all parties in its favor, considered IL
policy 10 Identify and present prominently In
the call the leaders of the Democratic party.
Mr.. Samuel j. Tilden was called on by per-
sOnal and political friend, gentleman then
and now at the head OF one of the great cor
porations of the country, and asked to sign
the call. This he refused to do. Amazed and
cOniounded that man of his recognized posi-
tiOn should refuse to support measures to
maintain "the laws and Constitution of the
Unite States" his friend urged Mr.. Tilden
wi h 10y al zeal, presenting to him the conse-
quences in public esteem IL he withheld his
name, but all his efforts and arguments were
useless. He never signed the call. But few,