Year: 1863

The largest popular gathering ever held
in N. Y. City met on Monday the 25th
inst The meeting was presided over by
Geu. Scott, and was addressed by Geo.
Bancroft, Henry J. Raymond, John Van
Buren,, Daniel S. Dickinson, and others.
Mr. Bancroft spoke as follows:


Two years ago the purposes and acts of the re


bellon forced the faithful citizens of the United
States to rise in arms and prove that we are
people-that we possess country. Every hour
of the long and terrible conflict has raised 1t IN
importance the eyes of the whole civilized world
rest upon US the industrial classes OF Europe
bend toward US in sympathy and hope as to their
champions ; and the question is found to be not
merely whether the United States shall be strick-
en- from the family of nations, but whether the
vital principals of freedom shall be preserved.
Applause. The imperative call OF duty cheers
us to the struggle more than ever for unless We
succeed, the power OF the people whlch perVades
all history as prophecy, is beaten down, and
there is no other Western hemisphere where the
struggle can be renewed. We have no choice {;
we must persevere If we would build up the
home of humanity-if we would safely transmit
the regeneratng principles that gives lie It's val
ue-we must persevere. The result cannot De





nearly exhausted, while our own prosperity has
hardly been impaired we must press onward
with united zeal, and ''win the victory OF endu-
rance horn" TCheers. We meet to-day with
out reference to party to pledge ourselves to one
another for the vigorous prosecution OF the war
until right shall triumph. But while we reserve
to ourselves the utmost liberty of judgment,
both OF men and measures. it is but an act OF
simple justice and heroic truth to say that the re-
bellion found not even plausible excuse in the
Administration which last came into power. NO
sooner had the elections passed over than those
who succeeded made every effort to allay excite.
ment. A party had been formed that seemed
pledged to prohibit the introduction of Slavery
into the Territories, and yet the men OF that par
ty, after deliberations, not in an unauthorized
and insignificant Peace Congress, so called, but
in the constitutional halls Of legislation, Joined
in organizing the territories of the United States
without the restriction in the fundamental law OF
any one of them, leaving the event to the action
of natural causes. motion was even made and
countenanced by intimate friends of the in
coming President to bring vast territory
under the name of New Mexico into the Union as
an Independent State without any such restric.
tion, and at a time when the municipal law OF
that Territory sustained Slavery with an extrav.
apant hyperbole of intolerance. Nor were the
friends of the present President wanting In CIV
ing assurance that his Administration would be
as little marked by hostility to Slavery as II the
Chair had been occupied by Madison or Henry
Clay. Moreover the Generals of the Presidents
appointment were loud in protesting their read
mess in the midst of war; to pause in their career
and assist in suppressing any possible rising OF
slaves. But yet, under all these circumstances.
30 infatuated was Slavery that IL still passionatey
pursued its purpose, and for the sake Of founding
a Con'cderacy on a basis on which no enduring
Government can rest, aimed a blow That was IN
tended to be fatal to the country aud to the lib
erty Of man. The war was, under every aspect,
forced upon the Northern States 1t was war
from which they could not escape. Had they
proved cravens. they would have stood before
the Powers Of the earth of their own day. and be-
fore all succeeding generations, as men who be-
trayed their country and were recreant to Free.
dom itself. [Applause. Our coming together
= on this occasion means that no exerton shall be
wanting to annihiate the rebellion by the uni
Ted and untiring exertion of the wealth and
strength of the nation. II means that those who
are in arms against our flag shall not as the same
receive at our hands the belligerent rights Of al
len enemies and the constitutional rights OF citi.
zens. II means that whoever may be at the head
OF our armies the undivided sympathy OF the
country Is to command unity In council and
add yigor TO every blow. Applause. u means
tnat with one heart we entreat the President to
disregard all considerations of so called party
necessities to adopt no measures but Tor the
pnbhc good to turn deaf ear to all selfish I'M
portunlties OF politicians OF every party. and
ever to remember that IL would be sin against
the country, against his own happiness now,
against his name with posterity, to lift an unht
man to Office. In civil life or In the field, ZAP
pause. ~


It means that all the generous felllug Of the
country goes forth TO cheer on the noble states.
men OF Missouri who are now struggling to shake
on the terrible evil which alone holds that State