Year: 1863

VI


Union League Club Now the ovcrpowcring


descriptions Of q corrcsp popGcnt OF the New
York Times have initiated us into the mysteries
Of the Union League Clubhouse formerly
known as TIE Parish Mansion. This club was
organl2"d because It's members have little
more money than they know what to do
with, and because, in spite of their money,
none OF the old, established, respectable
clubs in the city would admit these newly
rich people to membership. Debarred by
their lack of education, culture and refine
ment from associat!ng with the really intellec.
tual portion Of the community, the Union
Leagucrs have been compelled to associate
with each other, and this new club ia the con-
sequence. 1t is therefore in many respects
one Of the most curious and amusing develop
ments of this revolutionary period


We are indebted to the correspondent Of the
Times for considerable information in regard
20 the objects Of these Union League Club
men. As the vouchers and introducers" of
this correspondent were "two gentlemen who
have been most active and efficient in the
organization" his information is of an official
character. 1t is to be regretted that the cor
respondent ''abstans, for reasons which must
be obvious. from any Introduction of Names"
"Such personal notices." he patronizingly tells
us, "are often liable to Misrepresentation and
at best could do no good" We readily concur in
the remark that the reasons for the suppression
of the names Of the members are obvious. Why
should the papers indirectly and gratuitously
advertise shoddy mills and agencies for con-
demned muskets? II any one is anxious to
know these names he may find them in the
reports Of contract investigation committees
Or, If such documents are inconvcnient for re-
ference, let him look at the list Of delegates to
some abolition-republican convention, now
styled Union, in order to humbug few weak
minded voters. For, as this correspondent as
sures us, the Union League Club is decidedly
political One Of its main objects is .to secure
by social influence, as well as by political argu-
ment, an organiza ton which shall make activity
in politics the reverse Of low hereafter; which
shall, in fact, hereafter cause non-activity
in politics to be the stamp and stain of an i'm
beetle and a driveller." This is very long
winded and long worded way of stating that
the object Of the club is to drum up votes for
the black republican party. Everybody who
does not vote with this party thereafter" will
be regarded as ':an imbecile and driveller,"
and will be stamped and stained" according
ly. This is language SO choice and elegant that
we feel certain that the irrepressible Chevalier
Raymond must have dictated it. His "stamp
and stain" are easily recognizable.


The clubhouse, we are told, is sumptuously
furnished and magniacently decorated. How
sumptuonsly and how magniacently the cores
pondent, "being neither an upholstercr nor
house decorator" refuses to inform us. He
thinks that on the whole, however, "the inte-
rior Of the Parish Mansion will compare favora-
bly, with the very best in richness, elegance Of
taste and substantial comfort" This weuld be
eminently satisfactory did not the correspond
ent forthwith proceed "to call attention to
two or three articles Of furnit1p csamptuous
furnitureD which were designed neither for
luxury nor for ornament" These are not
as might be supposed, the rided can
non 80 conspicuously displayed in front Of
the Times Office few weeks ago. They are
''vast wooden shutters or shields of unpainted
pine. bullet-proof themselves, and pierced for
musketry, intended TO block up the windows on
the ground floor" Surely the correspondent
must have mixed up the description of block
house with his account OF the Union League
Clubhouse, by some such accident as that
which once involved the "sympathics Of youth
with the "elbows Of the Mincio." But no. the
Union League Club is a military as well as
political organization. II has "chief of ord
nance" who controls ian arsenal Of very ef
fective weapons, ready to be rained down at
moments notice from the strong iron balcony
in front of the first floor Windows These
weapons are probably the hand grcnadcs which
poor Greeley had in the Tribune Office after his
escape from the meatbox al Windust's. Very
neat adjuncts these are to the ''social infu-
ences'' Of the Union League Club. Suppose
that the club cook should inadvertently drop
red hot coal into the arsenal. what would then be-
come Of the Union Lcaguers. How can any of
the members have the reckless courage to smoke
a segar over such magazine. What will
the neighbors say when they learn that an ac-
cidcntal spark falling upon these hand grenadcs
may destroy the whole block Of houses? Where
is the Fire Marshall Where are the insurance
agents. Where are the police. II is in vain
that the enthusiastic correspondent endeavors
to cover up this danger by dwelling rpon the
fighting qualities Of the members of the club.
Doubtless they can eight the tiger as bravely
IA other mem but that would not avail against
an explosion. Their willingness to accept all
the responsibilities Of patriotic duty" may DO
''laudable;" but it will not reimburse the in
surauce companies. They may be "willing, il
need be, to defend their principles with their
lives" but that is no reason why they should
imperil the lives Of their innocent neighbors.
They may be ready to raise the banner of
patriotic faith" but why should they run the