[90] might. (Loud cheers.) My friends, the greatest man next to Washington, that this country has ever produced — Andrew. Jackson — has said that “the Union must and shall be preserved” --(cheers)--and in that connection he has said, and it is directly pertinent to the present contest, “the Union must and shall be preserved — peaceably if we can, but forcibly if we must.” (Enthusiastic applause.) There are those of us who have heretofore held antagonist positions to what is supposed to be the policy and the principles of this Administration, who are willing to accept that noble declaration of the sacred Jackson, as a resort to force upon this occasion. (Prolonged cheers, and cries of “That's so!” “Good!” ) Why, gentlemen, what is the nature of your Government? Ours is a government of opinion expressed through the laws. The laws being made by the people, through their representatives, are simply the expressions of popular sentiment; and the administrators of the laws should be maintained in the exercise of all legal authority. (Cheers.) I have always advocated a strong Executive power; because, to be efficient it requires ample authority, and under our form of Government, the agent being merely the exponent of the popular will, he should be provided with every means to maintain that will. Thus in maintaining the Government, we maintain ourselves, our inalienable rights and the basis of free institutions. It is true that individuals retain the right of independent criticism, and at the ballot box have an opportunity to exercise this right; yet we are all bound to abide by the result. These views are pertinent to the occasion, so far as the people of the city and State of New York are concerned. (Applause.) This city is a portion of the State, and this State retians its position as one of the United States of America. (Loud cheers.) Therefore we must stand by the Government, we must obey the laws, we must respect official authority, we must respond with alacrity to the calls of patriotism, and so long as we may have the strength, support the constitution and the Union. (Applause.) In accordance, then, with these views, I have no hesitation in throwing whatever power I may possess in behalf of the pending struggle. If a military conflict is necessary, and that military authority can be exercised under the constitution and consistently with the laws, dreadful as the alternative may be, we have no recourse except to take up arms. (Cheers, and cries of “We will do it.” ) In times of great peril great sacrifices are required. When the human frame is upon the verge of death, every effort of skill and the most desperate experiments are resorted to to preserve life and prevent dissolution. This may be said to be an apt illustration of the present condition of the body politic. In the expression of these views, which I design to be understood as a public proclamation in favor of maintaining the authority of government as such, “peaceably if we can but forcibly if we must,” (renewed cheering,) I desire also to be understood as taking back no sentiment I have ever uttered on the political issues of the day. (Cries of “Good for you.” ) If the Presidential election was to be held over again to-morrow, my vote and my sentiments would be unchanged; nor am I to be regarded as countenancing or justifying mob law or violence. The people themselves have elected or established tribunals for the adjudication of offences against the laws, and all of us are restrained and must conform thereto. Every man's opinion is to be respected; and he who denies to a fellow-citizen the right of independent thought violates the first principles of republicanism and strikes a blow at the theory of our Government. (Loud applause.) My friends, it has been said here to-day that your flag has been insulted. Aye! not only has your flag been insult. ed, but the late Secretary of War, assuming to represent the Confederate States, has said that the confederate flag shall wave over your Capitol before the first of May. (Groans.) And, more than that, that the confederate flag shall fly over Faneuil Hall in Boston. (Cries of “Never,” groans and hisses.) My friends, before that banner can fly over Faneuil Hall in Boston, it must be carried over the dead body of every citizen of New York. (Enthusiastic applause.) In behalf of you I am prepared to say here, and, through the press, to our friends of the South, that before that flag shall float over the national capitol, every man, woman, and child would enlist for the war. (Renewed cheers, and cries of “That they will.” ) Gentlemen, I have no voice, although the heart, to address you longer. (Cries of “Go on.” ) Abler and more eloquent men that myself are here. I can only say, therefore, that I am with you in this contest. We know no party now. (Cheers.) We are for maintaining the integrity of the national Union intact. We are for exhausting every power at our command in this great, high, and patriotic struggle--(cheers)--and I call upon every man, whatever may have been his position heretofore, whatever may be his individual sympathy now, to make one great phalanx in this struggle, that we may, in the language of the eloquent Senator who preceded me, proceed to “conquer peace.” (Loud applause.) My friends, it has been already announced by the Chairman that the Baltic and other vessels at the foot of Canal-street are ready to take five thousand men to-morrow to the capital of Washington. I urge a hearty response to that call, that New York may speak trumpet-tongued to the people of the South. (Enthusiastic applause.)
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[90] might. (Loud cheers.) My friends, the greatest man next to Washington, that this country has ever produced — Andrew. Jackson — has said that “the Union must and shall be preserved” --(cheers)--and in that connection he has said, and it is directly pertinent to the present contest, “the Union must and shall be preserved — peaceably if we can, but forcibly if we must.” (Enthusiastic applause.) There are those of us who have heretofore held antagonist positions to what is supposed to be the policy and the principles of this Administration, who are willing to accept that noble declaration of the sacred Jackson, as a resort to force upon this occasion. (Prolonged cheers, and cries of “That's so!” “Good!” ) Why, gentlemen, what is the nature of your Government? Ours is a government of opinion expressed through the laws. The laws being made by the people, through their representatives, are simply the expressions of popular sentiment; and the administrators of the laws should be maintained in the exercise of all legal authority. (Cheers.) I have always advocated a strong Executive power; because, to be efficient it requires ample authority, and under our form of Government, the agent being merely the exponent of the popular will, he should be provided with every means to maintain that will. Thus in maintaining the Government, we maintain ourselves, our inalienable rights and the basis of free institutions. It is true that individuals retain the right of independent criticism, and at the ballot box have an opportunity to exercise this right; yet we are all bound to abide by the result. These views are pertinent to the occasion, so far as the people of the city and State of New York are concerned. (Applause.) This city is a portion of the State, and this State retians its position as one of the United States of America. (Loud cheers.) Therefore we must stand by the Government, we must obey the laws, we must respect official authority, we must respond with alacrity to the calls of patriotism, and so long as we may have the strength, support the constitution and the Union. (Applause.) In accordance, then, with these views, I have no hesitation in throwing whatever power I may possess in behalf of the pending struggle. If a military conflict is necessary, and that military authority can be exercised under the constitution and consistently with the laws, dreadful as the alternative may be, we have no recourse except to take up arms. (Cheers, and cries of “We will do it.” ) In times of great peril great sacrifices are required. When the human frame is upon the verge of death, every effort of skill and the most desperate experiments are resorted to to preserve life and prevent dissolution. This may be said to be an apt illustration of the present condition of the body politic. In the expression of these views, which I design to be understood as a public proclamation in favor of maintaining the authority of government as such, “peaceably if we can but forcibly if we must,” (renewed cheering,) I desire also to be understood as taking back no sentiment I have ever uttered on the political issues of the day. (Cries of “Good for you.” ) If the Presidential election was to be held over again to-morrow, my vote and my sentiments would be unchanged; nor am I to be regarded as countenancing or justifying mob law or violence. The people themselves have elected or established tribunals for the adjudication of offences against the laws, and all of us are restrained and must conform thereto. Every man's opinion is to be respected; and he who denies to a fellow-citizen the right of independent thought violates the first principles of republicanism and strikes a blow at the theory of our Government. (Loud applause.) My friends, it has been said here to-day that your flag has been insulted. Aye! not only has your flag been insult. ed, but the late Secretary of War, assuming to represent the Confederate States, has said that the confederate flag shall wave over your Capitol before the first of May. (Groans.) And, more than that, that the confederate flag shall fly over Faneuil Hall in Boston. (Cries of “Never,” groans and hisses.) My friends, before that banner can fly over Faneuil Hall in Boston, it must be carried over the dead body of every citizen of New York. (Enthusiastic applause.) In behalf of you I am prepared to say here, and, through the press, to our friends of the South, that before that flag shall float over the national capitol, every man, woman, and child would enlist for the war. (Renewed cheers, and cries of “That they will.” ) Gentlemen, I have no voice, although the heart, to address you longer. (Cries of “Go on.” ) Abler and more eloquent men that myself are here. I can only say, therefore, that I am with you in this contest. We know no party now. (Cheers.) We are for maintaining the integrity of the national Union intact. We are for exhausting every power at our command in this great, high, and patriotic struggle--(cheers)--and I call upon every man, whatever may have been his position heretofore, whatever may be his individual sympathy now, to make one great phalanx in this struggle, that we may, in the language of the eloquent Senator who preceded me, proceed to “conquer peace.” (Loud applause.) My friends, it has been already announced by the Chairman that the Baltic and other vessels at the foot of Canal-street are ready to take five thousand men to-morrow to the capital of Washington. I urge a hearty response to that call, that New York may speak trumpet-tongued to the people of the South. (Enthusiastic applause.)
Van Nostrand. New York, New York. 1862.
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