Doc. 82.--meeting of Californians.
The Californians assembled in the large room of the Metropolitan Hotel. The meeting was organized by the call of J. C. Birdseye, Esq., to the Chair. The following gentlemen were nominated Vice-Presidents: William T. Coleman, C. K. Garrison, J. Y. Hallett, D. L. Ross, Capt. Folger, E. Leonard, Eugene Kelly, J. P. Wentworth, S. W. Bryant, Minor Frink, W. S. Denio, Col. E. D. Baker, Charles Watrous, D. W. Cheeseman, Samuel Gamege, Col. Keutzer, Capt. F. Martin, Ira P. Rankin, S. P. Parker, lion. James Satterlee. These gentlemen are all resident Californians oil a temporary visit to this City. The Secretaries appointed were Millard B. Farroll, J. J. Arrington, and rose, Fish, Esqs.The President, Mr. Birdseye, stated that the object of the meeting was to enable Californians to do their duty, equally with the men of other States, in response to the call of the Chief of the Nation. It was the duty of Californians to show what the popular response of California would be when, as a State, she answers the appeal of the country in its hour of danger. The proposition now was to raise here in New York a Californian regiment to aid the Government. There were a number of Californians in New York, who would contribute large sums of money for that purpose. What Californians would do in their own State was one thing, what they should do here was another. But California would ever be true to the Union.
Col. Baker was called upon to address the meeting. He said he had had the honor to address an enthusiastic meeting on Saturday at Union Square, that he was quite hoarse and could not do much talking. It was the time for action, and not for talking. The country demanded fighting men. The question alone was, how many men and how much money could be provided. For his part, he (the speaker) would do his duty. It had been represented that California was not true to the Union. If she is not, we (said the Colonel) will make her so. What are wanted are fighting men-men who can handle a knapsack and dig an intrenchment, and defend it when it is dug. He (the speaker) thought that 800 men might be raised in this City to form a California Regiment. Old as he was, there were some red drops in his heart which would not, if necessary, be spared on such an occasion.
Dr. Gilpin, Ex-Governor of Nevada Territory, followed. The present war, he said, was a war for human rights, and for posterity in all time. It was to establish the great principle that labor shall be free. Never in the history of the human race had a more sacred opportunity offered itself to draw the sword in behalf of human freedom. He was about to depart beyond the Rocky Mountains, but he would delay his departure while the Capital of his country was in danger, hoping to find a place, even as a private, in the ranks of those who were prepared to defend the American flag.
Mr. Parkes, the recently appointed Post-master of San Francisco, was the next speaker. The Administration, he said, had given him an office, but he was willing to stay here to sustain the Administration. If danger threatened steamers from California, as it undoubtedly did — steamers coming here with specie, and with the wives and children of Californians — they must be protected. He knew that the captains of those vessels, rather than let that specie fall into the hands of enemies, would cast it overboard. He thought, in the present crisis, that all California steamers ought to be armed.
A committee of five was appointed to draft [132] resolutions. An Executive Committee of five was also appointed to raise a California Regiment.
Mr. Ross Fish, of Maryland, made a most patriotic speech. Col. Baker was appointed commander of the regiment; after which the following resolutions were read and unanimously adopted:
Whereas, The integrity and perpetuity of the Government of the United States has been and is seriously threatened and assailed by the open revolt of a large portion of the people of several States of the Union, and
Whereas, There has been no just cause for this action either on the part of the Government itself or the people, and
Whereas, The Government and the people have borne and forborne, until such a period has been reached that longer forbearance will assuredly result in the total disruption and destruction of our Republican form of government, and now the Government, sustained by the people, proposes to quell the unjust and unholy rebellion, and restore peace and prosperity to the country once more; therefore,
Resolved, That we, as residents of the American States and Territories of the Pacific coast, have a common interest with the people of the other sections of our country in the defence and preservation of the Government of our Fathers.
Resolved, That we pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor to do all that in us lies, to maintain the dignity of the Government and uphold the flag of our country all over this broad land, and all over the world, wherever it may be legitimately unfurled.
Resolved, That we will use our best efforts to raise a regiment, or as large a body of troops as can be called together in New York, to be composed of men from the Pacific coast, and others who choose to join them, whose services shall be offered to the Government for the maintenance of the majesty and supremacy of the Constitution and the laws, and the suppression of rebellion wherever it may exist.
Resolved, That the Californians on the Atlantic coast form themselves into a regiment for the maintenance of the Constitution and Union, and with reference to carrying out the objects of this meeting, and maintaining the inviolability of the Stars and Stripes.
The meeting then adjourned, after giving three enthusiastic cheers “and a tiger” for the Union.--N. Y. Times, April 22.
