Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 1.
Frank Moore, Ed.

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[116] and, at home or abroad — ashore or afloat — on the stormy seas of high latitudes, or beneath the summer skies of the tropics — whenever and wherever my eyes have beheld that flag, I have gazed upon it with feelings of exultation and of pride, and thanked God, from the bottom of my heart, that I was an American citizen. I love, more than ever, that “Star-spangled banner,” now that a few of its stars are temporarily obscured;

May it continue to wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

To achieve this consummation so devoutly to be wished, the rebels and traitors who have defied and insulted that flag must be taught a severe lesson. In the name of God and humanity — in the name of that God above us, laying His requirements upon us, and in the name of that humanity around us, bound to us by a relationship which nothing can sever or annul, the people call upon the Government to make this lesson of rebellion short, terrible, and lasting.

The meeting on Stand No. 5 was organized by the unanimous appointment of Egbert Benson, Esq., as Chairman, and Thos. Williams as Secretary.

Joseph P. Simpson, Esq., was then introduced as the first speaker, and received with loud applause. He said:--

fellow-citizens — I am very proud to be here before you on this important and momentous occasion. I am proud that you are here, for I believe you are friends to your country, friends to this noble Union of ours. In the war of 1812 I was in the active service of our country, and I performed all the duty that was required of me there. (Cheers.) I had a brother who was on board of Commodore McDonough's ship, on the beautiful Lake Champlain, and who fought bravely and successfully in vindication of the cause of freedom. (Applause.) I see before me here to-day, in this vast assembly, many who are hard-working men. Let me say to you, my friends, that I can sympathize with you all, for I have been a hard-working man myself. More than sixty-four years ago I went an apprentice-boy into a workshop to earn my living. Therefore I know what it is to be a working man; I can feel for a man who has to work for his living; and I tell you, that in order to secure a living, we must sustain our country. (Cheers.) There is no better nation upon earth than this nation. There is no people that have secured such liberty, and privileges, and blessings, as this people have enjoyed. And now, what is it, fellow-citizens, that brings us here? Oh, my heart bleeds, my spirit mourns, that I have lived to see the day when a reckless, unthinking, and — I hate to say the word — a disloyal people, a people who are untrue to their country, have raised their arms against the liberty of this great nation. I say, fellow-citizens, stand firm by your country.

At this point a tremendous excitement among the crowd, and shouts of “Cheers for the hero of Fort Sumter!” announced that Major Anderson was approaching. Accompanied by Simeon Draper and Superintendent Kennedy, he was conducted upon the stand, and introduced to the vast assembly amid the wildest enthusiasm. Subsequently, Captain Foster and Dr. Crawford, from Fort Sumter, were also introduced, and received with great cheering. Soon after being presented, they retired from the platform.

Mr. Simpson resumed :--I know, my friends, that I am not so much an object of interest as that noble man, Major Anderson, who well deserves all the honor that is accorded him. Let me say to you, continue to love the Stars and Stripes as you have loved that noble ensign in the past. It is that flag which has floated, and now floats over this nation, and which has carried its fame to every sea and every land. So I say, fellow-citizens, cleave to the Stars and Stripes. (Cries of “We will.” ) And further, let me say, look out for traitors among us, who would sell their birthright for a mess of pottage. (Cries of “Yes, Yes.” ) Stand by the honor of your country and your country's flag, and, if needs be, buckle on your armor, and go forth to defend it against any and all assailants, let them come from whatever quarter they may; and, old as I am--seventy-four years of age — I am ready to go with you. (Cheers.)

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Speech of Gen. Appleton, of Massachusetts.

This mighty gathering of the patriotic citizens of the great city of New York speaks in no equivocal language. It is not in my power to give it greater significance. It is meet that you should thus assemble; it is fit and proper that the multitudes of this great city should convene together to consult upon matters concerning the public welfare. Every thing dear to humanity, every thing dear to our social relations, every thing important touching our past history and our national concerns, is involved in the issue now before the country. (Cheers.) It is, my friends, a matter most deeply to be deplored, that a country so vast in its territory, so great in all its resources, so grand in the glorious liberty which Heaven has vouchsafed to it, should be placed in peril. But such is the fact. The stability of our national Government, the very existence of our country, is threatened. Because, if you have no Constitution, you have no country that is worth defending. (Applause.) What is liberty without law, without order? I know full well that those States which have seceded pretend that they had a right to withdraw from the Union, and to assert their separate independence. Well, if that be true, if States have the right to go off at their own will and pleasure, then the position which we assume that the Union is indivisible, is wrong, and we have no right to interfere with them. But mark you, my friends, is not our Government a Government of the people of the whole country? (Cries of “Yes,” “Yes.” ) Why did our fathers undertake to establish our present Constitution? It was because, under the old Confederation, there was such a variety of interests in the several States, that there could be no harmonious action for the benefit of the whole country; and so those wise and patriotic statesmen of our earlier history assembled together for the purpose of forming a more perfect Union, and establishing a better form of Government, which should be a Government over the whole country, free and independent. It was the work of the people of all the separate States. And let me say to you, that if the Government which was then established, if the Constitution which was then formed, contemplated any such contingency as the withdrawal of a portion of the people, then all the work of our fathers in framing that Constitution was a farce, and amounted to nothing practical at all. (Applause.) But the fact remains true, that this is one Government, one