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

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[95] site of Charleston what the desert of Sahara now is, in remembrance of her infamous and cowardly attack of nineteen batteries and nine thousand men, upon an unfinished fortification, garrisoned by seventy ill-ammunitioned and hungry soldiers, and for every drop of loyal Massachusetts blood spilled in the streets of Baltimore, other blood alone can wash it away in rivulets just as warm and red. Yesterday we said farewell to the glorious Seventh Regiment, the flower of this city's soldiery, its household guards. Words can feebly describe the unanimity with which they mustered for their country's service. The lover left his betrothed, the husband his bride, the father his newborn babe, the merchant his counting room, the mechanic his shop, the student his books, the lawyer his office, and the parson his church, as one man, the entire regiment responding to that love of country worthy of the better days of the Republic, many more of them gone, doubtless, to return no more; and if they fall, theirs will be the proud Lacedemonian's epitaph, “They died in the defence of their country and its laws.” It is said that when General Jackson came to die, he told his spiritual adviser that there was one sin of omission that lay heavily on his soul. “What is it??” softly inquired the devoted minister. The old General roused his departing energies, and exclaimed, “It is that I did not hang Calhoun.” His reason was prophetic. John C. Calhoun, having sowed the seeds of nullification, whose blossoms were secession, and the fruit fraternal bloodshed and civil war!--facilis descensus Averni!--we are now called upon to teach the people of the South a salutary lesson of submission to the Constitution, and obedience to the laws. [Cheers.]

They who now see only seven of Uncle Sam's stars (and those would be Pleiades) will clearly see the whole thirty-four ere this war is finished; and they who choose but three stripes of Uncle Sam's bunting, (and those laid the wrong way,) will feel the force of the whole thirteen ere the campaign is ended. Before us are the ball-broken flag-staff and tattered colors, speaking in trumpet tones of the treachery of South Carolina. That flag, whose dazzling folds have crystallized the love of a thousand heroes in our hearts, is destined to float once more over the ramparts of Sumter, before we will listen to the voice of peace. I feel that the spirit that is here is the spirit of 1776, it is that of 1812, it is that of a sublime instinct of self-preservation rising up to perpetuate the grandest nationality of freemen the world has ever known. [Cheers.]

When after ages shall open the volume of history to the illuminated page lighted by this day's sun, let it be said that in her darkest hour New York knew her duty and was equal to the occasion, and volunteered without stint her treasure and her blood. [Enthusiastic cheers.]

The stand No. two was located opposite the Everett House. The meeting was called to order by Mr. Samuel Sloane, who nominated Ex-Governor Fish for President, which nomination was ratified with great enthusiasm. The following Vice Presidents were appointed :--

W. H. Aspinwall,

Cornel's Vanderbilt,

James T. Brady,

Daniel Lord,

Sheppard Knapp,

Wm. A. Booth,

Wm. Whitlock, Jr.,

N. Ludlam,

J. J. Rooeevelt,

Isaac Seymour,

J. McLeod Murphy,

A. R. Wetmore,

G. S. Bedford,

Wm. M. Richards,

W. C. Rhinelander,

Thomas Tileston,

Jno. A. Kennedy,

O. A. Brownson,

Jno.F. Butterworth,

F. S. Winston,

Jno. C. Hamilton,

Denning Duer,

J. A. Westervelt,

Wm. H. Stewart,

C. R. Robert,

George S. Robbins,

Richard Patrick,

Robert T. Haws,

John S. Giles,

John H. Hall,

George Griswold,

Ezra Nye,

George Law,

Fred. Foster,

H. B. Raymond,

L. B. Woodruff,

Solomon Banta,

Morgan Jones,

George Young,

D. P. Maurice,

Horace Greeley,

Dan. E. Devlin,

Wm. G. Lambert,

A. W. Bradford.

W. S. Hatch,

W. P. Lee,

Erastus C. B.nedict,

C. Newbold,

W. H. Appleton,

Jno. E. Williams,

Richard Irvin,

William Tucker,

Val. G. Hall,

James Marsh,

Horace Webster,

D. A. Cushman,

A. C. Richards,

Tim'y P. Chapman,

Chas. P. Kirkland,

Jno. Dimon,

Samuel Hotaling,

Richard Warren,

George Jones,

Geo. T. Olyphant,

B. Cornell,

Jas. W. Underhill,

Bernard Kelly,

E. H. Ludlow,

Thos. J. Barr,

A. M. White,

James Bryce,

R. C. Root,

D. B. Fearing,

Wm. McMurray,

John R. Brady,

Henry Hilton,

W. F. Havemeyer,

Jas. Gallatin,

W. B. Crosby,

F. B. Cutting,

Dan. F. Tiemann,

J. S. Bosworth,

T. B. Stillman,

Geo. T. H. Davis,

W. Curtis Noyes,

James Lenox,

B. R. Winthrop,

D. D. Field.

The presiding officer said :--Fellow-citizens, we desire to commence this meeting with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Vinton.

The reverend gentleman stepped forward, and delivered the following prayer:--

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Prayer of Dr. Vinton.

O, Almighty God, Creator of all men, high and mighty, whose kingdom ruleth over all — whose power no creature dare resist — thou art the protector of those who trust in thee. We come before thee to confess our own sins and the sins of our nation, and to declare our confidence in thee as our light and our salvation. O God, we have heard with our ears and our fathers have declared unto us the noble works thou didst in their days, and in the old time before them. Let the shield of thy omnipotent care be extended over the United States of America to defend the constitution and to perfect the union of the people. Be the ruler of our rulers and the counsellor of our legislators, so that they may guide our feet into the ways of peace. Inspire the people with a spirit to think and to do that which is right. Thou hast proclaimed throughout the land--“Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near, let them come up, beat your plough-shares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears — let the weak say, I am strong.” A loving patriotism has yielded the pride and treasures of the family to protect the State. A religious loyalty has animated and nerved society to whatever it valued in social desire to uphold the government of the United States, as a divine institution ordained by God for good. Bless and prosper the courage and piety that have been thus displayed to defend them who with their lives in their hands maintain the cause of our country. God's strength of our life cover their heads in the day of battle. Be Thou the Ruler and Guide of all, that they may so pass through the things temporal, that they lose not the things eternal. O God, bring again peace in our time, and allay all passions, prejudice, and pride. May Thy spirit descend upon the great congregation of Thy people, inspire the orators to speak the truth in love, and bow our hearts in obedience to duty as Christians and fellow-citizens, as loyalists and patriots, as sinners saved in a common salvation through Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be praise now and forever. Amen.

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Speech of Hamilton Fish.

My fellow-citizens, I shall not detain you longer than to express my appreciation of the position conferried