In 1863 still inspiring the loyal (1861 envelope)
It had been about a year and a half since retired general Winfield Scott left Washington and headed for New York by train. 150 years ago today he presided over a grand Union meeting at Madison Square in New York City. Henry J. Raymond gave a fired up speech about persevering in the to preserve liberty for the country and the hope of liberty for the whole world.
From The New-York Times April 21, 1863:
LEAGUE FOR THE UNION.; MONSTER MASS MEETING. Fifty Thousand People Shouting for the Union. LIEUT.-GENERAL SCOTT PRESIDES. The Old Hero Wrapped in the American Flag. Addresess by George Bancroft, John Van Buren, [H]enry J. Raymond, … The Greatest and Most Enthusiastic Gathering Even Held in New-York. MUSIC, CANNONS, FLAGS AND CHEERS. …
The largest popular gathering ever held in this City met yesterday afternoon at and around Madison-square, in response to the call of the Loyal League of Union citizens, issued by its President, Lieut.-Gen. WINFIELD SCOTT, U.S.A.
The day was rather unpropitious. Dark rain-clouds hung over the City, and clouds of dust whistled windily through the streets; but denser than the former, and more enthusiastically restless than the latter, were the “clouds of witnesses” which by scores of thousands swarmed in front of the Fifth-avenue Hotel to shout Amen to every patriotic sentitiment, and cheer with hearty voice each testimony of fealty to the land of the free and the home of the brave. …
Four stands were erected, from which, as will be seen in the following report, distinguished gentlemen addressed the vast crowd, which excelled in numbers as it did in enthusiasm any ten political meetings held in this City during the past ten years. The presence of Gen. SCOTT, doubtless, drew many to the square who, on ordinary occasions, avoid crowds and prefer to read, rather than listen to speeches, and that their hearts were cheered by the sight of the aged soldier, and that they were amply repaid for their trouble, and duly imbued with the spirit of the occasion, was most clearly and unmistakeably evinced by the continued ebullition of enthusiastic cheerings, shoutings and hurrahings which rang forth again, and again, and again.
The American colors, in every possible shape, floated gaily from flagstaffs, from long lines stretched across the street, and ornamented all sides of Stand No. 1, from which Dodworth’s Band discoursed the national airs, and in front of which as many as could get within hearing distance were assembled. The coup d’oeil was strikingly beautiful from this point, embracing as it did the entire front of the Fifth-avenue Hotel and the crowds congregated up and down Fifth-avenue, Broadway and Twenty-third-street. At precisely 4 o’clock, the Chairman and distinguished guests came forth from the hotel …
Union Square 4-20-1861
Hon. HENRY J. RAYMOND was next introduced, and addressed the meeting as follows:
FELLOW-CITIZENS: It is impossible to look upon this vast mass of the intelligent citizens of New-York, assembled to renew their devotion — to renew a declaration of their allegiance to our common country — without feeling the profoundest conviction that, whatever else may fail, the courage, the loyalty and the determination of the American people to rescue their nation will not fail, now or hereafter. [Applause.] We who are here assembled can recall, without doubt, the scene presented, two years ago to-day, near this very spot. When then we assembled at the first call of our country, at the first announcement of the dangers that surrounded us. At the first trumpet peal that the American arm was needed to rescue American liberty from the peril that overhung it, we came together because the capital of our country was in danger, because that capital with the Liberty that it symbolized, all the glory that had alighted upon our flag in the years that had passed, all the hopes we cherished for our children in the years to come, seemed likely to sink forever in the ocean of Rebellion. We assembled then, and in the presence, of high Heaven vowed that the nation should live, and that all that threatened its existence should perish. [Applause.] And from that day to this, we here, our brethren on the field of battle, loyal hearts from the Atlantic to the Pacific, have been making good that vow, taken here and registered in Heaven above. And now what a contrast is presented to-day, to the picture that was presented to us! Then, as I have already said, the rebel enemies of liberty threatened our Capital; they beleaguered the Senate-house, they overawed our Government, they held everything south of the Potomac, they held Missouri, they held Kentucky, they held the Great Mississippi — every Southern State was in their hands. And now see how the tide of rebellion has been rolled onward toward the Gulf. See how little remains to them of the territory they then possessed! See what occasion we have for rejoicing at the successes already achieved, and the determination of our people to stand by the flag and rescue it from all the dangers that hang around it. [Applause.] We have come here to-day to renew those vows, to protest again, in the face of high Heaven, that, come weal or come woe, whether it be one year or ten years, whether it be now or through all time to come, the liberties of the American people shall live forever. [Enthusiastic cheering.] We have have had to contend with a gigantic rebellion that assumed proportions never before seen on the face of the earth. I take it upon me to say that there is not a crowned head in Europe; there is not a Government on the face of the earth based on privilege, that could have stood against this rebellion one year of trial and struggle; and yet here the American people are not only standing against it, but are growing stronger by the contest. [Applause.] We are to-day stronger in every respect — stronger in men, stronger in money, stronger in the courage of loyal hearts, stronger in determination of purpose — than we were the day this rebellion broke out. [Applause.] We shall grow stronger until the contest is over; and the reason is this: our Government rests on the hearts and the will of the people — it protects the rights of the people — it is engaged in a contest for the liberties of the people — and, so long as human right, human liberty, all that is dear to man struggling for self-government, retain their place in the American heart, so long shall we grow stronger by the contest that we wage for their maintenance. [Applause.] We grow stronger because our cause is just, and because it is the cause of the people — because it is our cause. How is it that we thus grow stronger than those against whom we contend? While we grow stronger in the material of war, stronger in the courage of loyal hearts, every breeze that comes to us from the South tells of famine and suffering, and exhaustion and discouragement — and, behind all that, rely upon it, there are loyal hearts there, yet held down by the military power, that breathe night and day a fervent prayer for a return to the old Union which gave them all their prosperity, and in which alone can they have any hope for the future. [Cheers.] Crushed to earth as are these loyal hearts, silenced in death as these loyal voices may be, rely upon it, when we once crush the military power of the Southern Confederacy, we shall have an easy path to the affections of the Southern people. [Renewed cheering.] It is idle to talk of peace until that has been done. [A voice — “That’s so.”] Everybody sees now that this is so. Last Fall it was common to hear talk of reconciliation, of compromise, of measures of peace, of the olive branch going with the sword. Now, I think as much of the olive branch as any one; I pray as fervently as any man on the American soil for the return of peace, but only peace with honor, and peace with the preservation of the liberties of the American people. [Applause.] We can stand war, we can stand suffering, we can stand a contest of years. There is but one thing we cannot stand, and that is dishonor, the destruction of this great American nation, the prostration of the liberties of the American people, the blotting out of these Stars and Stripes, and the glorious hopes which they carry round the world. [Applause.] Up to this day, to what have the nations of the Old World looked for hope and deliverance from their oppressions? What flag on the face of the earth challenges their affections and enjoys their hearts’ loyalty? Let the downtrodden on the furthest point of our planet be asked to what nation he looks as the model of his ideal of government, the guerdon of his hopes — where is it that he looks for peace in the future — what flag does he worship in his heart of hearts, and he tells of none but the glorious Stars and Stripes under which he hopes to find a refuge. Everywhere, by one and all, we are recognized as the only nation resting on the basis of popular rights, aiming to secure popular liberties for all the nations of the earth. This Government has been an experiment, endeavoring to decide whether a great nation can be built up powerfully enough to maintain itself against the world, and free enough to give every individual citizen the full enjoyment of his rights, and a full and perfect voice in the conduct of that Government. This rebellion strikes at the existence not only of this experiment, but of the liberty which it is intended to establish. Strike down this flag, break up this Government, prostrate this nation, and kings and aristocrats will forever after trample unfettered on the necks of all the people on the face of the earth. [Applause.] It is that that gives courage and heart and determination to the American people in this great contest; it is that, which nerves our hearts and our arms and leads us to proclaim here, everywhere, and forever, our purpose to vindicate the liberties of our Government, and to crush that rebellion which threatens their extinction. Whether it be in two or ten years from now, that liberty shall live forever, to the eternal destruction of its foes. [Applause.] I do not know, fellow-citizens, whether there are any here who feel discouraged at the slow progress, as they call it, of the war. If there are, I beg them to bear in mind, that war is not an extempore affair. A war of two great people — twenty millions against eight — is not to be settled in a hurry; it is not a thing for which preparation can be made in a hurry; it is a war requiring the combined energies and thoughts, and studies and experience, of the best men of the whole country for a long time to get ready, and for a longer time to carry into execution the plan they have formed; and like everything else human, it is subject to accidents, to contingencies, it is subject to blunders — blunders will oc[c]our in this, as in everything else. The only thing is, to keep steadily at it until it is accomplished. [Applause.] Whatever else may fall, if our courage does not fail, the end is sure. Let us, then, discountenance forever, here and elsewhere, all thoughts of discouragement, all pretence that the war is not making the progress that it ought. …
Unsurprisingly, Henry Raymond’s newspaper had only positive things to say about the meeting. From The New-York Times April 21, 1863:
The Great Meeting Yesterday.
If immense numbers, irrepressible enthusiasm and eloquent oratory ever gave impressiveness and complete success to any public demonstration, it was realized at Madison-square yesterday. As an expression of patriotic spirit and purpose, it was all that the most sanguine could hope or the most distrustful desire. We were about to term the demonstration a new uprising, but that would hardly be right; for, since the first, there has been no actual sinking. This is, rather, a new emerging from the clouds, and the loyalty of the people again beams out as resplendent as ever. It is a glorious inauguration of the third year of the war. It demonstrates what no man of clear insight ever doubted — that the heart of the people, however overshadowed by disappointments, and disturbed by the arts of faction, still remains essentially staunch and true. Even those who have had the most misgiving ought now to take fresh assurance that the cause of the Republic is safe beyond all contingency; for it is certain that, under a gracious Providence, so long as the spirit of the mighty North thus continues unextinguished, the old flag is sure of final triumph.
When that triumph shall come it would be presumptuous to predict. All wars have their strange vicissitudes. Yet that is but a minor matter. The great thing is that it is proved we have a public spirit that can defy every vicissitude. EDMUND BURKE said, in his dying chamber, in reference to the great struggle with France: “Never succumb to the enemy; it is a struggle for your existence as a nation; and if you must die, die with the sword in your hand; but I have no fears whatever for the result. There is a salient, living principle of energy in the public mind of England, which only requires proper direction to enable her to withstand this or any other ferocious foe. Persevere, therefore, till this tyranny be overpast.” BURKE knew the race and he reckoned rightly. England did persevere, the salient, living principle of energy failed not; and eighteen years after these words were uttered, they received their crowning verification on the field of Waterloo. A year more or less, or even a decade more or less, is nothing, as measured against the mighty career a nation insures for itself by fidelity through sad trials, to the end. The great body of our people, all through the North, are thus attesting their fidelity. The memory of it will be cherished with gratitude and praise by untold generations.
I was surprised that some in the crowd were unimpressed by General Scott:
“a capital figure-head”
FROM A DIARY.
IT was a good meeting this afternoon in Madison Square, although the air was chilly and the sky threatening. Scott made a capital figure-head; but how utterly factitious the enthusiasm for the old gentleman is! In consideration of his unquestioned [s]ervices we agree to treat him as if we thought him a great man, for somebody must play that part. No king in the world looks so well as Scott did, dressed in full black with a broad blue ribbon, and bowing his towering white head to the crowd. …
