PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS. ORGANIZATION OF COMMITTEES. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK, At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, held this day, the President in the chair, the following Preamble and Resolutions. were unanimously adopted : On the 19th day of April, 1861, the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New-York declared its sentiments in regard to the duty of loyal citizens of the United States to sustain the Government in its efforts to suppress a wicked and injurious rebellion, then but recently commenced. In accordance with the sentiments at that time expressed, and in the discharge of the like obligations of duty to the country, this Chamber does hereby RESOLVE First. That it will continue to sustain, by its influence with the commercial community and to the fullest extent of its means, the National Government in a vigorous and determined effort to maintain the integrity of the Union, and effectually to put down rebellion. Second. That in the recent appeal made by the President to the loyalty of the country for additional military forces, the Chamber recognizes the patriotism and energy which should insure confidence in his fidelity to the Constitution, and in his determination to preserve the National honor. Third. That this Chamber will cordially unite with other bodies of loyal citizens in any measures calculated to give efficiency to the military and naval power of the Government, and to preserve and maintain the character of this community for patriotism and loyal devotion to the Union. Further. That a Committee of thirteen members be appointed by the chair to consider and recommend to the Chamber, such measures as they may deem advisable, to give practical effect to this expression of the sentiments of the Chamber. The President named as such Committee: GEORGE OPDYKE, Chairman. A true extract from the Records of the Chamber. JOHN AUSTIN STEVENS, Jr., Secretary. A copy of the Preamble and Resolutions was, by direction of the President of the Chamber, engrossed and forwarded to the President of the United States. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK, To the President of the United States: SIR, I have the honor to present a copy of Preamble and Resolutions unanimously adopted by this Chamber at their general meeting this day. The Chamber show the will to meet with cheerfulness all present sacrifices, and the determination to aid the Government to the extent of their ability in prompt and vigorous prosecution of the war, until the national authority is reestablished and the integrity of the Union restored. With great respect, your obedient servant, JOHN AUSTIN STEVENS, Jr., Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce. On the 5th July, the Committee of Thirteen, appointed by the Chamber, met and addressed invitations to the Union Defence Committee of the citizens of New-York and the Common Council of the city of New-York, inviting their co operation. CHAMBER COMMERCE } NEW-YORK, July 5th, 1862. To the Union Defence Committee of the Citizens of New-York: GENTLEMEN, I have the honor to communicate the following resolution, unanimously passed this day by a Committee appointed on the part of the Chamber to take into consideration the present state of our national affairs: Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to meet a similar committee from the Union Defence Committee, and committees from other bodies of loyal citizens, to unite upon the proper measures to sustain the National Government in crushing out this rebellion, with power to call this committee together to receive their report. Under this resolution the following gentlemen were appointed on the part of the Chamber of Commerce : Hon. GEORGE OPDYKE, Chm'n, JONATHAN STURGES, C. R. ROBERT, JOHN A. STEVENS. With great respect, your obedient servant, JOHN AUSTIN STEVENS, Jr., Secretary. UNION DEFENCE COMMITTEE OF THE CITIZENS OF NEW-YORK, Į NEW-YORK, July 8th, 1862. John Austin Stevens, Jr., Esq., Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce: SIR-I am instructed to acknowledge your communication of this day, inviting a deputation from this body to confer with a committee of the Chamber of Commerce in relation to the public affairs of the country. This committee will cheerfully unite with the Chamber in the furtherance of any measures calculated to promote the public welfare; and I am accordingly instructed to transmit to you the following names composing a committee of conference: In accordance with the expressed desire of the Convention of Committees appointed to call a public meeting of the citizens of New-York, I am instructed to inform you that the action in question received the sanction of all the members of this committee present at the meeting of the 8th inst., viz. : HAMILTON FISH, Chairman, SAMUEL SLOAN, WM. E. DODGE, ISAAC BELL, R. M. BLATCHFORD, R. A. WITTHAUS, W. F. HAVEMEYER, I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, PROSPER M. WETMORE, Secretary pro tem. JOHN AUSTIN STEVENS, Jr., Esq., Secretary Joint Convention. PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF ALDERMEN. The following communication was received from His Honor the Mayor, transmitting a communication from the Chamber of Commerce, relative to the state of our national affairs: To the Honorable the Common Council: MAYOR'S OFFICE, NEW-YORK, GENTLEMEN,—The events of the last fortnight appear to call for a renewed expression of our devotion to our country, and of our unfaltering determination to sustain the Government in its efforts to suppress the rebellion. After an almost uninterrupted series of victories for half a year, we have at last met with two reverses-one at Charleston and the other before Richmond-which, though indecisive and temporary, do yet disappoint our confident expectations, and tend to prolong the war, supposed by some to be well-nigh ended. Upon such a disappointment, it seems fitting that we, as the official organ of the most populous and opulent city of the Republic, should repeat the declaration of unwavering constancy, which neither victory nor defeat can change, and our unalterable resolution to stand by the Government in maintaining the supremacy of the Constitution and the integrity of the country, at all hazards, and at every necessary sacrifice of life and treasure. In the presence of the great conflict in which the country is engaged, we will forget all past differences of party or opinion- for all party considerations sink into insignificance in the presence of danger to the Government itself: we will summon every loyal citizen to join us in supporting the Government, and to aid us by his services and counsel; we will give a generous confidence to the President and all whom, in the exercise of his just authority, he thinks proper to place in positions under him; and while we must exercise the privilege of freemen, to criticise public men, and exact from them fidelity to their trusts, vigor and promptitude in action, and such a comprehensive and well-considered policy, as to adapt the means to the end- availing, for this purpose, of all the instrumentalities that the usages of civilized warfare will justify-we will declare to them that our lives and fortunes are at the service of our country, and that we ask only to be informed how much is needed, and to be assured that what we give shall be faithfully and wisely applied to that service. It is one of the uses of national reverses that they serve to winnow the disloyal from the loyal. Now is the time to know who is true and who is false. The country never needed the services of traitors, and now less than ever. But she does need the services of all her loyal children, that she may not only overthrow this gigantic but causeless rebellion against her authority but may repel, with becoming spirit, the first approach to that foreign intervention in her affairs which is at times obscurely threatened, and which we cannot admit for one instant without national disgrace. Let us, then, seek out, discover, and bring to punishment every disloyal person; and let us call on all the loyal to stand together, and to speak and act as one man, for the safety and honor of the r country. If we had never had a victory; if, from the beginning of the war till now, a series of uninterrupted disasters had fallen upon our armies, we could not even then have compromised with revolt, or submitted to dismemberment, without the basest pusillanimity. But our arms have been, for the most part, victorious; the area of the rebellion has been gradually contracted by the advances of the armies of the Union; the great rivers of the West have been opened; all but four of the seaports on the whole coast, from Cape Henry to the Rio Grande, have been retaken and restored to the Union. The Federal authority has been re-established over many fortresses and cities, where a year ago it was contemned, and we are gradually winning them all back by the irresistible force of our arms. Our country has, therefore, no cause of discourage ment, but every reason to hope, and every motive to persevere. |