Considering these things, I suggest respectfully to your Honorable Bodies, the propriety of passing resolutions, pledging the people of this Metropolis to the support of the Government in the prosecution of the war and the maintenance of the national honor; and that you authorize your Joint Committee on National Affairs to unite with the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, and other committees acting with them, in calling a public meeting of citizens of all parties, to express, without reference to any party question whatever, their undiminished confidence in the justice of our cause, their inflexible purpose to maintain it to the end, and to proffer to the Government all the aid it may need, to the extent of all our resources. Since writing the above, I have received the accompanying resolution of the Chamber of Commerce, on the same subject, with a request that it be transmitted to your Honorable Body. GEORGE OPDYKE, Mayor. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK, To the Honorable the Common Council of the City of New-York: I have the honor to communicate to your Honorable Body, the following resolution, passed unanimously this day, by a committee appointed on the part of the Chamber of Commerce, to take into consideration the state of 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, DENNING DUER, JONATHAN STURGES. With respect, your obedient servant, Secretary. Alderman DAYTON moved that the communication from his Honor the Mayor be referred to the Joint Committee on National Affairs, and that the Committee on National Affairs be authorized and directed to co-operate with the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, in the manner recommended by his Honor the Mayor in his communication. The whole subject was referred to Committee on National Af 1 Same documents sent to Board of Councilmen, and thereupon Councilman ORTON moved that the communication be received and referred to the Committee on National Affairs, with power to confer with any other committees relative to the state of the Union, if in their judgment advisable. Which was carried. The Joint committee on National Affairs appointed as a subcommittee to confer with the other committees the following: COUNCILMAN WM. ORTON, Chairman. Ald. PETER MITCHELL, HENRY SMITH, Councilman WM. H. GEDNEY. Ald. IRA A. ALLEN. This committee attended, and chose Ald. MITCHELL to represent them on the Committee on Resolutions. MEETING OF CONVENTION OF COMMITTEES. The joint Committees of the Chamber of Commerce, the Union Defence Committee and the Common Council, met on Wednesday, the 9th of July. A Committee of five on the part of a body of citizens, who met at the Mayor's office, July 7th, consisting of— JUDGE JAMES W. WHITE, Chairman, appeared, and was requested to take part in the proceedings; as was also a Committee of five, on the part of a body of citizens who met at Fifth Avenue Hotel: ROBERT H. MCCURDY, Chairman, CHARLES GOULD, WILLIAM CURTIS NOYES, MORRIS KETCHUM, NATHANIEL HAYDEN. A sub-committee was appointed to draft and prepare an Address and a series of Resolutions, to be submitted for ratification to a public meeting, to be called at an early day. An Address and Resolutions were submitted on the 10th of July, and unanimously adopted. The Committee of Thirteen appointed by the Chamber of Commerce, met on the same day, and unanimously ratified the action of their sub-committee. The Chamber of Commerce met on the same day, to receive the report of the Committee of Thirteen, which was unanimously accepted, and the Committee continued, with power to carry out the objects proposed. A true abstract of the proceedings of the Chamber of Commerce and of joint Convention. JOHN AUSTIN STEVENS, Jr., Secretary of Chamber of Commerce and of Joint Convention. INVITATION TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. In accordance with a resolution of the Committee of Arrangements, a sub-committee consisting of Hon. George Opdyke, J. W. White, Samuel Sloan, Denning Duer, and R. H. McCurdy, was appointed to visit Washington, and to request the President of the United States to be present at the meeting. Two of the Committee being unexpectedly prevented by other pressing engagements from fulfilling the commission, F. S. Winston, though not a member of the Committee, was subsequently added. A copy of the Address and Resolutions was handsomely engrossed and placed in the hands of the Chairman, for delivery to the President; and the following letter was also addressed, to serve as the credentials of the Committee. ROOMS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK, To the President of the United States: SIR, I have the honor to inform you that at a Convention, held this day, of Committees severally appointed by the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New-York, the Union Defence Committee, the Common Council of the city, and other bodies of loyal citizens, it was unanimously Resolved, To hold a public meeting of the citizens of New-York, in favor of supporting the government in the prosecution of the war, and the suppression of the rebellion; to express, without reference to any party question whatever, their undiminished confidence in the justice of our cause, and their inflexible purpose to maintain it to the end, and to proffer to the Government all the aid it may need, to the extent of all their resources. A Committee of Arrangements was appointed, to take all measures to render the meeting as effective as the occasion for it demands, by whose direction, and in whose behalf, Messrs. J. W. White, R. H. McCurdy, and F. S. Winston, visit the capital to earnestly invite the presence of the President of the United States at the proposed meeting, believing that such course will arouse the enthusiasm of this city, of this State, and of the whole country, in this imminent crisis of the national destiny. By order of the Committee of Arrangements, GEORGE OPDYKE, DENNING DUER, JONATHAN STURGES, SAMUEL SLOAN, HENRY SMITH, ROBERT H. MCCURDY. A true extract from the Minutes. Respectfully, your most obedient servant, JOHN AUSTIN STEVENS, Jr., Secretary of Convention, and of Committee of Arrangements. To the President: WASHINGTON, July 12th, 1862. SIR, The undersigned have been appointed by a Convention of Committees, from the Common Council, the Chamber of Commerce, the Union Defence Committee, and other loyal bodies in the city of New-York, to proceed to this city and present to you the invitation of the Convention, to attend a mass meeting of the citizens of New-York, to be convened on Tuesday, 15th instant, for the purpose of declaring their continued inflexible determination to support the Government at all hazards, and in every measure necessary for the suppression of the existing rebellion, "and, to that end, to proffer to the Government all the aid in their power, to the extent of all their resources.' Presenting to you, sir, this invitation, which we have been commissioned to deliver, we beg leave respectfully to add, that we have been charged by the Convention to say, that, in their judgment, nothing could be more gratifying to the people of New-York, or would tend more to invigorate the patriotism which animates every loyal heart, than to meet their Chief Magistrate thus in General Council in this momentous crisis of our national destiny. The Convention are aware that the act to which they thus invite the President of the United States-to attend a mass meeting of citizens assembled to consider important national questions-is one not in accordance with any previous usage or precedent; but when they remember that the occasion is one without a precedent in the past, and which they trust in God will be without anything like it in the future a struggle with a rebellion which, in the history of the world, has no parallel, for its causelessness, its magnitude, and its monstrous wickedness as a crime against the whole human race, the Convention hope that you may be able to lay aside for a day other important public duties, and meet your loyal fellowcitizens at the time and in the manner suggested. We are, sir, with the greatest respect and consideration, Messrs. James W. White, Robert H. McCurdy, and F. H. Winston, Committee: GENTLEMEN,-Your letter conveying to me the invitation of several loyal and patriotic bodies in New-York to attend a mass meeting in that city, on Tuesday, the 15th inst., is received. While it would be very agreeable to me to thus meet the friends of the country, I am sure I could add nothing to the purpose in the wisdom with which they will perform their duty; and the near adjournment of Congress makes it indispensable for me to remain here. Thanking you and those you represent for this invitation, and the kind terms in which you have communicated it, I remain, your obedient servant, A. LINCOLN. |