102 LETTER OP ALFEED ELY, REPRESENTATIVE FROM NEW-YORK. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, ) WASHINGTON, D. C., July Uth, 1862. J Charles Gould, Esq. : SIR, I duly received the letter addressed to me on the llth instant, by a Committee of which you are Secretary, and which was constituted by the Common Council of New- York city, by the Chamber of Commerce of the State of NewYork, by the Union Defence Committee, and by bodies of loyal citizens of NewYork city, inviting me to address, to-morrow, amass meeting in your city, of all parties who are in favor of supporting the Government in the prosecution of the war, and suppressing the rebellion. I regret that my public duties will not allow me to accept this invitation. Congress is just upon the eve of an adjournment, and the transaction of the important business still before it, requires that a quorum of its members should remain here. It would give me the greatest pleasure to be present to witness such an outpouring of the citizens of the commercial metropolis of the nation as I anticipate from their well-tried and unshaken loyalty, to testify " their undiminished confidence in the justice of the cause'' in which we are engaged, and " their inflexible determination to sustain it." Such expressions as this mass meeting is designed to give, accompanied by the " proffer to the Government," by the people of the city of New- York, of " their aid to the extent of all their resources," will be of incalculable benefit to the country at home and abroad. It will silence faction among ourselves, and demonstrate to European powers that our front to the enemy is still solid and unbroken. Begging you to accept for yourself and the Committee, and for their several constituencies, the assurances of my respect, I remain, sir, truly yours, ALFRED ELY. LETTER OF ROSCOE CONKLING, REPRESENTATIVE FROM NEW-YORK. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, ) WASHINGTON, July 14th, 1862. ( GENTLEMEN, The duties resting upon a Representative in the closing hours of the present session, require me to be constantly in my seat. AVere I at liberty to accept the invitation with which you have honored me, it would give me great pleasure to address a mass meeting of your citizens on Tuesday next. Although debarred the privilege of participating in your proceedings, I shall regard them with an interest not likely ever again to attach to any similar occasion. The exigencies and demands of the hour give to public action at this moment an importance which cannot now be realized. Agreat future is enshrouded in a little period immediately before us. The fate of our country depends upon the alacrity of its citizens. Your great metropolis has the leading part in the sacrifices, and the duties which await us. The imperial position of our State never shown so conspicuously ; her resources and munificence have never been so indispensable to the whole nation, as since the outbreak of the present rebellion. The position New-York shall now assume will exert a commanding influence upon the final issue of our national difficulties, and the action of the meeting on Tuesday, will do much to awaken feeling throughout the State. Let the city speak in emphatic tones in favor of sparing nothing that stands in the way of crushing treason at home, and repelling insolence from abroad. The meeting is timely, and I wish it complete success. I have the honor to be, your obedient sen-ant, ROSCOE CONKLING. Hon. JAMES W. WHITE, and others, Committee.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM4ODY=