11 WASHINGTON, July 12th, 1862. To the President : 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, Your obedient servants, JAMES W. WHITE, } ROBERT H. McCuRDY, >Committee. FREDERICK S. WINSTON, ) To ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States. REPLY OP THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE MANSION, ) WASHINGTON, July 14th, 1862. j 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.
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