52 dying of her own corruptions. We, instead of being enervated by luxury or discomfited by invasion, go down with all our strength, and all our wealth, and all our wits about us. [Applause.] Destroyed by a remark, our great light blown out by the passionate breath of partisan oratory. [Great applause.] I, for one, can never believe in such a death. The ablest sword of the age is hanging by our side. The heaviest purse on the Continent is in our pocket; the noblest cause for which man can draw his brother's blood, calls him to the battle-field, and if we wait patiently and act vigorously the greatest victory of modern times is in our grasp the victory of the Republic over itself, the victory of democrat virtues over aristocrat vices, the victory of law, order, and Government over disunion, distraction, conflagration, and damnation. [Long applause.] On conclusion of the honorable gentleman's remarks, three cheers were proposed for Mr. CODDIXGTON, which were vociferouslyresponded to. The Chairman, A. A. Low, Esq., said : FELLOW-CITIZENS, We have here the Rev. Dr. FRANCIS VINTON. He did not intend to speak ; but if there be a man from whom we have a right to expect a word, it is he. He belongs to a family, (as many of you know,) who have not only given their voice and their service, but their blood, to the country. He himself, though now a clergyman of one of our principal churches old Trinity is a West Pointer, and has served in the United States Army through one war. His nephew commands the 43d New- York Volunteers in the Army of the Potomac. A brother is the distinguished Deputy Quartermaster-General of the Army in this city ; and another brother, father of the Colonel of the 43d, died while in command of the trenches before Vera Cruz. [Cheers and cries, " Let us hear him."] I will ask the Rev. Doctor to say a few words to us. [Cheers.] Dr. Vinton then came forward and spoke, substantially, as follows : SPEECH OF REV. DE. FRANCIS VINTOX. FELLOW-CITIZENS, I could not, after listening to such a call as that which I have just heard, remain silent and decline to lift my voice to speak to you. This war was not begun by us. When Major Anderson was summoned to surrender Fort Sumter to the rebels, he refused, but added, in an unofficial way, that in three days he would be starved out, and compelled to evacuate the fort. When his reply, official and unofficial, was telegraphed to Montgomery, the lightning flashed across the wires this response from the Confederate Government, " Open fire at
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