Letter Of Hon. Robert J. Walker To The Union Meeting At New York

Hoboken, N. J. Sopt. 19, 1861. Gentlemen - I have receivod yöur invitation to address to-morrow tbe people of the city of New York in support of the Unioa State noimiialions. I regrot tfaat it will not be in my power to oomply with yonr reqaest, but oheerfully communieate my views on this (juestion. Long befora the rebel assault on Fort Suuipter, I expressed my opiuions in favor of its reinforeement aud the uiaintenance of the governmeut aud the Union. When that fort was captured by the reb els, on the eall of the people of Ney York, of all partios, I addreMed the groat meeting at Uuiou Square against this wicked rebcllion, declaring thal any peace or coniproniiso was impossible while the rebels were in arms against the government. Until the strugglo iu wliich we are now engaged for the existence of the goverumeut is terminated all party questions must disappear. When we ahall have settled this question, wheu our flag shall iloat agaiu over every State frora ooean to occan, and froto the lakea to t!)e Gulf, we may then consider subordínate party issues. Until then, no patriot shall know auy party but that of his country. Most fully, then, do I approve the proeeediugs of the great Union conventiou at Syracusa by wliioh a Uuion ticket, oomposed of patriotic men of all partios, was nominatod. If we would maintain the governmeut aud perpetúate tho Union, the peoplo of the loyal States must bo united. If we exhibited to our focs at home aud abroad at London and Richmond, t!io noble spectacle of a wholo pcoplc surronder ing all past divisions, and uaitittg as oije man aud onc party iu dcfenso of the Union, before the close of this year we would surely crush this rebelliou. V ho asks ïiow whether Scott (ir McOiellan aro WbigB, Demócrata or llepublicans? - Who goes into the ranks of the noble arniy now defeuding the Union, and iuquires to what party those patriotie soldier have heretoforé belonged ? The Presi deut is the " Gominander m Chief of tho Ariny and N.ivy," a.id who will ask wheiher he is a republican or a democrat of aidiug tho government in perpetuatiug the Union. And hero let me say that the Union is to bo mairitained, not ouly by cordial support of' the government and of our aruiies in tho field, but by crushing treasou wherever it appears among us. - Whether we look to anciont or modera times, to monarchies or república, in for eigu or in civil war, especially the latter, we will findthat the public satety demands that all who givo " aid aud comfort " to tho enemy, whether through the press or otherwise, should be deprivcd of their power for ovil. As well might bc demanded, iu the midst of a battle, that civil process should arrest the movemenl of our troops, as that spies and traitors duriug the war, or their auxiliarles, should be cxempt from the sterü necessity of martial law. Let thoso who love the safeguards of the constitution first secure the government from overthrow, and then military law will expire, and our persous and property be secured from danger. Wc can only accomplish this by a most vigorous prosecution of the war, aud by giviug to the administration for that purpose a full, cordial, and unfaltering support. I thauk God that at all times, and under all circumstances, whetlier in public or private lil'e, whether residing Nerth or South, I havo alwaya earuestly opposed nullification and . sion, aud supported the cause of the Uuion. In a public address over ïuy siguature, publi&hed in the Washingtou City Daily Globe of the 3d of February, 1844, will be found this sentence. " I havo ever regarded the dissolution of tb is Union as a calamity equal to a second f all of mankind - not, t is true, introducini; like tho first, sin and death into the woild, but grcatly augmenting all their direful influences." And is this uot true? Would not the fall of this Uniou be the last experiment of republican govornment ? If the mere atteuipt to dissolvë this Union has produced such disensos here, and sueh convulsions aud dread forebodings tbrougbout the civüized world, how inSnitelr worse would bo tho terrible reality ! The fate of our couu try and of thé liberties of the world is staked upon the perpetuity or dissolution of the American Union, and if we should now permit its overthrow, we would coramit the most stupendous crime ever recorded in the aunáis of the world. If our fathera fought through seven long years of gloom, and povoi ty, and trial, to establish this Union, aaiid every sacriüce of blood and treasure, with their homes and principal cities oiteu oceupied by hostiie artas, shall we, their childron, refuse to encounter equal or even greater sacrilices to maiutaiu unbrokon this great and glorious Uniou ? But thanks to a gracious Providence, tliis is not required. The war has not reached a singlo uorthern State or city, and by prompt action we eau suppress the rel.elliou wlthio the next few months We can replaco the American fing over every acre of American soil, open every port to our canntrcc, and then ouly will tho prosperity of New York and of our whole Union be re-established All who would uow separare the couiitry into distinct parties, uutil the empire of the Union, undivided and indivisible, is restored, are tlie encunes of their country and of mankind. With my most cordial wishes for the success of the great Union war ticket of New York, I aiu yours, very rëspeotfully. ïo Jlessrs. Bradford, Dagsnoetnd Tttllmadgo