NEW YORK. 



519 



The result of the presidential election in 

 1860 was followed by the action which the 

 Southern leaders had determined on as soon as 

 the sentiment of the North should have been 

 shown by an election to be, as they conceived, 

 abidingly hostile to the South. The Northern 

 vole was 1,831,180 for Mr. Lincoln, and 1,564,- 

 151 for the other, candidates, and secession was 

 at once inaugurated. 



The Legislature of the State of New York 

 was convened amidst considerable alarm for 

 the safety of the Union on the part of all, except 

 the leaders of the Republican party, who truly 

 declared that nothing had as yet been done in- 

 imical to the rights of the South. The over- 

 tures of the Border States for settlement were 

 regarded by some as political tricks, and not 

 serious efforts to avert a real danger. 



The State election had resulted as follows : 



n.-T-.^ci.fr. .. J Senate... Republicans. 23; Democrats. 9. 

 The Legislature ( House . . . E*publicis| 93 ; Democrat* 35. 



The Governor, however, in his Message to 

 the Legislature, which met on the 2d of Janu- 

 ary, urged the duty of all national Legislatures 

 to act with moderation and conciliation, saying : 



" Let New York set an example in this re- 



ect; let her oppose no barrier, but let her 

 Representatives in Congress give ready support 



any just and honorable settlement; let her 

 stand in hostility to none, but extend the hand 

 of friendship to all ; live up to the strict letter of 

 the Constitution, cordially unite with the other 

 members of the Confederacy in proclaiming and 

 enforcing a determination, that the Constitution 

 shall be honored and the Union of the States be 

 preserved." He recommended the repeal of the 

 personal liberty bill, and also suggested that 

 other States should repeal their similar laws. 



These views of the Governor were not re- 

 sponded to by the members. They were, on 

 the other hand, disposed to be defiant. 



In the Assembly on the 3d Jan., Mr. Robin- 

 son introduced a resolution to the effect, that 

 all the territories should be divided into two 

 States, and that the question of slavery should 

 be left with the people. The Democrats, so 

 largely in the minority in the House, held a 

 caucus, and agreed warmly to support the reso- 

 lution. The majority of the House had, how- 

 ever, widely different views. 



On Jan. 11 a series of resolutions was pre- 

 pared and passed. There was but one negative 

 vote in the Senate, and two in the lower House. 

 The spirit animating them is manifested in the 

 preamble and first resolution : 



Whereas the insurgent State of South Carolina, 

 after seizing the post-offices, custom-house, moneys, 

 and fortifications of the Federal Government, has, by 

 firing into a vessel ordered by the Government to con- 

 vey troops and provisions to Fort Sumter, virtually 

 declared war ; and, whereas the forts and property 

 of the United States Government in Georgia, Alabama, 

 and Louisiana have been unlawfully seized, with hos- 

 tile intentions ; and, whereas their" Senators in Con- 

 gress avow and maintain their treasonable acts; there- 

 fore 



Resolved, That the Legislature of New York is pro- 

 foundly impressed with the value of the Union, and 



determined to preserve it unimpaired; that it greet* 

 with joy the recent firm, dignified, and patriotic special 

 ilessag'e of the President of the United States, and 

 that we tender him, through the Chief Magistrate 

 of our own State whatever aid in men and money 

 may be required to enable him to enforce the laws 

 and uphold the authority of the Federal Government ; 

 and that, in the defence of the Union, which has con- 

 ferred prosperity and happiness upon the American 

 people, renewing the pledge given and redeemed by 

 our fathers, we are ready to devote our fortunes, ur 

 lives, and our sacred honor. 



The following despatch was immediately sent 

 to the President : 



ALBANY, Jan. 11, 1861. 

 To His Excellency, James Buchanan, President of the 



United States, Washington City : 

 SIR : In obedience to the request of the Legisla- 

 ture of the State, I transmit herewith a copy of the 

 concurrent resolutions of that body adopted this day, 

 tendering the aid of the State to the President of 

 the United States, to enable him to enforce the laws, 

 and to uphold the authority of the Federal Govern- 

 ment. I have the honor to be 



Your Excellency's obedient servant, 

 (Signed) EDWIN D. MORGAN. 



The resolution was ordered to be commu- 

 nicated to the Governors of each of the States. 

 The defiant tone of the resolution was very 

 unfavorable in its effects. The tender of men 

 and money to the Administration was received 

 with great indignation in Virginia and Georgia. 

 The formidable nature of this tender was subse- 

 quently shown in a report of the Senate Com- 

 mittee on Military and Public Defence. This 

 certainly could not have flattered the State 

 pride, and, compared with the resolution, at 

 the time, must have occasioned many a quiet 

 smile. It appeared that the twenty thousand 

 men in the State who were uniformed, well 

 drilled, and nominally equipped, had only eight 

 thousand muskets or rifles fit for immediate 

 service. The remaining twelve thousand, if 

 called into action at once, would not have been 

 prepared to go. The State was nearly as des- 

 titute of cannon as of muskets. About one 

 hundred and fifty field-pieces were all she could 

 command. But New York has since vindicated 

 her military reputation. 



The alarm in the public mind was daily be- 

 coming more intense. The fact that the reso- 

 lutions of the Legislature were received as de- 

 fiant, induced more conciliatory action on the 

 part of the people, and a compromising memo- 

 rial received an immense number of signatures, 

 without distinction of party, and was forwarded 

 on Jan. 12 to Congress. The following is an 

 extract containing its sentiment : 



We judge, that an agreed explanation of any un- 

 certain provisions of the Constitution, a clearer defini- 

 tion of the powers of the Government on disputed 

 questions, and an adaptation of it, in its original spirit, 

 to the enlarged dimensions of the country, would sat- 

 isfy all the honest differences among our country- 

 men. 



Therefore, we pray leave to suggest, that the assur- 

 ance coupled with any required guarantees, of the 

 rights of the States to regulate, without interference 

 from any quarter, the matter of slavery in their bor- 

 ders, of the rights secured by the Constitution to the 

 delivery of fugitives, the readjustment of the laws 

 bearing on these subjects, which are in possible con- 



