Loyal Meeting of the People of New-York, to Support the Government, Prosecute the War, and Maintain the Union, held at the Cooper Institute, Friday Evening, March 6, 1863.

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Report of patriotic meetings of pro-Union, loyalists from New York City held to establish the Loyal League of Union Citizens and pledge their loyalty to Abraham Lincoln just a few months after the Emancipation Proclamation. The principal meeting, with speeches and resolutions, was held at the Cooper Institute while other outside meetings were conducted “...surrounding the entire building, and filling adjacent squares.”

The main meeting, presided over by William Cullen Bryant, resolved to perpetuate the Union under the U. S. Constitution, to install the officers of the assembly as the new directors of the Loyal Union League of Citizens, and called upon the Federal Government to establish its own currency “...for the purpose of meeting the extraordinary expenses caused by the rebellion…”

John Van Buren, son of President Martin Van Buren, addressed the assembly held in the fresh aftermath of Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation:

“My object was to sustain the President as far as justice will authorize, and sustain him in every fair governmental measure that he may adopt for the purpose of carrying on the war war or to uphold the government. I said that it was our purpose to stand by the Union and the constitution, and to stand by Mr. Lincoln as far as he would let us, and to stand by McClellan whether he would let us or not. [Mingled applause, hisses, and great confusion.] Now, in conclusion—[renewed hisses and applause]—I am only repeating what I said to you on the 13th of October. [Cries of “Go on.”] I said, “Protract this contest to the next Presidential election, no matter what is the result, this country will be irretrievably swamped long before we reach the 4th March, 1865. It must be done sooner—the result must be achieved under Lincoln; it must be achieved by giving vigor to him in resisting what I am sure he feels disposed to resist—the demands of the abolitionists. Stand by him. He is a cross of Kentucky on Illinois, and cannot be an abolitionist. [Applause.] Let the great State of New-York, on the 4th of November, (as I have every reason to hope the States of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana will to-morrow,) show what her principles are. And let you and I meet here, after the election, and unite and shouting that NewYork is redeemed.” (p29)”

With 26-page “Appendix. Inauguration of the Loyal League of Union Citizens at the Academy of Music, Saturday, 14th March, 1863” which includes a lengthy speech of then Senator Andrew Johnson of Tennessee.

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