eason with us when we will reason with
them.... The South have not offended us.... But their slaves have been
run off in numbers by an underground railroad, and insult and injury
returned for a constitutional duty.... If we would remain a united
people we must treat the Southern States as we treated them on the
inauguration of the government--as political equals."[768]

[Footnote 768: _Life and Speeches of Daniel S. Dickinson_, Vol. 1, pp.
700-702.]

In a speech at Richmond on March 14 Cochrane promised that New York
would sustain Virginia in any policy it adopted,[769] and on April 4 a
Confederate commissioner, writing from Manhattan, reported to
Jefferson Davis that two hundred of the most influential and wealthy
citizens were then arranging the details to declare New York a free
city. Several army officers as well as leading ship-builders, said the
letter, had been found responsive, through whose assistance recruits
from the ranks of the conspirators were to seize the navy yard, forts,
and vessels of war, and to hold the harbor and city.[770] While nothing
was known to the friends of the Union of the existence of such a
conspiracy, deep anxiety prevailed as to how far the spirit of
rebellion which had manifested itself in high places, extended among
the population of the great metropolis.

[Footnote 769: New York _Tribune_, March 15, 1861.]

[Footnote 770: Letter of John W. Forsyth, MSS. Confederate Diplomatic
Correspondence, April 4, 1861.]

The guns aimed at Sumter, however, quickly removed the impression that
the greed of commerce was stronger than the love of country. The Stock
Exchange resounded with enthusiastic cheers for Major Anderson, and
generous loans showed that the weight of the financial and trade
centre of the country was on the side of the national government. But
more convincing proof of a solid North found expression in the spirit
of the great meeting held at Union Square on Saturday, April 20.
Nothing like it had ever been seen in America. Men of all ranks,
professions, and creeds united in the demonstration. Around six
platforms, each occupied with a corps of patriotic orators, an
illustrious audience, numbering some of the most famous Democrats of
the State, who had quickly discarded political prejudices, stood for
hours listening to loyal utterances that were nobly illustrated by the
valour of Major Anderson, whose presence increased the enthusiasm into
a deafening roar of repeated cheers