A full report of all the acts of the Chamber in this interesting historical incident, together with the correspondence with Captain Winslow, the names of the subscribers to the twentyfive-thousand-dollar fund with the amount given by each, and the names of all the recipients, is published in the Appendix of the Annual Report of the Chamber of 1864-1865. The Chamber had excellent reasons for pride in its course during this critical period. Its persistent agitation of the matter, its forcible and fearless statements of the nature of the offense committed by Great Britain in connection with the Alabama and its fellow privateers, and its patriotic course in confining its efforts to a plain statement of facts, trusting public opinion to recognize the merits of the case, all combined to secure a just solution of a question of vital importance to both countries. The justice and sound law of their whole conduct in the affair were demonstrated conclusively many years later in the verdict of fifteen million five hundred thousand dollars on the Alabama claims, awarded to the United States by the Geneva Tribunal in 1872. Joseph H. Choate said of this: "I believe it to have been the largest pecuniary award ever rendered in such an arbitration." Another subject which the Chamber kept constantly in mind during this period was the proper defense of the harbor. It sent memorial after memorial about it to the President, to Congress, to the State Legislature, and to the City Council. The Legislature, in the winter of 1862-1863, appropriated a million dollars for the purpose, and such progress had been made that a report to the Chamber, on October 1, 1863, by the chairman of the Committee on Harbor Defenses, pronounced the defenses, on the authority of Colonel Richard Delafield of the United States Engineers, to be "in a satisfactory and improving condition" and that there was "no cause for any anxiety in the public mind as to the ability of New York to defend herself against any attack whatever." CHAPTER XVIII END OF THE WAR SURRENDER OF LEE-DEATH OF LINCOLN-DELEGATION TO THE FUNERAL-GRATEFUL LETTER FROM SECRETARY SEWARD CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHAMBER 1865-1868 THE news of the surrender of Lee arrived when the Chamber was in session on April 10, 1865. It was voted that in view of the "glorious news" the regular order of business be suspended, and the members devoted themselves to the preparation of formal expressions of rejoicing. A series of resolutions was adopted by acclamation in which, with justifiable pride, it was recalled that the Chamber at the outbreak of the rebellion had solemnly pledged to the support of the government the vast resources of this commercial community and had since, at each and every time, when the credit or honor of the nation had been in danger, renewed that pledge. The following declarations were added: Resolved, That with reverence and thankfulness to Almighty God, "Who hath given us the victory," this Chamber propose to unite with their fellow-citizens in celebrating the triumphs of our arms, both on sea and land, which have restored the national unity, vindicated the right and power of the General Government, and shown to a doubting world that we have a country worthy of preservation, and which we are able and willing to preserve. Resolved, That our thanks are tendered to the President of the United States, his official advisers, and the officers, soldiers and sailors of our army and navy, from General Grant to the smallest drummer boy. Resolved, That while rejoicing, we must not forget the afflicted who mourn for the loss of relatives and friends who have fallen dead or wounded in this great struggle for freedom and law, and we tender to them our most earnest sympathies. It was also resolved to accept an invitation, received from the Common Council, to join "in one grand and patriotic jubilee," on April 20, the day fixed by the Governor of the State for such a celebration. An additional resolution was also adopted, expressing the opinion that the rebellion had been unduly prolonged during the last two years mainly by the recognition given to it by the Continental powers of Europe, and adding: Resolved, That the thanks of the American people are due to the great masses in Europe who, since the origin of our unjustifiable rebellion, have sympathized with the success of the constitutional cause the triumph of which is assured by the series of great events which have just taken place under the transcendent genius and skill of Lieutenant-General Grant, and the patriotic co-operation of Generals Sherman, Sheridan, and others under his command; and we assure them that the United States, in the future as in the past, will furnish a home and afford protection to all who recognize constitutional representative government as the best organization known among men for the promotion of individual, civil, religious and political liberty. An adjournment was taken till April 15, and in the minutes of that meeting appears simply this entry in a heavy black border: News was received this day of the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, last evening, 14th April, 1865. No business was transacted, and an adjournment was taken till April 22, when the following was adopted: |