and firmly protest against any further foreign coercion of the political system of Mexico. Yours, very respectfully, J. BAKER. FROM HON. CHARLES SITGREAVES, OF NEW-JERSEY. PHILLIPSBURG, N. J., Dec. 27, 1865. Hon. E. G. Squier and others, Committee: GENTLEMEN : I regret that previous engagements will prevent my attendance at the meeting to be held in the great hall of the Cooper Institute, in New York, on the evening of Jan. 6, for the purpose of giving expression to the sentiments of the people on the subject of the Monroe Doctrine.. Although " absent in body, I will be present with you in spirit." This Continent must be, in all its length and breadth, the home of constitutional freedom and the asylum of the oppressed of every land, which it never can be with an empire on its borders. Our people must never add to the oceans of human blood which have been shed and mountains of treasure that have been expended to "maintain the balance of power," which they must do if "foreign, and especially monarchical, interference is permitted in the domestic and international affairs of this continent." You say truly, that the time is appropriate for an expression of opinion on this subject. It is, indeed, appropriate, not only for the reiteration, but for the maintenance and enforcement of the "Monroe Doctrine." The stability of the Union, the future tranquillity of the nation, the extension of republican principles and the rights of man, alike demand it. Now is the proper time. The opportunity now lost can never be regained, without destroying the peace of the world. An earnest declaration by Congress and the President now, I think, would be sufficient; but if not, then a million of brave men, disciplined in the march, the camp, and the battles of a four years' sanguinary war, will, under God, settle the question of despots for ever. Very truly yours, CHAS. SITGREAVES.. FROM. MAJ.-GEN. J. A. GARFIELD, M. C., FROM OHIO. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, HON. E. GEO. SQUIER : } DEAR SIR: Yours, inviting me to address a meeting at the Cooper Institute, on the application of the Monroe Doctrine to our relations with Mexico, Perú and Chili, is received. I regret that my duties here will not allow me to accept your invitation. I should be glad to cooperate with you in an effort to inform the citizens of my country by what means and for what ends the monarchies of Europe have been, and are still, endeavoring to trample out republican liberty in the New World. I trust you will call the attention of the assembly, that will meet on Saturday evening, to the fact that Maximilian, the French agent in Mexico, by a decree of Sept. 5, 1865, re-established slavery, with a view to encouraging emigration from our rebel States; thus affording another proof that the French usurpation in Mexico was in reality a part of the rebellion, for the purpose of extending and perpetuating the institution of slavery. I believe that a firm and decided course on our part will, without war, secure the removal of the French usurpation. That the usurpation will cease, and the pretensions of Maximilian and Napoleon in Mexico will be relinquished, I have no doubt. I am, dear sir, very respectfully yours. J. A. GARFIELD. FROM HON. B. F. WADE, U. S. SENATOR FROM OHIO. WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 1865. HON. E. G. SQUIER : SIR: I have just received your note inviting me to attend a meeting to be held iu the City of New York, on Saturday evening next, "for the purpose of giving expression to the sentiments of the people of New York, on the subject of foreign, and especially monarchical, interference in the domestic and international affairs of this continent." I regret that I shall not be able to be present at your meeting, but you may be assured that I am heartily in sympathy with the declared object thereof, and intend to make my sentiments known in Congress at an early period of the present session. I have the honor to be yours, &c., B. F. WADE. FROM MAJ.-GEN. SICKLES. [Extract.] CHARLESTON, S. C. I regret that my duties here, and the reserve imposed upon me by the regulations of the military service, prevent my participation in a public demonstration, having for its noble object the expression of the sympathy of the people of this country with Chili in her struggie with Spain, and of the unfaltering adhesion of the United States to the Monroe Doctrine. But my co-operation will not be missed, for our people are unanimous and immovable in their sentiments of attachment for our republican sisters of the American Continent: and although we are weary of war, European powers will not be wise in assuming that we lack either the means or the inclination to repel aggression. DANIEL E. SICKLES. FROM HON. JOHN A. KASSON, OF IOWA. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Hon. E. G. Squier and others, Committee : GENTLEMEN: Your note of the 20th instant, announcing a meeting at the Cooper Institute on the 6th proximo, to give expression to the public sentiment on the question of European interference with American Republican institutions, and requesting my attendance, is received. It will afford me sincere gratification to be present if it shall be possible. The occasion has come for the Great Republic to acknowledge its assertion of the "Monroe Doctrine" to have been an empty phrase, or a pregnant principle of Republican, national and continental safety, to be enforced with the whole combined power of the American Republics if required. Let our counsels be prudent, as our preparation should be complete. Let the reaction from Europe, treacherously begun in the hour of our distress, itself have reasonable time to react in view of the increased solidity of the United States at the close of our war. Then, if justice, honor and respect for American principles do not retract the interference already initiated by Europe, let the blows fall, in the name of God and Liberty, until the interfering flags shall have been swept from the two oceans that embrace our continent. I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant, JOHN A. KASSON. FROM HON. SCHUYLER COLFAX, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 21, 1865. GENTLEMEN: It will be impossible for me to be present at your meeting in New York on the 6th of January; but, while trusting that our country may not become involved in hostilities with any foreign nation, if they can be honorably averted, I have no hesitation in expressing my warmest sympathies with the struggling and unconquered Liberals of Mexico, and my faith that both President and Congress will so act and speak, that the whole world will understand and appreciate the deep interest we feel in the permanency, the tranquilization, and the consequent prosperity of our neighboring Republic. Yours truly, SCHUYLER COLFAX. FROM HON. HAMILTON WARD, OF NEW YORK. WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 21, 1865. To Hon. E. Geo. Squier and others, Committee : GENTLEMEN: I am in receipt of yours of the 20th, inviting me to attend a meeting at Cooper Institute, New : York City, on the evening of Jan. 6, in vindication of the "Monroe Doctrine." Circumstances will not permit my attending, as it would give me great pleasure to do. I hope there will be a grand outpouring of the people on that occasion. Give the "Nephew of his Uncle" to understand that as the great Napoleon at last found his Waterloo, he too may find his in the Halls of the Montezumas. The French ruler took advantage of our supposed weakness, and planted upon this continent, over our unwilling people, a monarchy, in bold defiance of our well-known and cherished national policy and traditions. However much we might desire peace with our old friend across the water, this act of France places us in the position either to fight it out, if needs be, and vindicate our policy, or tamely submit to a great national insult and wrong. The people are of but one opinion, that the national honor must be maintained. Let them speak out. FROM HON. R. W. CLARKE. WASHINGTON CITY, Dec. 21, 1865. Hon. E. GEO. SQUIER, Chairman, &c. : SIR: I have received your notice of a call for a meeting to be held Jan. 6, 1866, at the great hall of the Cooper Institute, New York, "for the vindication of the Monroe Doctrine." My arrangements will not permit of my attending your meeting; but be assured that if called upon to act officially upon that question, I shall be with you most heartily. Respectfully, R. W. CLARKE. FROM HON. HORACE MAYNARD, OF TENNESSEE WASHINGTON, Dec. 21, 1865. GENTLEMEN: Your invitation to be present at a meeting in the Cooper Institute, on the 6th of January next, finds me on the eve of returning to Tennessee. The ob |