Alexandria Gazette

PUBLIC MEETING IN NEW YORK.

The meeting called yesterday afternoon, to express the sentiments of the citizens of New York upon the existing state of hostilities between the United States and Mexico, was one of the largest, if not the very largest, ever held in this city.

Three stands were erected in the Park, one in front of the Hall, and one on either wing, from each of which floated our beautiful national flag, while on the main stand, an excellent band of music was stationed, who played at intervals beautiful and patriotic airs.

The balcony of the City Hall was crowded with ladies and gentlemen, and indeed the whole coup d'oeil was striking and imposing.

The arrangements of the various sub-committees, had all been so admirably perfected, there was not the least confusion or disorder. Policemen were stationed about to look out for pickpockets, to whom such a gathering was a God-send, and one rascal, so began his operations before the commencement of the meeting, was hurried off in the quickest possible time, and properly cared for at the chief's office.

At six o'clock, a posse of officers cleared a passage through the dense mass of human beings packed on this platform in front of the Hall, through which the officers of the meeting and speakers, walked in procession to the assigned places.

The Mayor presided at the principal stand. Ald. Cozzens on the west, and Gen. Lloyd on the east side.

It is impossible to give any idea of the different speeches, but so far as we were enabled to hear them, all breathed an unflinching devotion to our country—a magnanimous intention of burying all differences and distractions—a waiver of all enquiry into causes, and an earnest invocation to aid the Government in every measure necessary to hasten the termination of the War.

On the main platform the principal speakers were David Graham, Gen. P. S. Smith, of Philadelphia, John McKeon, James T. Brady, Theodore E. Tomlinson, Isaiah Rynders, and others.

On the East wing, Gen. Lloyd, Edw. Sandford, James Bunn, Lorenzo B. Shepard, Garritt Gilbert, and others.

On the first stand, Robert H. Morris, Mr. E. Lehman, of Philadelphia, J. S. Voorhees, Mr. McPherson, Col. Brooks, of Michigan, who was in the war, and others.

Another meeting was organized in front of the Hall of Records, which could not have reached less than two or three thousand, and at seven o'clock, when the greatest number were assembled, there must have been at least thirty thousand people.

As the shades of evening drew on, a magnificent Drummond light was placed on the balcony of the City Hall, casting its splendid effulgence far and wide and giving an air of grandeur and picturesqueness to the scene which cannot readily be described.

During the evening a salute of one hundred guns was fired from two field pieces stationed in the rear of the main stand, and rockets were sent up at frequent intervals.

The meeting and proceedings are things long to be remembered, and no one can doubt that the Empire City of the Empire State will nobly, promptly—and cheerfully respond to any call that may be made upon her, in redemption of the pledge given in the resolutions, to "devote our lives and fortunes to the support of the country."—N. Y. Courier.