Hasklu had a negro in his employment and what right he had to keep one V Haskins got up at once and replied that he had such a man, the same who hoisted the first Union flag on Roanoke Island, that it was no one's business whether he kept an Irishman, German, Swede, Xegro, or anybody else in his employment ; that he intended to keep the man as long as he pleased. The statement was cheered and his questioner was silenced.
This meeting adopted a set of resolutions, condemning the draft ; expressing confidence in Horatio Seymour, in his efforts to get it declared unconstitutional ; affirmed the judgment of the people of Morrisania and West Farms, that the act was unconstitutional, and deprecated mob violence. They appointed Messrs. Talman, G. W. Caldwell, Franklin W. Gilley, Thomas K. Sutton, John B. Haskin, John Kirby and Terence Kennedy, a committee, ' to wait on Moses G. Sheard, Esq., Federal Provost Marshal of the district,' to ' insist that the draft be stopped, till the State court could decide whether it wascsnstitutional.' "
The proceedings of this meeting have been given in full because it was the most important occurrence in the county during the draft riots. The speakers managed the mass of ignorant and excited men, whom it was their task to quiet, with singular skill. They flattered them artfully with assurances that their opposition to the draft was all right; appealed to their self-respect in the most ingenious way, and the appointment of the committee ended the whole matter. The county was quiet thereafter, the more so that the same day, the return of the troops from Pennsylvania and the report of fierce fighting in the city, in which the mob was getting the worst of it, had a tendency to kill the idea that attempts at violence were to be made with safety.