USA > Massachusetts > History of Massachusetts in the Civil War > Part 4
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Mr. Boynton, of Worcester, thought the passage of the bill would indicate that' the credit of the United States is not good, and we must indorse it to make it good. He did not think it necessary to take such a step before it is called for. He thought it was " a Union-saving " movement, and would do more to our discredit than to the good of the country.
Mr. Hardy said it was not only a movement in behalf of the
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LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS.
Union, but a matter of business. It is true, the General Gov- ernment is bankrupt. Massachusetts can help by her notes or her indorsement ; and, instead of bending the knee or rolling in the dust before the South, it is putting backbone into the Government. It shows that Massachusetts has faith in the General Government.
Mr. Boynton was opposed to giving any aid to the present
tration that we can trust, he thought it would be time enough to talk about lending money.
Mr. Davis, of Bristol, moved to amend the bill so that it would take effect immediately upon its passage. The amend- ment was carried, and the bill was passed to a third reading.
On motion of Mr. Schouler, of Middlesex, the bill was ordered to be printed.
Jan. 30. In the House. - The Senate Militia Bill came up in order. Mr. Durfee, of New Bedford, moved to strike out all after the enacting clause, and to substitute a bill of his own. The subject was then laid on the table, and the bill and amendment ordered to be printed.
Jan. 31. In Senate. - A communication was received from the Adjutant-General, in accordance with a joint resolu- tion of the Legislature, adopted on the 23d inst., giving the following estimates of equipping 2,000 men for active service : 2,000 overcoats, at $9 each, $18,000; 2,000 knapsacks, at $2.25 each, $4,500 ; 2,000 blankets, at $3 each, $6,000; camp equipage (exclusive of tents), $3,000, - total, $31,500.
On motion of Mr. Schouler, of Middlesex, the communica- tion was laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.
Feb. 1. In Senate. - Mr. Whitney, of Plymouth, from the Committee on Federal Relations, reported a bill to create an emergency fund for the Governor of $100,000, to take effect upon its passage. The bill was immediately passed through the several stages, under a suspension of the rules.
The communication of the Adjutant-General was taken from the table, and referred to the Joint Standing Committee on the Militia.
In the House, the Militia Bill was discussed. Several amend-
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE REBELLION.
ments were offered by Mr. Quincy, of Boston, which were lost. The substitute offered by Mr. Durfce, of New Bedford, was also voted down ; and the bill in the draft offered by Mr. Banfield, of West Roxbury, was ordered to be engrossed.
Mr. Parker, of Worcester, moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed. Placed on the orders of the day.
Saturday, Feb. 2. In the House. - The motion to re- consider the vote by which the Militia bill was ordered to be engrossed was carried ; and, on motion of Mr. Hills, of Bos- ton, it was recommitted to the Committee on the Militia.
On leave, Mr. Smith, of Boston, introduced a new bill in relation to the militia ; and that also was referred to the Com- mittee on the Militia.
Mr. Tyler, of Boston, from the Finance Committee, reported to the House the Senate bill creating an emergency fund of $100,000. He moved that the rules be suspended, that it might take its several readings at once.
Mr. Parsons, of Lawrence, opposed the suspension of the rules, on the ground that a bill of so much importance should be carefully considered.
Mr. Slack, of Boston, thought extraordinary circumstances demanded extraordinary measures, and alluded briefly to the present state of national affairs.
On motion of Mr. Davis, of Greenfield, the House went into secret session. During the secret session, the motion to suspend the rules prevailed ; and the bill took its several readings, and was ordered to be engrossed.
Feb. 2. - The Senate debated the resolves for the appoint- ment of seven commissioners to proceed to Washington to con- fer with the General Government, or with commissioners from other States, upon the state of the country. These resolves were reported in accordance with the invitation of the General Assembly of Virginia. The debate in the Senate was very able : the proposition being sustained by Messrs. Northend and Stone, of Essex ; Davis, of Bristol ; and Hardy, of Norfolk ; and opposed by Mr. Whiting, of Plymouth. The resolves passed, - yeas 24, nays 6. The bill provided, that the com- missioners should be appointed by the Governor, and should make their report to the Legislature.
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LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS.
In the House, resolutions of a similar character were intro- duced by Mr. Parker, of Worcester. They were supported by Mr. Davis, of Greenfield, and Mr. Parker ; and opposed by Mr. Branning, of Lee. Before coming to any conclusion, the re- solves which had passed the Senate reached the House. Mr. Parker's were laid on the table, and the Senate resolves were discussed. After a long debate on a motion to suspend the rules, which was lost, - yeas 104, nays 65, not two-thirds, - the House adjourned.
Tuesday, Feb. 5. In the House. - The Senate resolves for the appointment of commissioners were, on motion of Mr. Davis, of Greenfield, taken from the orders of the day, and considered. He said the resolves met with his entire appro- bation.
Mr. Slocum, of Grafton, said, with all respect for Virginia, he could not abide by her opinions, since they might desecrate the soil of Massachusetts to slavery ; rather than that, said he, let blood come. He moved an amendment.
Mr. Wallis, of Bolton, favored the amendment.
Mr. Gifford, of Provincetown, opposed it, and favored the resolutions. " He had no fears that Massachusetts would act at the bidding of Virginia or any other State."
Mr. French, of Waltham, favored the amendment, which was, in substance, that Massachusetts did not agree with Vir- ginia that the Constitution required amendment to guarantee to each State its rights.
Mr. Hyde, of Newton, opposed the amendment. He did not see any good reason why it should be adopted. He did not think Virginia needed to be told where Massachusetts stands to-day.
Mr. Pierce, of Dorchester, did not want the matter forced through by outside influence. He was opposed to the resolves, and hoped they would be rejected .:
Mr. Fisk, of Shelburne, advocated the proposition, and would forward it with his hand and vote.
Mr. Prentiss, of Marblehead, opposed the measure in a speech of considerable length, and asked if we would send commission- ers to a convention of traitors ? Let us rather send the sword.
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE REBELLION.
Mr. Slack, of Boston, spoke in opposition. He foresaw that the convention would act contrary to the desires of the people of Massachusetts, and that this Commonwealth would be partly responsible for its acts.
Mr. Durfee, of New Bedford, moved to amend by instruct- ing the commissioners not to recognize the resolutions presented in Congress by Mr. Crittenden, of Kentucky, as a proper basis for adjustment or compromise of difficulties.
Mr. Sears, of Boston, and Mr. Gibbs, of New Bedford, spoke in favor of the original resolves, and against the amendments.
The amendments were voted down, and the resolves were passed to be engrossed by a vote of yeas 184, nays 31.
Feb. 6. - The House voted to substitute the Senate bill for the increase of the militia for the bill of Mr. Banfield, of West Roxbury, - yeas 96, nays 60.
The bill was as follows : -.
CHAPTER 49. - An Act in Relation to the Volunteer Militia.
SECTION 1. The volunteer militia companies, as now organized, with their officers, shall be retained in the service; and hereafter, as the public exigency may require, the organization of companies of artillery may be authorized, on petition, by the Commander-in-chief, with advice of the Council, and the organization of other companies may be au- thorized, on petition, by the Commander-in-chief, or by the mayor and aldermen or selectmen, by his permission ; and said companies, so re- tained and so organized, shall be liable, on a requisition of the Presi- dent of the United States upon the Commander-in-chief, to be marched without the limits of the Commonwealth ; but all additional companies, battalions, and regiments which may be organized under the provisions of this act, shall be disbanded whenever the Governor or the Legisla- ture shall deem that their services are no longer needed. Companies of cavalry shall be limited to one hundred privates, and a saddler and a farrier ; companies of artillery to forty-eight cannoneers, twenty-four drivers, and a saddler and farrier ; the cadet companies of the first and second divisions to one Hundred, and companies of infantry and rifle- men to sixty-four, privates.
SECT. 2. The fourteenth section of the thirteenth chapter of the General Statutes, and all laws or parts of laws now in force, limiting the number of the volunteer militia, are hereby repealed.
SECT. 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
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LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS.
The resolves to appoint commissioners to attend a convention to be held in Washington, Feb. 5, were approved by the Gov- ernor, and were as follows : -
" Whereas, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is desirous of a full and free conference with the General Government, and with any or all of the other States of the Union, at any time and on every occasion, when such conference may promote the welfare of the country ; and
" Whereas questions of grave moment have arisen touching the powers of the Government, and the relations between the different States of the Union ; and
" Whereas the State of Virginia has expressed a desire to meet her sister States in convention at Washington ; therefore -
" Resolved, That the Governor of this Commonwealth, by and with the advice and consent of the Council, be, and he hereby is, authorized to appoint seven persons as commissioners, to proceed to Washington to confer with the General Government, or with the separate States, or with any association of delegates from such States, and to report their doings to the Legislature at its present session ; it being expressly declared, that their acts shall be at all times under the control, and subject to the approval or rejection, of the Legislature."
On the same day, Feb. 5, the Governor, with the consent of the Council, appointed the following named gentlemen as com- missioners : -
Hon. JOHN Z. GOODRICH, of Stockbridge.
Hon. CHARLES ALLEN, of Worcester.
Hon. GEORGE S. BOUTWELL, of Groton.
Hon. FRANCIS B. CROWNINSHIELD, of Boston.
THEOPHILUS P. CHANDLER, Esq., of Brookline.
JOHN M. FORBES, Esq., of Milton.
RICHARD P. WATERS, Esq., of Beverly.
These gentleman immediately proceeded to Washington, and took part in the deliberations of the " Peace Congress." It was a very able delegation. 5
There was great interest felt in regard to the action of the Peace Congress, and how far its acts would bind the States which the delegates represented.
Feb. 8. In the House. - Mr. Albee, of Marlborough, offered the following resolution : -
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE REBELLION.
" That our commissioners at Washington are hereby instructed to use every effort to prevent the adoption of the Crittenden Compro- mise, or any similar proposition, by the Convention now in session in Washington."
Passed, - yeas 112, nays 27; and the Governor was re- quested to forward a copy to each of the commissioners.
After the adjournment of the House, the members retained their seats, and the Clerk read the following communica- tion : -
Extract from the Proceedings of the House of Representatives of South Carolina, Jan. 23, 1861.
"Mr. Holland offered the following, which were unanimously adopted : -
" Whereas a certain Mr. Tyler, of Boston, has introduced a resolution in the Massachusetts Legislature, 'that, in view of the great suffering in South Carolina, the immediate consequence of the citizens of that State aeting under a mistaken idea of their rights and obligations, and in view of the abundance of this Commonwealth, a sum be appropriated from the State treasury, to be invested in provisions and stores for the relief of our suffer- ing fellow-countrymen of that State;' therefore be it -
" Resolved, That the report now current in Massachusetts or elsewhere, that any part of South Carolina is suffering, or likely to suffer, for the want of provisions, is a lie as black as hell, and originated nowhere but amongst negro-worshippers at the North.
" Resolved, That the Legislature of Massachusetts be respectfully re- quested to appropriate the money to the relief of her own suffering, starving, poor thousands.
" Resolved, That we can attend to our own affairs without the aid of Massachusetts."
Mr. Speaker, - The foregoing is a true copy of the proceedings of the South Carolina Legislature. You are respectfully requested to have them read in open session. .
W. F. COY KENDALL, Assistant Clerk.
March 19. In the House. - Mr. Tyler, of Boston, from the Committee on Finance, reported a resolve relating to the equipment of troops for active service in a new draft, reducing the sum from $35,000 to $25,000 ; which, on motion of Mr. Jewell, of Boston, was referred to the Committee on the Militia, with instructions "to inquire and report whether any contracts have been made or liabilities incurred in regard to any of the
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LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS.
matters mentioned in the resolve; and, if so, what and when, and by what officer, and under what authority."
March 23. In the House. - Mr. Coffin, of Newbury- port from the Committee on the Militia, reported that the resolve for the equipment of troops for active service ought to pass ; also the following communication from the Adjutant- General : -
BOSTON, March 21, 1861.
Colonel FREDERICK J. COFFIN, House of Representatives.
SIR, - In answer to the inquiry made by the Honorable House of Representatives, "whether any contracts have been made or liabilities incurred in regard to any of the matters mentioned in the resolve re- ported to the House, relating to the equipment of troops for active service, and, if so, when, and by what authority," I have the honor to 4 say : -
Under the direction of His Excellency the Governor and the Hon- orable Council, the following contracts have been made by me as Adju- tant and Acting Quartermaster General : -
1st. With the Middlesex Company, Lowell, for 6,000 yards of cloth, six-fourths wide, to make 2,000 military overcoats, at $1.37 a yard.
2d. With William Deacon, to make 2,000 military overcoats at $2.15 each, he finding the trimmings, except the buttons.
3d. With James Boyd & Sons, to make 1,000 knapsacks, army pattern, and with Edward A. G. Roulstone, to make 1,000 knapsacks, army pattern, severally at $1.88 each.
4th. With Converse, Harding, & Co., for 1,000 pairs of blankets, army size, at $3.75 a pair.
5th. With the Rubber Clothing Company, Beverly, for 2,000 haver- sacks, at 75 cents each.
6th. The buttons for the coats have been contracted for with the manufacturer at Attleborough, and will cost about $740.
7th. I was also authorized to contract for 200,000 ball-cartridges to suit the new rifled musket. The lowest market price for these cartridges is $14 a thousand. At the State Arsenal, at Cambridge, there have been for many fears upwards of 200,000 musket-balls suitable for the old smooth-bore musket. I have caused these to be recast, and the cartridges made at the Arsenal ; so that the entire cost to the Commonwealth for the 200,000 new musket cartridges will not exceed $1,500.
The aggregate cost to the Commonwealth to fulfil these contracts
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE REBELLION.
will be $23,770; to which should be added $150 to pay a proper per- son or persons to inspect the work when finished, to ascertain whether the parties contracted with have faithfully fulfilled their several agree- ments. The resolve appropriating $25,000 will cover the entire expense, and will leave a surplus sufficient to purchase 300,000 per- cussion caps, which it will be necessary to buy, if the troops of the Commonwealth are called into active service.
With great respect, I have the honor to be your obedient servant,
WILLIAM SCHOULER, Adjutant and Acting Quartermaster General.
Monday, March 25. In Senate. - A message was received from the Governor, transmitting a report of the commissioners appointed to represent the Commonwealth in the Peace Con- gress at Washington, which was read. Without taking action, the Senate adjourned.
The report gave a careful record of the proceedings of the Convention, which commenced its sessions in Washing- ton on the 4th of February, and adjourned on the 27th of the same month. It sat with closed doors, and no full or consecutive report of its proceedings was ever made. It ap- pears, however, from the report of our Commissioners, that most of the time was consumed in considering seven distinct propositions for amending the Federal Constitution, each of which was intended to strengthen the institution of slavery, by giving it additional guarantees and enlarged privileges. These propositions were reported by a committee composed of one from each State represented. Mr. Guthrie, of Ken- tucky, was made chairman. Massachusetts was represented on the committee by Mr. Crowninshield, who appears to have called for a specific statement of the grievances complained of by the discontented States. This request led to discussion, but failed to obtain the desired information. Mr. Guthrie's report was adopted by the committee by a majority of five, but the report, as a whole, never received the sanction of a majority of the Convention. Massachusetts voted against all of the propo- sitions except the last, and on that, the delegation declined to vote, either for or against. As this Congress failed to accom- plish any practical purpose, or to make an impression upon the
r
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FORTIFICATIONS IN THE STATE.
country, either for good or for evil, it is not necessary at this late day to exhume from its secret records the crude conceits and extravagant demands which were pressed by Southern members, by which they hoped to prevent civil war, but which, if adopted, would have added strength and permanency to slavery, which was the weakness and the crime of the republic, and the fruit- ful cause of all our national woes. It does not appear that the Massachusetts members submitted any plan of adjustment, but contented themselves with debating such as were offered by others, and voting as their judgments dictated.
Same day. In the House. - Colonel Coffin, of Newbury- port, introduced a bill to limit the number of privates in infan- try and rifle companies to fifty, except when, in the opinion of the Governor, the number should be extended to sixty-four, which was subsequently passed.
The bill also to provide for the equipment of troops in active service was passed to be engrossed.
April 3. In the House. - The Committee on the Militia reported it was inexpedient to legislate upon the appointment of a commissary and surgeon-general, and of amending chap- ter 13, section 144, of the General Statutes, in relation to the mileage of the militia.
April 5. In Senate. - A resolve in favor of calling a na- tional convention was discussed. : It was opposed by Mr. Whiting, of Plymouth, and Mr. Walker, of Worcester, and advocated by Mr. Northend, of Essex, and Mr. Hardy, of Norfolk. It was finally, on motion of Mr. Davis, of Bristol, referred to the next Legislature.
The session closed Thursday, April 11, 1861.
The most important acts of the session, having for their object the preparation of the State for war, were " the act in relation to the volunteer militia," the appropriating of $100,000 as an emergency fund, and of $25,000 to provide overcoats and equipage for 2,000 men. The militia law of the General Statutes limited the active militia to 5,000 men : the act already quoted gave the Governor authority to organize as many companies and regiments as the public exigency might require.
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE REBELLION.
While the Legislature was considering and passing prepara- tory measures, the Governor was not idle. A constant corre- spondence was kept up with our members of Congress and the Governors of other States. Leading merchants, and other gen- tlemen of experience and wisdom, were daily consulted. The militia was strengthened. A cipher key was arranged, to be used in transmitting messages which required secrecy.
The defenceless condition of the forts in Boston harbor was considered. In Fort Warren there was but one gun ; in Fort Winthrop none at all; and, in Fort Independence, hardly twenty guns, and most of them were trained on the city itself. The casemates were unfit for human occupation. The grounds inside the forts were covered with workshops and wooden shan- ties ; and, instead of being a defence to the city and harbor, the fortifications of Boston were a standing menace to them, and invited seizure by the enemy. The entire coast of Massa- chusetts was open to attack from sea; not a fort or an earth- work or a gun was in proper condition. There were neither officers nor troops in garrison. Our entire reliance, should war come, was in the patriotism of the militia and the people of the Commonwealth.
If troops were to be sent to Washington, the best and safest way of forwarding them was a question for discussion. Two Southern States lay between Boston and Washington ; which, in case of civil war, were as likely to array themselves against the Government as for it. The danger of sending troops through Baltimore was very fully considered. The ease with which the passage of the Susquehanna could be impeded, and the long railroad bridges over the creeks between that river and Baltimore destroyed, was foreseen, and on the other hand the facility with which the approach by transports up the Potomac could be stopped by batteries, seemed to render that route impracticable. A meeting was held in the Governor's room on the 2d of February, and was adjourned to the 6th, at which Major-Generals Sutton, Morse, and Andrews, of the State militia ; Colonel Thayer, U.S.A. ; the Adjutant-General of the State ; the aides-de-camp of His Excellency ; and others, were present.
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CONSULTATIONS IN GOVERNOR'S ROOM.
Colonel Henry Lee, of Governor Andrew's staff, in a letter dated July 9, 1867, to me, says, -
" With regard to the preparations for war made by Governor An- drew, I recollect, for my part, collecting information respecting steam- ers, and reporting the names and capacities and whereabouts of all which plied between Boston and other ports, on Feb. 2, 1861. On Feb. 4, the Governor called a meeting at his chamber in the State House, at which were present some of the chief officers of the militia : also, General Thayer, of the United-States Engineers, and Messrs. Gor- don and Andrews, ex-United-States-army officers, both major-generals of volunteers in the late war. I recorded the replies, and drew up a memorandum of the items of clothing, equipment, arms, and ammuni- tion needed, to prepare the militia for service in the field.
"On Feb. 6, a second meeting was called by the Governor. I cannot remember distinctly how much of the discussion took place at the first, and what at the second ; but the result of the two was, the Governor's order for two thousand overcoats, equipments, &c., which was for two months the subject of so much ridicule. Feb. 9, a report was made by the Committee on Militia, of the Council, and a communication re- ceived by His Excellency from the Adjutant-General, giving estimates for clothing and equipments for two thousand troops in service."
The same order passed by the Council referred to by Colonel Lee, respecting the overcoats, speaks also of forwarding troops to Washington, "the mode of transit to be governed by circum- stances that may arise hereafter ; rail being preferred, if practi- cable."
Immediately after the meeting on the 2d of February, Gov- ernor Andrew detailed Colonel Ritchie, of his staff, to visit Washington, to confer confidentially with the Massachusetts senators and representatives, and General Scott, in regard to the prospect of a requisition being made for troops, and espe- cially to learn from the general by what route in case of such a eall he would wish the troops to be sent, and whether they would have to carry field equipage with them. He arrived at Washington on the 6th; and, on that evening, wrote to the Governor as follows : -
WASHINGTON, D.C., Wednesday, Feb. 6, 1861.
I received your instructions on Monday, at 1, P.M. I found, that, if I left Boston that afternoon, I could get here on Tuesday evening, but too
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE REBELLION.
late to attend to any business. I therefore determined to start on Tuesday morning, which gave me an opportunity of discussing the ob- jeets of my mission with Colonel Sargent, who took the same train as .far as Springfield, Mass., and enabled me to reach this city this morn- ing by daybreak.
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