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Fortunately, we were never called upon to use these guns, for which the carriages had been, meanwhile, designed by
General William Raymond Lee,
chief engineer on the
Governor's staff; but the reception given by a few of them to the Spanish iron-clads off
Callao is a sufficient testimony of the good service they would have rendered in time of need.
The Legislature for 1864 met at the
State House on the 6th of January.
The Senate, which was unanimously Republican, made choice of
Jonathan E. Field, of
Stockbridge, for
President, and
Stephen N. Gifford, clerk; each gentleman receiving every vote cast.
Mr. Field, on assuming the duties of the chair, said,—
It is our privilege and pride to represent a Commonwealth for whose course no apology has to be made.
Those to whom she has committed the administration of her affairs, require no certificates of loyalty, and their patriotism has not to be defended.
In the last three years, in storm and in sunshine, in the hour of national defeat and in the hour of national triumph, the course of our State has been one of persistent, unswerving devotion to the Union.
Upon her fidelity those charged with the administration of the National Government have felt that they could at all times, and under all circumstances, firmly lean.
In her there is “no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
For those who have gone forth in our defence, we have no occasion to blush.
The banner intrusted to Massachusetts regiments has ever been borne with honor, whatever the hue of the hands by which it was upheld.
The
House was organized by the choice of
Alexander H. Bullock, of
Worcester, for Speaker, and
William S. Robinson, of
Malden, for clerk.
Each gentleman received every vote cast.
Mr. Bullock, on taking the chair, spoke at considerable length.
In the course of his address, he said,—
When our predecessors met here a year ago, the sky was overcast.
Ill-fortune at home, and not altogether good omens abroad, depressed our hearts.
It was a period in which men of timid counsels, men of sulky loyalty, men in sympathy with the public enemies, availed themselves of the general gloom, and added to the distraction and discouragement which always follow military reverses.
But the opportunity of all such soon passed by, and ere midsummer they bowed before the effulgent victories of our arms.
On the Lower Mississippi,
