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Faneuil Hall, which was presided over by
Mr. Lincoln, the
Mayor of
Boston, and addresses made by
Colonel Guiney, formerly of the Ninth Regiment,
Senator Wilson,
Robert C. Winthrop,
Judge Russell,
Captain McCartney of the First Battery,
Fred. Douglass, the colored orator, and
Rev. Dr. Kirk.
A letter was read from the
Governor, excusing himself from being present, which closed as follows:—
Thus far the people of Massachusetts have stood in the van. They have maintained themselves in that manly adherence to their doctrines, traditions, and ideas, which was becoming their attitude and their profession.
May the blessings of patient and hopeful courage abide with them unto the end, and illuminate every passage of difficulty or of danger; and to-day let us with one accord remember the wonderful goodness by which we have been led onward to these high places of deliverance and triumph.
The meeting was opened with prayer by
Rev. Mr. Manning, of the Old South Church, and closed with the singing of Old Hundred by the whole assembly.
On the 9th of April,
General Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to
General Grant, which virtually closed the war. On the 11th of April,
Governor Andrew telegraphed to
President Lincoln,—
Will you proclaim a national thanksgiving April 19?
The anniversary of the battle of Lexington, and of the attack on our troops in Baltimore, would be appropriate, if sufficient time remains.
The suggestion was not adopted by the
President.
It would appear that many requests were made of the
Governor to change Fast Day, of which proclamation had already been made, into Thanksgiving Day, as we find a memorandum in his files which bears neither date nor signature.
He declined to make the change, for two reasons: ‘first, because the present being Passion Week, devoted by large bodies of Christians to penitential religious services, it would be inappropriate; second, because he prefers not to anticipate the decision of the
President, now returned to
Washington, and who may be expected to proclaim a national thanksgiving.’
It was well that the change was not made; for in a few days our rejoicing was turned to mourning.
