William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 1

The Faneuil-Hall Convention was a highly respectable body of men, and the nominations were very proper to be made. General Devens, who was put forward for Governor, had rendered efficient service by his bravery and capacity in the field, and was well and favorably known throughout the Commonwealth; but nothing could shake the confidence of the people in Governor Andrew, or cause a change in the State Administration. Governor Andrew was triumphantly re-elected; the vote for Governor being,—Andrew, 79,835; Devens, 52,587; all others, 1,733.

On the thirtieth day of September, the Governor received a letter from Major John A. Bolles, a gentleman formerly well known in Boston, but who at this time was serving on the staff of Major-General Dix at Fortress Monroe. Major Bolles's letter was accompanied by one from General Dix; also, one addressed to him from the Secretary of War. In these communications, it was proposed that the Governor should take some active measures for the reception in Massachusetts of a portion of the escaped slaves then within our lines near Fortress Monroe. This plan was represented as very desirable, for reasons both military and humane. It was also urged that the fortress might be attacked by the rebels, and these people swept back into slavery. To this invitation the Governor replied, that, though he sympathized deeply with the humane motives upon which General Dix was seeking to act, he did not assent, in any way or in any degree, to the plan proposed; but that these motives of humanity led him in a different direction, which sound reasoning made manifest. He said that the true interest of the African and Saxon were interwoven, and their rights identical; so that the maintenance of the one became the salvation of the other. If it were true, as stated, that ‘rebel hordes were coiling their traitorous length for a deadly spring upon Fortress Monroe, and that rebel iron-clads were coming down the river,’ and that ‘the Union force who opposed the threatened assault was inferior to the force that menaced them,’ then, by listening to the proposals made, he should deprive ‘the band of heroes now under command of General Dix, and steadily awaiting the storm,’ of the strength of hundreds of stout arms