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

‘ [172] triumphantly pass, and soon, emerging from apparent gloom, will breathe a freer inspiration in the assured consciousness of vitality and power. Confident of our ultimate future; confident in the principles and ideas of democratic republican government, in the capacity, conviction, and manly purpose of the American people, wherever liberty exists, and republican government is administered under the purifying and instructing power of free opinion and free debate,—I perceive nothing now about us which ought to discourage the good or to alarm the brave.’

The Governor then spoke of the nature of the war. ‘This is no war of sections, no war of North and South. It is waged to avenge no former wrongs, nor to perpetuate ancient griefs or memories of conflict. It is the struggle of the people to vindicate their own rights, to retain and invigorate the institutions of their fathers.’ He then recapitulated the services of the Massachusetts troops,—their prompt response to the call of the President; the march through Baltimore; the garrisoning of Fortress Monroe; the advance by way of Annapolis and the Potomac River; the saving of ‘Old Ironsides;’ the activity of General Butler and of the State officers; the cost of equipping and provisioning the regiments, which, up to that time, amounted to $267,645.18, exclusive of the fifty thousand pounds sterling drawn in favor of Mr. Crowninshield, for the purchase of arms in Europe, and of contracts made, which, when fulfilled, would amount to $100,000 more.

Up to that time, one hundred and twenty-nine new companies had been organized. The Governor recommended the formation of a State camp for military instruction, under proper rules and regulations, but which encampment ‘should be confined to those enlisting themselves for an extended term of actual service, and should not include the ordinary militia.’ He was opposed to towns' paying bounties to men enlisting in local companies, and to all costly and inefficient modes of organizing and disciplining troops. His recommendations to the Legislature met with unanimous approval, as the patriotic and judicious acts passed at this brief session abundantly prove. Near the close of his address, the Governor paid the following merited tribute to the services and worth of the then commanding General of the United-States army:—