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

Both conventions passed resolutions complimenting the bravery, and expressing sympathy for the sacrifices, of our war-worn heroes at the seat of war.

The election took place on the second Tuesday in November, and resulted as follows: for John A. Andrew, 70,483 votes; for Henry W. Paine, 29,207; all others, 77,—majority for Governor Andrew, 41,199, the largest he had received in any election.

On the 17th of October, the President called for three hundred thousand volunteers, of which number Massachusetts was to furnish, as her contingent, 15,126 men. At this time, the bounty paid by the State, to each three years volunteer, was $50, and the bounty paid by the United States $100. Business, in all its branches, was in a highly prosperous condition. Money was plenty, wages high, and labor in great demand; so that it was difficult to fill our army, and meet the calls of the President, without the inducement of larger bounties. The desire to avoid a draft was strong and universal throughout the State; and the Governor was importuned by men in all parts of the Commonwealth to call an extra session of the Legislature, that means might be devised by which a draft would be avoided. He accordingly did so.

The Legislature met on the eleventh day of November, and the Governor delivered his address on the same day. It was entirely devoted to the subject of filling the quota of the State under the new call of the President, and the injustice done to the two colored regiments of Massachusetts by the Government, in refusing to pay them the same as white troops. He said, to aid in the recruitment, the Secretary of War had offered to all persons, who had served for a period of not less than nine months, a bounty of $402; and to new recruits a bounty of $302, if they enlisted to go into old regiments in the field. Each volunteer could elect for himself which regiment to enter. He advised that State bounty be enlarged; and he was prepared to assist ‘in committing the Commonwealth to a policy of the payment of regular wages to the Massachusetts volunteers, in addition to all other pay, bounties, and advantages hitherto enjoyed.’ He also referred to the order of the Secretary of