The writer then goes on to say:

a progress!" "If you wish to know what the presidency of Mr. Lincoln will be in the end, see in what manner and under what auspices it was inaugurated. Listen to the words that fell from the lips. of the new President as he quitted his native town: The task that devolves upon me is greater perhaps than that which devolved on any other man since the days of Washington. I hope that you, my friends, will pray that I may receive that assistance from on high, without which 1 cannot succeed, but with which success is certain.'

At the end, De Gasparin shouts to us from the heights of Switzerland, across the ocean, in words that embody the truest statesmanship, and the sublimest faith in a Divine government as administered over this world in the interest of righteousness: "Courage, Mr. Lincoln! The friends of freedom and of America are with you. Courage! You hold in your hands the destinies of a great principle and a great people. Courage! Your role, as you have said, may be inferior to no other, not even to that of Washington. To raise up the United States will not be less glorious than to have founded them." He saw clearer from a distance than many of us could here, but we had faith, if sight were clouded, and the event has justified all who refused to believe, that a free people would give up the work they had undertaken, and so far perfected, until it should be fully accomplished.

CHAPTER X.

THE SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE, 1861.

The Outbreak of the War-Governor Buckingham's Prompt and Vigorous Support of the Government-His Pledge that no State Should Furnish More or Better Troops-His Correspondence with the War Department, and Sympathy with Their Embarrassments-His Remarkable Letter to the President and Recommendations in Regard to the Extra Session of Congress Just Called-His Just Estimate of the Conflict and Counsel to Make Greater Preparations for it-He Binds the Destinies of the State to Those of the General Government, and Pledges all Her Resources to Sustain the Latter-The President's Call for More Troops Based on the Application of the Loyal Governors-And he Gets Them-The Governor Recommends that the State Loan its Credit to the General Government, Which is Done to the Extent of Two Million of Dollars-Extra Session of Congress, July 4, 1861-Battle of Bull Run.

The election of state officers and members of the Legislature took place on the first Monday in April, and the Legislature was convened, and the Governor inaugurated, the first Wednesday in May. The Governor in his message treated as briefly as possible of state affairs, but dwelt at length upon the peril threatening the nation, and the duties of the state in such an emergency. This part of the message is as follows:

"When the President of the United States made requisitions for troops to suppress combinations against laws, the Executive found himself without legal authority to obey the requisition. We had no enrollment as required by the laws of the general government, and the state had neglected to point out the mode of designating our quota of troops. Under these circumstances no alternative was left but to convene the General Assembly, or to appeal to the patriotism of the

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people for volunteers. The former course would have involved so much delay that I had no hesitation in adopting the latter.

"The threatened seizure of the city of Washington by men organized in armed rebellion; the authoritative announcement that the President of the revolted states was about to issue letters of marque against the citizens of loyal states; and the infuriated and murderous attack upon Massachusetts troops while passing through the city of Baltimore to the defence of the national capital, created an emergency which evidently called for prompt and energetic action. I therefore at once issued a call for a larger number of troops than was named in the requisition of the President. The response given from every section of the state, of offers of men as well as of money, showed that the fires of true patriotism were kindled in the hearts of the people, that they were fully aroused to a sense of the impending danger and determined to defend their liberties at every cost or at any hazard.

"I have already accepted the services of forty companies, am organizing them into regiments, appointing their regimental officers, and ordering the purchase of whatever appears to be requisite to guard our sons from hardships incidental to the life of a soldier, and to render them efficient in the service of their country. They were without uniforms and camp equipage, for which I have incurred large responsiblitics. In doing this, I have received the hearty co-operation of our citizens, including ladies, who have labored with patriotic zeal to make clothing for the troops and to supply them with other necessaries.

"While communication with the national capital was interrupted, I despatched special messengers to the President and Secretary of War, for the purpose of giving information respecting the conditions of our troops, offering the services of the volunteers, as well as to receive such directions as were needful for efficient co-operation with the government.

"I have given orders for the troops to be in readiness to move, but have waited for instructions from the War Department before directing their march. It is manifestly far better for the cause that our troops remain as they are until their services are required at some point where they will occupy their true position in the general plan, rather than move without a definite object, when by so doing they will be in danger of embarrassing the government, and may fail of taking an active part in the conflict. Recent information from the War Department justifies this position.

"I ask your early attention to the course which I have pursued during this emergency, believing that any right or necessary act will receive your sanction."

This matter certainly received the "carly attention" of the Legislature, for while their attention was called to it on the first day of their session, on the third day the subject had been referred to a committee, a bill perfected, reported, and unanimously adopted, not only approving of the course pursued by the Governor, but putting $2,000,000 at his disposal for the purpose of raising troops, and authorizing him to enlist 10,000 men. This was all prompt work. To have raised forty companies in fifteen days, when only ten were called for from the state, and to have collected funds enough from voluntary contributions and the appropriations of towns to have them in camp, well-nigh armed and eqiupped, and under drill, awaiting the call of the general government a new business for New England people to be engaged in; and to have done it so harmoniously, where party lines were not effaced nor party politics extinctwas a remarkable achievement. The explanation is, that a people unused to war and devoted to peaceful pursuits. were compelled to fight if they would save their government and liberties, in which they had been so blessed, and without which there would be little left of public value. The ruin which threatened them was a common one, which must be averted before they could consult their political differences and preferences. When a town is burning up, neighborhood quarrels are forgotten. The leading Democrats of Con necticut, to a greater extent than in some other states, had become "War Democrats," and were co-operating cordially and vigorously with their political opponents in maintaining the government and the Union. On the other hand, the Governor and his party meant to be as fair and conciliatory toward them as possible. Several of them had been appointed by the Governor delegates to the late Peace Convention at Washington. They were offered commissions in the regiments, especially when they had any peculiar qualifications, or experience in military affairs, like ex-Governor

Seymour, who had served in the Mexican war, but declined the command of a regiment, which Colonel Henry C. Demming subsequently accepted and performed honorable serrice at New Orleans, after having been a leading and useful member of the then Legislature. The state of mutual consideration and co-operation in that body is well exhibited in its action upon the death of Senator Stephen A. Douglas, which occurred during its session. The Republican Speaker of the House, Hon. Augustus Brandegee, announced the death of Senator Douglas, and paying him a just tribute of respect, declared "the loss of such a man, at such a crisis, to be an unspeakable calamity." To this Colonel Demming responded in a set of resolutions and a glowing tribute of his own to the great Democratic leader, ending as follows: "I cannot close, Mr. Speaker, without expressing the thanks of my mourning comrades and myself for the generous and magnanimous manner in which you have initiated these solemuities. Long and late may it be, sir, in these days when the mighty are falling, pillars of state tottering on their base, the temple of liberty almost crumbling in the dust, long may it be, before your banner is dropped and the coronach wailed over any chieftain of your clan. Long may it be ere we are called upon to imitate your spirit, and reciprocate your kindness on the present occasion."

There were, to be sure, at this time indiscreet and disloyal utterances from individuals and the press, and the Governor had felt obliged to call attention to the proper limits of individual opinion and disloyal and dangerous speech, while two years later, in the most discouraging period of the war, there came to be more of it, and more efficient means had to be taken to check the mischiefs of it. But in this early stage of the war there was surprising harmony in the Legislature and among the inhabitants of the state in raising troops and funds for the support of the general government. That first act of the Legislature,