The Bay State Monthly, Volume 3, No. 3 by Various
page 4 of 127 (03%)
page 4 of 127 (03%)
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the Governors of Maine and New Hampshire to inform them of his
determination to prepare for instant service the militia of Massachusetts, and to invite their coöperation. This is not the place nor the time to give even a _résumé_ of Governor Andrew's administration. He retired from office at the close of 1865, after a service of unexampled interest and importance in the history of the Commonwealth. He retired with honor to himself and to the regret of all who had known him best. We have already alluded to Governor Andrew's interest in the question of Anti-Slavery, and it should be stated that in regard to the emancipation of the slaves he was among the first, as he was the most persistent advocate of a measure which he considered the greatest blow that could be struck at the enemy, fully justified as a measure of war and demanded by every consideration of justice and humanity. Apropos of his impatience on this subject the following incident related by one of the Governor's friends is worth recalling:-- "It was the summer of 1862, when emancipation was being talked a great deal. We had not had any great successes, and everybody had a notion that emancipation ought to come. One day the Governor sent for me to come up to the State-House. I went up to his room, and I never shall forget how I met him. He was signing some kind of bonds, standing at a tall desk in the Council Chamber, in his shirt-sleeves, his fingers all covered with ink. He said, 'How do you do? I want you to go to Washington.'--'Why, Governor,' said I, 'I can't go to Washington on any such notice as this; I am busy, and it is impossible for me to go.'--'All my folks are serving their country,' said he; and he mentioned the various services the members of his staff were engaged |
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