New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-06
MAssACHUsETTs.

long fOrlOrn nope IN Charleston narDOr, INC pa
triotc heart beat high with anticipation; when the
news came that the beeagured garrison was be.
set by ten thousand foes without, with hunger
and with fire within, and had, after enduring an
incessant storm of shell and shot for nearly two
days, been compelled to yield, there was uni |
versal unbeef in such madness of rebellion;
but when, at length, there was no longer room
for doubt, and it was known that Major Ander-
son and his heroic followers had gathered IN
their arms the tattered remnant of the flag that
had hoated over them 80 long, and with only
that and their honor left, had gone out from the
smodcring ruins of the fortress they had held
against such odds, then, with one mighty shout
of Indignation, the whole North spraDg to arms.
The past was forgOtten old party preJudlces,
long.chershed political predictions, were swat
lowed up in one universal and overwhelming
sentiment of love of country, and the North rem
dered glad obedience to the law of common
brotherhood of race, of interests, and OF instltu-
tions, and confessed to the truth it has taken
thirty years to learn-that an alien system OF
civil and of social life had made an alien peO-
pie. They knew and accepted the fact, as they
only can who inherited and have cherished for
three quarters Of a century a nations liberties,
that the time had come for the final struggle for
Freedom, for homes, and for country, with those
who would substitute for the government OF the
people the government of class. And IN this
mighty uprising of great nation, Massachusetts
led the van.
That privilege was hers by right. The children
of the men who faced, unarmed, in State street,
the fire of British troops; who waited on Bunker
Hill till they could see the color of the eyes of
the approaching foe before they pulled trigger;
who drove back from Lexington, with such arms
as they could snatch from over the kitchen fire.
place, the best disciplined soldiers OF Europe,
were not the men ~ hesitate at such time as
this. And it was well for Massachusetts that
she had for Chief Magistrate one whose foresight
had anticipated events, and whose large judg-
ment had provided for them. ave are ready
"to start on the instant said the people " but
"bave not the means" "Send on your men,
replied the Governor, the means are ready;
J for by his diligent care, for months they mad
been provided. The wires which carried the
proclamation of the President to Boston had
dropping the tools of their trades, aud the impe-
ments Of farming, hurried from workshops and
fields gathered in yllagesquarcs, as their fathers
did eighiy-six years ago, and commencing wives
and children and parents, TO the kind care oil
neighbors made quick adieus, and marched to
report themselves at Headquarters ready for
service. There were instances where the alarm
was rung out from yillage-steeples, and men
sprane from their beds, fell into tue ranks OF the
place Of rendezvous, aud ere tue Sun lad lt up
the homes which many Of them were never to
see again, were on their way to fight their coun-
try's battles. Before a soldier from any other
state, except a few from Pennsylvania, had
reached the Capital, these first minute-men OF
Massachusetts, were coolly surveying the shores
of Virginia from behind the walls Of Fort Monroe.
How quickly others followed these, aud how
straight a path they made to the defense OF the
Government at its seat, there is no need OF tell
ing. The troops Of Lowell and Lawrence have
followed with bowed heads and many tears their
honored dead TO sacred graves, and oil MaSsa-
chusetts repeats the dying words OF one oil these
men" All hail to the stars and stripesr' Send
home their bodies " tenderly" was the prayer OF
the Governor when asking for the unnamed
dead, for where rights are so reyerenced and
men are so prompt in their defense, Man, be his
condition or estate what it may, is sacred. The
monumental marble that marks the nineteenth
of April in Massachusetts is not yet white enough,
nor piled high enough in memory of her sons.
Nor do these the first offerings laid upon the
altar of our country give her pause. Though
the way to the capital closed over that spot still
red with the blood of her sons-closed only for
brief space as sure as thai Baltimore standeth!-
new path was opened, and std Massachusetts
led the van. We do uos forget our own brave
boys of the 9TH, knit Low {, the Massachusetts
Sth BY bonds stronger tldu that Of brothers. but
there is not one Of them who will not gratefully
acknowledge how uncertain their fate would have
been but for the presence Of the others. There
was needed the trained muscles of working men
as well as the courage of loyal hearts. All
who are working men" said Col. Butter, when
he saw that railroad was to be rebuilt before
they could win their way to Washington" all
"who are working men step forward" Aud the
whole regiment advanced All know how tho
willing hearts and the skilled hands of the
two regiments did that duty how the
man who made the engine, repaired his own
work how engineers and artisans Of all neces-
sary crafts were found among that efficient and
hardy band Of Eastern men, till ut length the
whole road was complete save a single rail- 1t
for in and