The Portland daily press., 1862-10-27
! am yours truly,
DANIEL HENSHAW.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,


and | annex also copies of my replies:
HARRISBURG. Sept. 6, (via n. York;
To Coo. Andresc, Boston:
In the present emergency, would it not be
well that the loyal governors should meet at
some point in the border States to take meas
ures for the more active support of the Gov
ernnient? An immediate reply is requested,
that as early day as possible may be named
Tor the meeting, if approved.
tSigned A. G. CURTIN"
BosToN, Sept. 6, 1862.
To Coz. Curtin. Harrisburg, tcia N. "
Should any meeting be called will attend.
(Signed) JOHN A. ANDREW.
COLUMBUS, O., Sept. IA, 1862"
To Coz. Andretc
We invite a meeting of the Governors of the
loyal States, to be held at Altoona, Pa, OH the
oath inst. Please reply to Gov. Curtin
(Signed) ANDREW CURTIN.
DAVID TOD,
f. III. PIERPONT."
Boston, Sept. Is, 1862.
To Cor. A. G. Curtin, Harrisburg, Pa:
have received your invitation and accept
it. (Signed) JOHN A. ANDREW.
Governor of Massachusetts.
The meeting was one which, whether as cit
liens or as magistrates, We had a right to hold
And in the discharge of our duties, many of
which connected with the military service Of
the United States, lwhOse government relies
wholly on the States for The raising and re-
cruitlnent OF the army are difficult and com
pllcated, it is easy to perceive how mutual
consultation might be advantageous. 1t is
even more easy to see how natural it was for
the Governors of Ohio, Virginia and Pennsyl-
vania, at the time this invitation was issued.
to feel the grave Importance TO their own States
oi lively and efficient support from every quar-
ter TO the national cause. Nor do l suppose
that any person ever doubted the propriety of
the conduct OF the Governor of Massachusetts,
in joining that consultation of Governors. ex-
cept the very persons who were swift to OBJ
serve and eXclaim that his name did not ap-
pear with the names of many other Governors
on certain petition to the President last July,
And had not the Presidents proclamation Of
freedom appeared as it did, Gust one day be-
fore our meeting,) sadly disappointing certain
gentlemen, who had rightly declared it a great
merit and public duty to stand by the Presi-
dent and had the Altoona conference been
held and its address published without nv
name or pres ence, L have no manner of doubt
that | should have felt the heat of their burn
ing Indignation at my slowness to unite
with the conservative Governors who sum-
moned us to Altoona, in helping 10 strengthen
the arm Of the President, and to increase his
disposable force. As it was. those gentlemen
were disturbed. They were cut off from max
ing war on the President, by their own recent
avowals and declaration. But it was desir-
sble that somebody should be abused. | was
the Republican candidate for a reelection:
was a supporter of the Presidents proclama-
ton and policy; was the most convenient
scape-goat, and so they took me. | believe
Judge Parker indicted me before his conven-
ton for causing the Presidents proclamation
by going to Altoona the day after it was print
ed. And presume that Mr.. Saltonstall intro
duced the supposed proof that imagined the
removal of Gen. Mcclellan, as evidence in
support Of Judge Parker's indictment. For
since Judge Parker seems to have reversed
the order of cause and effect. in the making
OF his allegation, L can see no way of support
ing it save by a similar muddle of logic, and
the confusion of truth with its opposite
And now, my dear sir, the sober truth is
simply this: lst, l read the Presidents proc-
lamatlon in prin: on the morning of the 23d
with as much surprise as Judge Parker did
though perhaps with more pleasure; ID did
not either formally or informally, directly or
indirectly, at any time, move or suggest that
the Government should interfere with the po-
sition of Major General Mcclellan, or of any
other officers of the army or navy. Nor do l
believe that any such motion was proposed by
any one else. l heard none whatever concern
ing that or any other general. But, If you ask
how so great a blunder has been made, l can
only reply that when people&eeek to make a
point against their neighbors by sort of
eaves-dropping. by attempting to penetrate
the private conversations of gentlemen and to
betray their confidential speech great bunder-
ing, if not something worse, will always be
close at hand. They will usually contrive to
report just what they had hoped to hear.
have written this letter with some fullness
and with entire freedom. Your venerable
character and long devotion to the cause of
good and just principles, had a right to COM
mand me. Bnt now / beg leave to mark, 1st.
That utterly deny the moral right of gentle
men to carry on political controversies by try
ing to penetrate private circles and to promul-
gate private conversations, which cannot af-
feet the community unless made public. I'd.
lhat the gentlemen in question need not have
sent to a third person to find out what | said
at Altoona. | could have told them myself if
they had asked me. Aud they know Inc well
enough to know that am accustomed to act
openly, without disguise or concealment and
when convinced what l ought to do, without
much hesitation.
In conclusion cannot but regret the ten
dency observe to intrude matters mainly per-
sonal upon the attention of the people 1t is
the great cause OF Democratic Constitutional
Representative Government which is now on
trial, not the cause Of any man on EARTH We
are contending for the very hopes of a future
for grand and wonderful people, over whose
fall angels might pause TO weep. The inter-
ests OF no public man, civil or military. de-
mand the thought of loyal human being
among us. And they weaken and be-lttle our