Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-08-20
MOttester Daily Spp
THE DAILY spy.



what GorerRor Curtin did IN Aprtl, 1861.
The Philadelph a Press furnishes the fol-
lowing in reference to an important event in
the history Of the war:
When the red hand OF rebellion was raised
against the government, the people of the
country were appalled,. The nation, so To
speak, was apparently powerlesS Tor time.
Our ships-Ot- war had been sent to distant wa
tiers. Our arsenals and forts in the north had
either been robbed or relieved of their little
garrisons. The small army OF two thousand
five hundred United States regulars had been
sent south, under the command of the mean
est Of traitors, Gen. Twiggs, by order of the
band OF conspirators, who, though solcmnly
sworn TO support the constitution, were plot.
uhy to overthrow II. The country then was
hiled with goom President Lincoln had
very recently been sworn into his high and
responsible position, surrounded as he was
then by IA few armed soldiers and patriotic cit
liens, who sprang to such arms as they could
readily obtain. Treason Haunted lis red flag
all over Washington at that period. 1t was
then that president Lincoln called around him
the governors Of the loyal states to advise
with them on the desperate nature OF the
emergency.
They met in the White House Gentle
men, said the president to that little party of
patriotic men, the machinery of the nation is
out OF order. We must run it as we find it,
Its wheels, its rods, its belts are separated
but the boiler seems to be perfect. We must
repair the work with such skill. and ingenuity
as we possess. There is wisdom in council
and therefore | have called you that we NAV
reason together. What shall we do to crush
out this rebellion and preserve the country
from wreck? | have made up my mind, with
an implicit confidence in an oyerruling Prov
idence, to meetaIl emergencies that may arise
1t is time for work, continued the president
What shall do about issuing proclamation
to the people?'
THE president, with his hands folded be-
hind his back, paced up and down the apart
ment. The six or seven governors, who formed
his auditors, were wrapped in meditation.
Each expressed his opinion, but their SEN
fences were punctuated with too many IFS or
ands.
"While all this was going on, Gov. Curtin,
fresh from his Pennsylvania home, was stand
ing at the window looking through the paneS
upon which he was drumming with his
fingers, while at the same time he was
humming Hail Columbia He was an
attentive listener to all that was going
on. lie had not yet been approached by the
president. Presently there was profound ST.
lenCe.
''NIr. Lincoln finally broke the silent spell,
and turning to Mr. Curtin said, Andy, what
viii Pennsylvania do If l issue my pr0clama-
tion?
''Sience still more profound prevailed 1t
was momentous question. 1t seemed as if
the fate of the country depended upon the re-
ply about to be made.
Governor Curtin, still drumming on the
pancS with hi: fingers us aforesaid, turned,
faced the president, and with upliited hands
said -
.s'What will Pennsylvania do?' Here he
paused.
''Don another pause.
'''Why, sir, with emphasis,) if you issue
your proclamation Pennsylvania will furnish
you hundred thousand men in Il week.
'''GiYe me your hand, Andy said the pres
ident, and as he cOnvulSycly grasped the
same, he calculated Thank God for that
ply. will at once issue my proclamation
1.-The gloom that shrouded that conclaye of
men on the instant passed away; hope reviv-
ed the dropping spirits, the governors sprang
to their feet and with one accord congratulated
Mr.. Curtin.
''The governor Of Pennsylvania telegraph
ed the fact Of the forthcoming proclamation to
the capital of the state, from which it radiated
to all parts. 1t was announced on the news
paper bulletin boards in Philadelphia before
the ink of tn! document WAS dry, and thus the
yc0man population Of the old Keystone state
were aroused to wholesome enthusiasm.
Two battery companies, of Reading and
P0ttsviile, ON the receipt of Gov. Curtins dis
patch, called the rolf at once, and the next
day bore them to the defence of the nation.
We well remember when those hardy men