New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-10
JAMES -. wADswoRTH.

JAMES -. WADSW0RTH.
Many good men have freely given their lives
to save our country from disruption and over
throw, and more, we apprehcnd, must yet die
that the Nation may live; but Ncw-York has
never before laid so noble sacrifice on The altar
Of National integrity as when Gen. JAMES 5.
WADSwoRTH fell gloriously leading bis division
in stern resistance to the desperate charge OF the
cohorts Of slaycholding treason III the terrible
struggle of Friday last.
Gen Wadsworth became soldier only at the
call of patriotism. Wealthy by inheritance,
and in the enjoyment of every temporal bless
ING. he took the field only at the imperative call
Of Duty. A Federalist by education, Demo
crat by conviction, he early took part in the
Free Soil movement that divided the Democ-
raoy of this State, and gave Jealous, effective
support 10 Van Buren and Adams in the Prcs-
Dental contest of 1872, as also TO Fremont and
DAYTON in 1850 and to Lincoln and Hamlin "
l-GO Appointed delegate TO the Peace Con-
ference or Congress Of 1861, he signalized
himself throughout its deliberations by ready
and cordial support of every proposal of concila-
ton that a Republican could honorably assent
TO and stern resistance TO the other sort. lie
was a most jealous and efficient supporter OF
Gov. Chase for a leading position in President
Lncolns Cabinet, and of the maintenance OF
the Union against every open or covert effort to
subvert it.
Secession having eliminated in Civil War,
Mr. Wadsworth volunteered to serve the Union
cause IN any capacity. Gov. Morgan proposed
him and Gen. Dix for Major-Gencrals OF the
force az regiments) required from this State.
The Government decided that we were entitled
10 but one, and appointed Gen. Dix. Mr. Wads-
worth asked no rank whatever, but was ap-
pointed an AID on tho staff Of Gen Mcdowell,
and in that capacity participated in the Bull
Run disaster. Appointed a Brigadier, he spent
tho Winter Of l-Gl-2 with the Army of the Po-
tomac encamped in Virginia, and shared its
passionate indignation at being kept cooped up
and virtually besieged there by force but half
as large as ts own. He aitcrward served several
months as Military Governor of Washington,
but was in due time restored to service IN the
field. resisting as Major-General Rebel force
at least double his own in the first days con-
fict at Gettysburg, and sharing in the glorious
victory which ultimately crowned the Union
arms on that bloody field. Had Gen. Meade
listened to his urgent advice in the council Of
corps commanders the night before Lee escaped
across the Potomac into Virginia last July,
there would have been 10 great battles to fight
in 1864.
Gen. Wadsworth was the enthusiastic choice
Of the Republicans and War Democrats OF our
State for Governor in 1862, and received the
votes Of so many Of them as were not absent III
the Union armies. But Seventy or Eighty
Thousand of them ,oere thus absent, and hence
denied a voice in the election; 80 q base IN
trigue among the mcrcenary and unprlncpled
camp-folowers Of the Republican standard was
enabled to rejoice the heart Of every open or
secret traitor from the st. John to the no
Grande BY defeating him and electing in his
stead Horatio Seymour. 1t was the triumph oil
cowardice, treochcry, and every base impulse
and of course short-lived. The blood of Gen.
Wadsworth will lie heavy on the souls OF those
pretended supporters Of the Government IN us
hour of trial who devised and achieved this Ma
tional calamity.