New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-10
GOVERNOR BUCKINGHAM

! By the results of the election in Connect
cut on Monday giving to the opposition the
control of both branches of the Legislature,
and consequently the choice of Senator Buck
| ingham's successor, the public career OF that
gentleman may be said to have been brought
| to close. He is now within one month OF
seventy years of age, and next March Will re-
tire to private life after fifteen years of public
service, nine as Governor of his State
and six as United States Senator 1t is as the
| War Governor Of his State that he will be
best remembered. His six years service as
Senator have added nothing to the reputation
| be had already made as a wise and able Excel
tive, whose energy and patriotic devotion In
the perilous days of the war stayed up the
hands of President Lincoln and gave to the
loyal cause the fullest and promptcst CO.
operation, backed by all the resources of the
State in men and money. First elected Gov
ernor in 1858, when the duties of the Execu-
tive were little more than nominal, and the
position gave nothing more than an honorable
prominence in the State, he wasi continued
in Office Though the whole period of the war
till 1866 when he absolutely refused renomi-
nation, and for two years remained IN private
life.
In the Spring of 1850, when he was for the
third time candidate, the Democrats made a
most desperate effort to defeat him with
Thomas H. Seymour as their candidate. At
that time the Northern States presented a
solid front against the aggression of Slavery
and the Democratic party that was upholding
it. Connecticut was always a close and
,h1-in no
turning point in the great struggle which was
felt to be impending. The whole force of the
party then in power was brought to bear
upon this the weakest point in the
opposing line, and the country watched
the contest with interest more intense
than Connecticut election ever excited
before or since. The election of Gov. Buck
ingham by less than five hundred majority was
accepted by the Southern leaders as con-
elusive of the determination of the North, and
from that moment the preparations for seces-
sion which had been stayed for the result
went forward with inhexible and remorseless
purpose. The commencement of hostilities
found Gov. Buckingham at the head of affairs
in the State, plain business man, unframed
in politics, but having the qualities of stub
born integrity, business tact and administrative
skill, enthusiastic devotion TO the Union and the
party Of the Union, patient industry and resOlute
will, that were of vastly more account than
any political training or the craftsmanship of
the schools. He commanded not only popular
sympathy and support, but the highest con-
fdence of all classes, and was able to bring to
the assistance of the Government all the moral
and material elements demanded in such
crisis, the hearty cooperation of the people,
and the equally necessary financial sinews of
war. His administration during the try
ing period of the war was in all re.
spects admirable. He gave to the unusual
duties of the Office industry that was
unGring, patriotism without limit, aud a
readiness of personal sacrifice, an inflexbility
of purpose, and determined spirit that in
spired all who came in contact with him with
lofty courage and extorted the admiration
of his bitterest opponents. By the vigor of
his administration, the earnestness and energy
with which he kept the quota of his State
more than full, and, above all, by the useful
Offices and tender ministries with which he
followed the faithful soldiers of his recruiting
to the camp and field and hospital, he en-
deared himself TO the loyal people of the
State as had none of his predecessors.
His record as one of the great War Gov
ernOrs on whom Mr.. Lincoln leaned was per-
feet and complete 1t was not needed that n
term IN the United States Senate should be
added to his fame. The more thoughtful of
his friends saw that to send him to the Sen
ate was only to put his well earned fame AT
hazard, with no possibility of enhancing il.
But against their advice was the urgency of
politicians who had personal enmities to graf
ify in the defeat of some one else, and selfish
aspirations to advance by putting him for
ward. Looking back over the six years of
his Senatorship and contrasting them with
the nine years of bis service as Governor,
it will hardly be denied that his consenting to
such counses was weakness. The years of the
war had cmbittered his craftsmanship and be was
too old to lift himself above it, Doubtless. in
that long and sometimes doubtful struggle, he