The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-08-21
John Albion Andrew, the War Gov
. ernOr of Massachusetts.

In James freeman ClLrk 5 VOluMc VI
''Memorial and Biog, aphical Sketches"
the opening chapter is devoted to his no.
BILE friend and parishioner, John A. An
drew The following passages will illus
trate the Governors GOODNESS, poise, fore
sight, and capacity for conduct, when he
was "suddenly called to to take the helm
in the hurricane"
Immediately on the news of the taking
Of Fort Sumter by the confederates, the
whole South became one frenzy Of excite
ment. Presiden, Lincoln issued his call
for seventy-f7e thousand troops, of which
two regiments were assigned to Massa
cbusetts. Within week from the issue
of this proclamation, Governor Andrew
despatched foe regiments to Washington,
beside battalion of rifemen and bat
terry of artillery. This was done by
means of that wise foresight which led
him to act at once, when action was nee
essary, without waiting for the slow de-
lays of legislation; so that in some Of his
messages lit is touch1ng,' says Horace
Binney Sargent, "to read anallusion to Ger.
tain expenditures made without authori-
ty OF law but which he leaves to the can
dor Of the legislature. The like prescience
induced him, in advance of all statesmen,
then astonishing enrolment of six hun
dred thousand men," .-..-.
1 Andrew himself said, that "when, on
the anniversary of the battle Of Licking
ton, there came the news along the wires
that the sixth regiment had been cutting
its way through the streets Of Baltimore,
whose pavements were Redeemed with the
blood OF Middlesex, it seemed as if there
descended into our hearts a mysterious
strength, and into our minds supernal
illumination" DR.. Clarke proceeds,
On the afternoon of that 10th Of April,
1851, passed into the Governors office
in the State House, through the ante
room, crowded with the fathers, mothers
and wives of the soldiers just attacked
in Baltimore. kilograms were arriving,
officers coming and going, messengers
from the adjutant generals office, from
the quartermaster's office, judges, sena-
tors, the most influential men in the city
and poor women came to ask if their sons
had been heard from. In the midst Of the
commotion, the Governor sat a. his table
calm in the midst of all, attending tc
each piece of business in order, hearing
and answering all inquiaies, considering
and promptly deciding every difficult
point, and writing the famous telegram
which seemed to show, tor the first time
that tenderness might be an element il
, war. .-'. '.-7t' = r5@.j@' e
At all events, cannot but tank thai
this telegram had much to do with tn
| 70 of foI
couraged women go as nurses to hospitals
and to be received in them it encouraged
the sanitary commission in its work, ant
gave tone of humanity to what was t.
follow. And how many days afterwart
do recall during the war, when, goin,
to his room in the State House on som
, special business, found him always tn
, same--calm, tranquil, doing such an en-
ormous amount of work, like Goethe
star, "Without haste and without rest
He worked like the great engine in tn
, heart of the steamship. The vessel ma
be rolling and pitching amid frightfu
seas, her decks swept by successive wave
: but there, III the centre Of the ship, tn
! engine works steadily on, with Tranquil
: accuracy, but enormous power. Sue
) force, so steadily exercised, was his. Their
J, was no jar, no strain, no hurry, no repose
: bit constant, equable motion, on and or
/ through all those weary years, to thei
: triumphal end.
z One secret of this great working -powe
: was the natural equanimity of his ten
: per. He was always cheerful, sunny, tu
Of anecdotes and pleasant mirth, with il
: finite good nature, with none Of the COZ
G rosive element Of irritable self-love.
s we keep to our image Of an engine, thj
e oil Of kindness was the lubricating me-
o dunn which prevented all waste Of powe
E by friction. Of this 'g,lden temper
! Governor Andrew" Mr.. Mason says, g
i was the sunshine God sent into his happ
]. heart to bear him through the labors (
!, his life
r Another cause Of his executive force ws
t that, both by conviction, instinct, an
= habit, he never stopped to lament ov,
I the past, or to anticipate with anxiet
j. the future. I recall one illustration
s this in 1854; on the occasion Of the rel
d d4tion to slavery Of Anthony Burns, fro1