The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-26
THE NEW MINISTER TO FRANCE.
An Episode in His Life Which Does Not APP
pear in His Biography.

Washington Special.
Robert M. McLane has held good many posts
of honor, and has acquitted himself in them with
distinction. There is one passage in the history
of his life which is not recorded in his biography
The 10Th day of April, 1861, is day which will
not be forgotten by the men of this generation
who were friends of the Union cause 1t was
that day that the Massachusetts, Sixth, while
fastening to the defense of the national capital
was attacked by mob in the streets Of Balti-
more with loss of three killed and eight
wounded. As soon as the news reached Massa-
chusetts Governor Andrew telegraphed to the
mayor of Baltimore:
II pray you to cause the bodies of our Massa-
chusetts soldiers dead in Baltimore, to be laid
out. preserved on ice, and tenderly sent forward
by express to me. The expenses will be paid
by this Commonwealth"
And later, Governor Andrew in communi-
cation to the mayor of Baltimore. said:
Il appreciate your kind attention to our
wounded and our dead 1 am overwhelmed with
surprise that the peaceable march of American
citizens over the highway to the defense of our
common capital should be deemed aggressive to
Baltimore
The story is painful one, and perhaps need
not be recalled. Yet the gentleman W no was to-
day nominated and confirmed minister to France,
the afternoon of that 10th of April man then
nearly fifty years of age, already distinguished
in political lfe spoke of these Massachusetts
troops passing through Baltimore to the defense
of the capital of the country as Invaders, 7"
whose presence had POLLUTED the soil of Mary
land" Immediately after the attack upon
the Sixth Massachusetts Volunteers in
Baltimore April 10. 1861, town
meeting was held in Baltimore, which
was addressed by Mayor Brown, Governor
Hicks, Mr.. McIIane, and others The only flag
displayed on the occasion was a white one, bear
ing the coat of arms of Maryland. The Balti-
more American of April 20, 1861, reports Mr.
McLane among others as speaking. Mr.
McLanc after referring to the Massachusetts
troops as 'the invaders who had polluted our
soil to-day," said in substance that he desired
peace or concert of action under the lead of the
authorities of Maryland
Somebody shouted "but they are too slow"
Mr. McLane replied:
Eyes, but we must not be too fast
The speaker reminded hearers that he stood
pledged to resist the passage of troops through
Baltimore, and that when he had heard that
blood was being shed in Pratt street he had hur-
ried to the MAYORS Office to offer his services to
the authorities. Mr.. McLane then spoke of hav-
ing found Governor Hicks in the Mayors Office
and the report of their conversation as given by
Mr. McLane to the meeting is reported by the
Baltimore American as follows
HE tMcLane asked the Governor whether
the people OF Baltimore were to fight these in
vaders under the Governors lead, or whether
they were to act for themselves, and the Gov
ernor said in reply that he stood ready to exert
| the proper means to resist the indignity to the
State and to prevent its recurrence. Hearing
that and believing that Governor Hicks really
meant to place the State in an official attitude
of honor to herself and her sister States of the
South, he told him that he stood ready under
such circumstances to fight under him as his
lieutenant"
In continuing his speech Mr.. McLane con-
tended that Maryland could offer effective
resistance now, unorganized and unarmed."