New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-03
A WAR GOVERNOR.
pNE HERO OF THE LAND OF STEADY
HABITS.

II the people of Connecticut were not soou-
natured to fault. they would resent the az
surdity by which that sturdy little Common
wealth has been loaded in the fantastic nomen-
clature Of fools who cannot be content VIII"
the right names of things with the name OF the
Nutmeg State, the allusion being TO the H.
ton that Connecticut Yankees at one uihe
applied their ingenuity to whiting out "ooue"
limitations Of nutmegs. and their trading craft u
peddng them as genuine in the market Inc
stupidity of the fiction consists in the fact tha'
the cost of the imitation would exceed by hNe
or six times that of the genuine arucle' pu' IL
IS one OF the characteristics OF connecticut
people not to lose temper or waste uihe oNe'
empty words when they can be more iH'ehi-
gently and proftably occupied In dealing "i'h
facts and things So they listen without pro-
test and with philosophic resignation hol uii-
mixed with contempt. when the Commonwealth
of their affection and pride Is referred u py '''
silly and unfit nickname.
Land Of steady habits" is its more httihs
description ard more appropriate name. 1t Is
entitled To It not by any silly myth. but by us
history and record Were there nothing else 10
subs.antiate its claim the record Of her two great
War Governors Jonathan Trumbul who was
Washington's right arm during the ReVoiu'io"'
and William A. Buckingham, VINO was one vi
the five upon whom Mr.. Lincoln securely ana
confidently leaned during the civil war; "ouiu
=. sufscient These were representative men;
neither OF them man Of SHINING quahues
or unusual endowments but both fairly rep
resentative In mind and character OF the
large body of the people, or tneir a'e"u'
ness their fortitude their endurance 'he'i "''
.e,esb natr,otism their stubborn will and I'M
diving faith. Both were born IN lebanon III
New-London County: both were merchants en-
habits and training for the special duties de-
vo,vine upon the Executive in a condition OF
war in raising and equipping troops supplying
The s,news of war maintaining the puphc
credit and. what was perhaps no less lmpor-
tant contributing counsel ana adVlce 10 'he
leaders nearer the scene OF conflict upon "hoih
Immediate responsibility rested Both, too' were
mon Of profound religious convictions; earnest
conscientious Christian
OF the five War Governors-Andrew, OF Massa-
chusetts; Buckingham. of Connecticut; Curtin
of PENNSYLVANIA: Morton, OF Indiana ana 1a'es'
of Illinois-whose terms OF ONCE covered '"e
whole period of the War, none rendered greater
service or showed more constant and unseliish
devotion to the cause than William A Buck
sneham: none followed with such paternal
solcitude and watched with such unremttlns
care the regiments he sent to the field They
were continually on his mind and heart, ana
amid all the burden and stress OF OIL
cial cares and duties he was never so en-
crossed that he could not listen TO the story
of the humblest private soldier and give MIN
sympathy and aid Though possessed Of a COM
potency as the result Of successful business
career, he was not a man of great wealth. Inc
constant calls upon his generosity never iaileo
to bring response. and the amount OF his private
benefactons If they were known would be found
to approximate very closely TO the limits OF MS
incoms He gave. in addition. his entire SER
vices to the State without fee or reward; draw
ing no salary during the war. For unselfsh
devotion 1t would be difficult to ind even IN
that period of sacrifice and self-denial MS
superior or. perhaps. his equal
His task was more difficult than those OF An
brew Curtin and Yates, for behind them were the
enthusiastically loyal majorities Of Massachu-
sets, PENNSYLVANIA and Illinois, which could be
depended upon to give their Endorsement 70
whatever action the Executive might find II
necessary to take in the unusual and unexpected
emergencies which SC often arose Only Morton
of Indiana, was similarly situated In having al
times to assume responsibilities and exercise
,,owers which a wavering and doubtful body OF
voters might not approve. But Morton was elected
for four years, while Buckingham had to sub
init his administration to the people for approva
each year and meet each year new Legislature
Connecticut was always a doubtful and hardly
contested State, and in her stubborn and no
over-loyal Democrats the Governor always found
critics watchful for mistakes in judgment, anC
cunning with snares. His election in the
spring OF the Presidential year 1860 was by &
bare majority of SAL in total Of SS,375. after the
most exciting campaign ever witnessed in the
State. With this small majority as margin in E
Presidential year 1t would seem to be the poll
ticians instinct to cultivate discretion and pur
sue the course Of conservatism. 1t does not ap
pear that Governor buckingham ever took coun
Sci Of anything save his sense Of duty This h
followed regardless Of every other consideration
Events always justified his faith in the loyalty
and patriotism OF the people
His first election was in 1858, following TIT
disastrous financial panic of 1851 Financia
questions chiefly occupied the attention of Gov
ernor and Legislature during this and the follow
Ing year. His official communications wer
largely devoted to the consideration Of bushes
topics accordingly. National affairs were re
ferred to, Of course but not dwelt upon a
length. 1t was the State campaign in the sprnl
of ls60-already mentioned as the most exciting
IN the history Of the State-when the Democrat
In their hope of breaking the solid front Of Re
publican States their most popular man
Colonel Thomas II. Seymour, against him, tina
first gave him prominence outside of NewEng
land and distinct National reputation. Blu
this was due more to political conditions thai
TO any impression he had yet made as publ
man. In this campaign he first made the &C
puaintance Of Mr. Lincoln, who made at Norwich
one of the few speeches he delivered in the Eas
that year, and was the Governors guest. Afte
the Presidential election in November of tina
year, when the secession movements begar
Governor Buckingham's horizon greatly widened
He was not slow to comprehend II. and wit
clear vision forecast the responsibilities an
duties that were presently to engage him. Mill
tary affairs had long been neglected and Their
was probably no State in the Union in which tn
militia was so poorly prepared for en- emergenc.
calling them into action. So early Januar.