New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-03

Of coercion" and the disturbance of peace IL
| was an increased majority. but the margin" "-'
not large enough to warrant an Executive WIN
as s,rorlv q noItician in taking any risks OH
the side of the Government. The election was
the first week in April. The meeting OF 'ne
7 LEGISLATURE was In May. President Llhcoll
call for 900 troops issued in the m'e'N"'
on April IS. Upon examination OF the laws vi INV
State IL vas found that Governor BucKihs""'"
had no legal authority to answer the requlSi'''"
for the single regiment of militia called io' d.
the States quota Without waiting for au'hoI'''
he assumed it, and issued a call Tor volunteers
In six days two regiments were in camp anu
within three weeks five times the quota were
ready to take the field .
But it was not alone in the promptness with
which he met the call for men that ne sho"eu
the qualities that 50 eminently fitted him to
meet the crisis. With the provision of saga
cious business man. he foresaw the need OF pro-
viding for the expenditures to be incurred, from
some other source than the State Treasury
upon which he not authorized 10 ura"'
Upon the moment Of receiving the freslueh'
requistion. he made application to the pdhK o.
which he was a director for a personal loan OF
$4,000. 1t was responded to with double the
amount His example was followed all over the
State and no difficulty was experienced IN
providing funds for the equipment ana hd'"-
tenance OF the troops His confidence was not
misplaced One of the first acts OF the Legs
lature at the ensuing May session was without
a dissenting voice. to put in his hands sZoVo'ooo
to arm and equip 10000 men, His clear-sighted
comprehension Of the magnitude of the rebel
lion was manifest in his letter to the President
at this time urging that the call should be Tor
800 900 men and for a much longer term of en-
lstment than three months. Indeed ne re-
peatedy requested OF the President during the
early part Of the war that he should be per-
mitted 10 send forward more volunteers imam
were called for. II was due also 10 MS souho
/ business sense and prudent care for details that
the Connecticut regiments went into camp IN
the early part of the war more thoroughly
equipped and better prepared to take the heId
| than those Of any other State. as was tesuheo
| bv General Scott and other old Army officers.
/ AS his War Administration began, so 1t con-
tinued through the whole period until the close
of hostilities. The volume before us traces the
record in bare outline in connection with the de-
tails of military operations which, considering
the fulness with which they had already been
| described in the various war histories. seem
| unnecessarily minute and remote from the lh-
mediate subject. With all respect for the author
and for the spirit Of fraternal affection and pnde
| which animated him. we cannot help thinking
that as a historical biography it falls short of
the highest excellence 1t contains very rev
/ glimpses of the Governors family and domestic
life which was singularly sweet and pure. very
little Of the story Of his business career ana OF
! his everyday dealings with his business asso-
ciates and fellow-citiZens which throw hght
upon the personality and reveal character, ana
none of the daily occurrences in his official life
/ which are unrecordcd in public documents, but
which constitute one of the principal charms or
biograp hcal literature Some historical mac
curacies may be noted: one for instance, in the
statement several times repeated that Connect
cut was not subjected 10 a draft during the war.
This of course is error. Under Governor
Ruckingham's efficient administration. the state
furnished "a 900 men--more than one-tenth OF her
entire population of 46l 600. and largely in excess
| of her quota; but the draft was enforced not
! withstandng, in July. 1869. The State escaped
the second draft in December, 1864, her quota
| being full.
1t is a war record OF which Connecticut may
well be proud. And 1t IS to be gratefully remem-
bered that to William A. Buckingham more than
to any other man they owe this spennld
record Not an orator or debater. not man Of
scholarly attachments, Of wide reading or great
learning not in any sens, a brilliant man, he
was the typical Connecticut gentleman; couruy
and dignifed. yet simple and unaffected; firm
and determined without obstinacy; conscientious.
vet tolerant. partisan without bgotry. and
full Of all the capacity for. and the disposition
10 do. modestly and dutifully the most useful
public service in the most trying time 1t Is MT
that he should sit in bronze in the State Capitol
dividing with Jonathan Trumbull the highest
honors grateful people can bestow.