Waifs from Bay State: Westboro, May 4, 1861

Source: Pacific Commercial Advertiser. Honolulu: July 4, 1861.

MY DEAR COMMERCIAL: -The “irrepressible conflict” between the friends and foes and free institutions is at last inaugurated, and this hitherto prosperous nation is now plunged in the horrors of civil war. The attack on Fort Sumpter by the rebels has roused the dormant energies of the friends of order and government, and the proclamation of the President, calling for 75,000 volunteers, has been promptly and cheerfully responded to by the loyal States. The fears that have been expressed by many intelligent and thinking men, that are unexampled prosperity had weakened the sentiment of patriotism in the Free States, have been scattered to the wins by the glorious and spontaneous uprising of the whole people, eagerly rushing to the defense of the loved free institutions. Party strife is hushed, party lines obliterated, and but one sentiment pervades the entire community, which is, “THE UNION! it must be preserved.” 

It is utterly impossible to give you any idea of the fearful excitement which prevails. Everywhere the people are rushing to arms; the street echo the tread of armed men; our railroads are covered with trains hurrying troops, arms, cavalry, and munitions of war, to the scene of conflict; every village is raising and drilling companies of recruits; and the zeal everywhere exhibited shows the deep feeling which prevails, the determination to crush out this desperate conspiracy to overturn the government. Nor of ladies a wit  behind the sterner sex in their patriotism. Halls and churches are everywhere thrown open, and converted into sewing rooms, were garments for soldiers’ wear are made up, lint and bandages prepared; and thousands of noble women all over the land, among whom are those who have been nurtured into luxury and refinement, are earnestly preparing themselves to act as nurses to the sick and wounded soldiers. On the first Sabbath after the call for troops, in many of the churches, the ladies brought their work, and busily piled the needle for the soldiers who were ordered away, while the pastor, from the pulpit draped with the Star-Spangled Banner address the congregation upon the theme which filled all hearts. In this little village a fine company of stalwart men that have been raised, of which our Methodist clergyman who has been chosen commander and are Unitarian clergy man who is had some experience in his younger days, is to drill them such as the spirit which everywhere prevails. A man of 65 years, with white flowing locks and beard, in one of the western cities anxious to enlist, was rejected on account of his age; he was not to be deterred from his plan, however, and going to a barber had his hair chopped and dyed black. Returning to the recruiting officer, he was not recognized, and, after being asked his age, to which he replied “rising thirty-five,” was readily accepted. 

For several days after the surrender of Fort Sumpter, the Capital of our country seemed in imminent peril, which the secession of Virginia greatly increased. The promptitude of our volunteer troops in rushing to the rescue, and the destruction of the arsenal at Harper’s Ferry in the Navy Yard at Norfolk, averted the threatened attack. Massachusetts was the first in the field, and her praise is on every lip. In four days from the receipt of the telegram from Washington, and before the official requisition that had been received, she had four regiments, a company of flying artillery and a battalion of rifles, on the way to the Capitol. Her troops, in passing through “bloody Baltimore,” were the first to shed their blood for their country, and their bravery and forbearance on that occasion is the theme of universal commendation. 

There is no doubt that a deep laid plan had been devised for the capture of Washington. The secession of Virginia, which has been resolved upon in secret session, was not to be promulgated till the time for action had arrived -when the Navy Yard at Norfolk, with its splendid armament ammunitions of war, and its fine fleet of man-of-war, and the arsenal at Harpers Ferry, (the scene of the John Brown invasion,) were to be seized, and Washington to be attacked and taken before the Northern troops could come to the rescue. The attack on the troops in Baltimore, at the closing of that route to the Northern army, were also part of this bold and nearly successful game. The destruction of the Navy Yard and ships at Norfolk, the order for which was entrusted to Capt. James Alden, late of the surveying steamer Active, at San Francisco, and the gallant action of Lieut. Jones at Harpers Ferry, in destroying the arsenal in the face of a large force, and successfully retreating with his band of forty-five men into Pennsylvania, blocked the game of the rebels, and before they could provide themselves with the needed arms, the Northern troops had force their way to Washington, and the Capitol was saved.  The Army is now assembled and as the twenty _______ expire to-day,  we shall pro________ thought of the fearful fraternal strife in which we are about to engage. Thousands will go to the battlefield who have brothers or near relatives in the other opposing army. Many from the North who have lived at the South spells her calls from choice or sympathy for others are forced unwillingly to serve in the ranks an espouse  her cause from choice or sympathy, while others are forced unwillingly to serve in the ranks. An acquaintance of mine whose oldest son has volunteered in the Northern army, had a son at the South who attempted to return home at the breaking out of civil war, but was stopped and forced into the service of the Southern Army. 

It is impossible to foresee the length of this fearful struggle, or the ultimate results to which it will lead. There is a growing feeling among thinking men of the North of all parties, that the disturbing calls which has been the millstone about our neck, the slavery question, must be forever and entirely set it rest and deprived of all power to do mischief in the future. Some of the most earnest advocates of this are among those of the democratic party who have been the strongest allies of the South. The evident fact that this is a struggle between slave and free institutions for the control of our government is fast making abolitionist of those who former stand in behalf of the Slave power has been so ungratefully rewarded by their Southern friends. The open avowal of Vice-President Stephens, that the cornerstone of the new Confederacy is slavery, and the Proclamation of President Davis for Privateers, has opened the eyes of the European Powers to the true character of this new Government, and cut it off from all hope of foreign sympathy and aid.  “Quem Deus cult perdere priusquam dementat,” and it would seem as if utter madness alone could dictate this desperate attempt to overthrow a Government and Constitution which is proved to so singularly successful, and to establish on its ruins an oligarchy founded on the utter repudiation of the immortal principles of the Declaration of American Independence. 

A government which in this nineteenth century, declares as its cardinal principle that all men are not created equal; that they are not endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, does violence to the advancing moral sentiment of the whole world, and is the face of that moral sentiment it cannot be maintained. The history of the world does not record a parallel to the patience and forbearance which has been shown by the Government towards the rebellious States, nor do I think a more causeless rebellion ever took place. Not one real grievance has the South to complain of, and it is simply the lust for power and the determination to extend the area of slavery, which has actuated its leaders in this suicidal attempt to overthrow the Government. The spontaneous uprising of the North and its unanimous determination to maintain the Government and honor of the flag is taken the South completely by surprise. Had they anticipated it, they would never have taken this desperate step. But they have now gone too far to recede. They have aroused the passions of the people, and a deadly conflict seems inevitable. With the superiority in men, means and moral power of the North, and its unparalleled unanimity and determination, the issue cannot be doubtful. The South have the superiority in military and naval officers; their troops are well armed, and fighting with a halter around their necks will be desperate. The advantage will be with them at first. The South, with their aristocratic ideas, have fewer avenues for the talents of their young men than we of the North. Trade, and manufacturing or mechanical pursuits were beneath their attention, and the professions, politic, the army and navy, were the only channels into which their talents could be directed. But the blood of the North though slow to be roused, is fully up, and her hardy sons will have left their plows and the furrow, their lapstones, looms, machine shops, and even their pulpits, to battle for the preservation of those loved free institutions which their fathers shed their blood to establish, and they will not turn back till this monstrous crime against society and civilization is put down forever.

Meanwhile the breeze across the Atlantic comes a laden with the mutterings of the volcano which seems about to shake Europe to its center with its convulsions. The Sunday after the assault on Fort Sumpter, while every heart was throbbing with the conviction that war was begun, the lesson for the day, which was read in every Episcopal Church throughout the world was, “Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles, prepare war! wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears!”

MAIKELA.