April 19, 1861: "peaceful march" gone wrong (LOC - LC-USZ62-56105)
Invasion of Our Soil vs. Defence of Our Common Capital
150 years ago today Baltimore Mayor George William Brown and Massachusetts Governor John Albion Andrew exchanged telegraph messages regarding the Pratt Street riot in Baltimore on April 19th. From The New-York Times April 22, 1861:
BOSTON, Sunday, April 21. …
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE MAYOR OF BALTIMORE AND GOV. ANDREW.
The following telegraphic correspondence explains itself:
BALTIMORE, Saturday, April 20.
Hon. John A. Andrew, Gov. of Massachusetts.
SIR: No one deplores the sad events of yesterday in this city more deeply than myself, but they were inevitable. Our people viewed the passage of armed troops to another State through the streets as an invasion of our soil, and could not be restrained. The authorities exerted themselves to the best of their ability, but with only partial success. Gov. HICKS was present, and concurs in all my views as to the proceedings now necessary for our protection. When are these scenes to cease? Are we to have a war of sections? God forbid. The bodies of the Massachusetts soldiers could not be sent out to Boston, as you requested, all communication between this city and Philadelphia by railroad, and with Boston by steamers, having ceased; but they have been placed in cemented coffins, and will be placed with proper funeral ceremonies in the mausoleum of Green Mount Cemetery, where they shall be retained until further directions are received from you. The wounded are tenderly cared for. I appreciate your offer, but Baltimore will claim it as her right to pay all expenses incurred. Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
GEO. M. BROWN,
Mayor of Baltimore.
Governor Andrew: "Coercion? What coercion?"
To this the following reply was returned by the Governor:
To his Honor Geo. M. Brown, Mayor of Baltimore:
DEAR SIR: I appreciate your kind attention to our wounded and our dead, and trust that at the earliest moment the remains of our fallen will return to us. I am overwhelmed with surprise that a peaceful march of American citizens over the highway to the defence of our common Capital, should be deemed aggressive to Baltimoreans. Through New-York the march was triumphal. (Signed,)
JOHN A. ANDREW,
Governor of Massachusetts.
A mass meeting of citizens, numbering many thousands, was held in State-street this forenoon, and was addressed by FLETCHER WEBSTER, CHARLES L. WOODBURY and many distinguished citizens. The meeting was to raise a regiment for FLETCHER WEBSTER, and was completely successful. The most intense enthusiasm pervaded the crowd.
(Daniel) Fletcher Webster: going to fight for his father's "Liberty and Union"
The Mass Meeting in State-street continued from 10 o’clock A. M. till nearly night. It was a remarkable expression of the entire voice of our people. Beacon-street and North End leading merchants and leaders of the Roughs fraternized with entire unanimity of sentiment. The speakers embraced Scotchmen, Irishmen and Germans as well as Americans. It is impossible to convey in words more than an idea of the patriotic enthusiasm of the thousands present. It was altogether an unparalleled demonstration.
The momentous national crisis was the prominent topic in nearly all our pulpits to-day. The clergymen earnestly and eloquently expressed sympathy with the Government.
(Daniel) Fletcher Webster was indeed the son of Daniel Webster. Fletcher was killed at Second Bull Run.
Fletcher gives VP Tyler news of President Harrison's death (LOC -LC-USZ62-5997)
D Webster: "Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable."
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Image of Daniel webster licensed by Creative Commons.
Tranquility now gone - a view of Boston 1841 (Robert Havell LOC - LC-DIG-pga-03789)
