634 



ERODE ISLAND. 



ocean of forty miles ; along Connecticut fifty 

 miles ; and along Massachusetts seventy miles ; 

 in all an outline of one hundred and sixty 

 miles, extending from latitude 41 18' to 42 1' 

 north. 



It is, in proportion to its population, the 

 greatest manufacturing section in the Union. 

 The annual value of goods produced, by the cen- 

 sus of 1850, was $22,117,688. This had more 

 than doubled in 1860, according to the census 

 of the year. The population of the State, 

 which had been 76,931 in 1810, had risen to 

 174,621 in 1860. In politics the State has been 

 eminently conservative. Although it gave 4,537 

 majority for Lincoln in 1860, it at the same 

 time gave 1,460 for the conservative Governor 

 Spragtie. The Legislature meets semi-annually, 

 in May and November. The present Senate is 

 composed of 17 Conservatives, and 13 Republi- 

 cans ; the House of 45 Conservatives and 25 

 Republicans. 



The large manufactories of Rhode Island 

 seek markets in all sections of the Union, and 

 she is largely dependent on the South for raw 

 material. 



The increasing difficulties with the South 

 were in Rhode Island regarded with much soli- 

 citude. The threatened interruption to her 

 trade, as well by cutting off raw material as by 

 closing the market for many of her productions, 

 was, although of vital interest, still apparently 

 secondary to other considerations. The neces- 

 sity for preserving the Union was of paramount 

 importance, and Governor Sprague promptly 

 took the initiative in respect to existing difficul- 

 ties. In his Message to the Legislature, he was 

 the first to propose the repeal of the Personal 

 Liberty bills, which had been passed by 

 Ehode Island, in common with many other 

 States of the North, and which were so gener- 

 ally regarded as one of the main causes of dis- 

 satisfaction at the South. Accordingly, Gov. 

 Sprague expressed himself to the effect that 

 the offensive law would be rescinded " without 

 hesitation, not from fear or cowardice, but from 

 a. brave determination, in the face of threats 

 and sneers, to live up to the Constitution and 

 all its guarantees, the better to testify their 

 love for the Union, and the more firmly to 

 exact allegiance to it from all others." The 

 vote at the close of January, 1861, on the mo- 

 tion to repeal, was in the Senate yeas 21, 

 nays 9 ; in the House yeas 49, nays 18. 



This result was hailed by the friends of the 

 Union as a harbinger of peace, the more so that 

 Ohio and some other States had made a move- 

 ment in the same direction, and that the peace 

 conference called by Virginia was on the eve 

 of assembling at the National Capital. At such 

 a juncture, an indication of more moderate 

 views at the North, even if confined to the 

 limited sphere of Rhode Island, was enough to 

 awaken hopes of an amicable settlement. These 

 were not realized. 



When, in the progress of affairs, the difficul- 

 ties culminated in the fall of Fort Sumter, the 



Governor promptly tendered the Government 

 the services of a thousand infantry and a battal- 

 ion of artillery, and immediately convened the 

 Legislature in extra session. It met on the 17th 

 of April. The Senate passed a resolution of 

 thanks to the Governor for his prompt action 

 in support of the Government. In the House a 

 bill was at once reported for providing the 

 State's quota, and a bill was presented appro- 

 priating $500,000 for enlisting men into the 

 services of the United States. The Providence 

 banks came promptly forward with money. 

 The Bank of Commerce offered $30,000, the 

 State Bank $50,000, the Providence Bank 

 $15,000, as loans to the State to aid in the out- 

 fit of the troops. Large offers from private cit- 

 izens were also made to Gov. Sprague for simi- 

 lar purposes. The troops began immediately 

 to move, and on the 20th the Rhode Island Ma- 

 rine Artillery, 8 guns, 110 horses, Col. Tomp- 

 kins, passed through New York on their way to 

 Washington. The enthusiasm in the State was 

 great, and the citizens crowded forward into 

 the ranks. The First Regiment, Col. Burnside, 

 was ready to move. Many of the officers and 

 men were of the wealthiest class. This regi- 

 ment, 1,200 strong, when it left Providence, 

 was accompanied by Gov. Sprague, as com- 

 mander-in-chief of the Rhode Island forces. 

 A. E. Burnside, the colonel, a native of In- 

 diana, graduated at West Point, served in the 

 Mexican war, resigned, and was employed with 

 Gen. McClellan on the Illinois Central Railroad 

 when the call for troops was made. The for- 

 mation of troops went on rapidly. A second 

 regiment, under the command of Col. John S. 

 Slocum, was despatched soon after to Washing- 

 ton, and, with the First Regiment, took a con- 

 spicuous part at Bull Run, where Burnside 

 earned his brigadier-general's commission. That 

 disastrous day stimulated Rhode Island to new 

 efforts. The Federal Government had made a 

 call for more troops. Lieut.-Gov. Arnold issued 

 the following proclamation : 



STATE or RHODE ISLAND, &c. I 

 EXECUTIVE DEPAETMEST, July 28, 1861. f 



To the People of Mode Island : 



All hearts are bowed in sorrow at the disastrous 

 result of the battle of the 21st inst., at Bull Run, in 

 Virginia. 



The national arms have sustained a temporary de- 

 feat. This reverse is the more sad to us that it is ac- 

 companied by the loss of so many gallant officers and 

 brave men who held the honor of Rhode Island second 

 only to their love of country. 



Colonel John S. Slocum, Major Sullivan Ballou, 

 Captains Levi Tower and Samuel J. Smith, and Lieu- 

 tenant Thomas Foy, of the Second Regiment, and Lieu- 

 tenant Henry A. Prescott, of the First Regiment, have 

 fallen. So far as yet known, this completes the list of 

 fatal casualties among the officers ; that of the privates 

 is not yet received. 



The State will embalm the memory of these noble 

 men, as it preserves the fame of its heroes of Revolu- 

 tionary days. 



This reverse calls for renewed and vigorous effort 

 on the part of all loyal citizens to maintain the Federal 

 Government. 



Therefore, I, Samuel G. Arnold, Lieutenant-Gov- 

 ernor, do hereby call upon the good people of this 



