She had been often reproached for urging forward the anti-slavery agitation, which was the excuse of the South for rebelling against the National authority.

A somewhat similar accusation had been lodged against her by the Royal Governors and by the Tories a century before.

But the men who found this fault with Massachusetts--a fault wholly on virtue's side--will not deny that when the hour of trial came, when convictions of conscience were to be maintained by the strength of the right arm, and faith in principle was to be attested by a costly sacrifice of blood, her sons added imperishable honor to their ancestral record of heroism in the cause of human Liberty and Constitutional Government.
The other New-England States were not less ardent than Massachusetts.
Israel Washburn, the Governor of Maine, impulsive, energetic, devoted to the cause of the Union, was sustained by the people of the State without regard to party and with the noblest enthusiasm.
William A.Buckingham of Connecticut, of mature years and stainless life, was a young man once more when his country demanded his best energies.

The young Governor of Rhode Island, William Sprague, laid aside the civilian's dress for the uniform of a soldier, and led the troops of his State to the National Capital.

Ichabod Goodwin of New Hampshire and Erastus Fairbanks of Vermont, two of their most honored and useful men, filled out the list of New England's worthy Executives.