There have been unnecessarily,
but not unusually harsh things said against Pennsylvania says the New York
Tribune in regard to her want of preparation for the recent rebel
invasion. The distinction should be drawn between the last Copperhead
Legislature and the entire action and spirit of the people during the war, from
the time when the Pennsylvania soldiers were first to hurry to Washington at the
breaking out of hostilities, till the present moment. There is among the
loyal States no large State, or aggregation of smaller States, which has made
greater contributions of troops, or suffered more in the war than
Pennsylvania.
Up to the beginning of this
year, Pennsylvania furnished over two hundred thousand troops, not including the
fifty thousand militia under the call of 1862. Before the Battle of
Gettysburg thirty-seven thousand Pennsylvanians had laid down their lives for
their country. Pennsylvania is the only state which has organized at her
own expense a first class reserve force amounting to nearly sixteen thousand
men. This organization acted under Major General McCall, Brigadier General
Meade, Brigadier General Reynolds, and Brigadier General Ord. It was ready
for service two years ago; and by the act of the Legislature authorizing its
existence (under the three million State loan) it was for the support of the
military forces of the State or of the United States. It was soon absorbed
by the army of the Potomac, and variously distinguished itself. The
glorious death of Reynolds, and the glorious work and position of Meade, are
proofs of the skill shown in the selection of the officers from among the
Pennsylvanians commanding the reserves.
As the first reserve of
Pennsylvania was taken by the General Government. it is probable that a second
or a third one would have been equally needed out of the State under bad
generalship, and the State left as defenseless as she was at the opening of the
late invasion. No worse spirit, however, than that which led to the
election of Seymour, Wood, and the like, prevailed in the Legislature of
Pennsylvania; and that, and the good nature of the General Government in
permitting the fullest expansion to Copperhead ideas in both States, was the
cause of the successful invasion of Pennsylvania for a few days. But had
the reserve force been allowed to act as a reserve, in accordance with its
name--and not fought through the battles of the Peninsula, up to that of
Chancellorsville--no rebel troops would have divided Pennsylvania, either in the
cavalry raid of 1862, or the general attack of 1863. The last call of Gov.
Curtin for 60,000 additional troops, too, let it be borne in mind, had been
quickly responded to. The three months' men poured in as fast as they
could be enrolled.
