It was this news which Sedgwick was imparting
to the two gentlemen.
"We have a big business on our hands," he said gravely, "a very big
and a very delicate business. A little bungling will be enough to turn
it into a civil war, with the chances all against the government."
"I don't see that the government, as yet, has done anything," said
Edwards. "Do they intend to leave everything to the mob?"
"Between us, there is really nothing that can be done just now,"
replied Sedgwick. "The passiveness of the government results from
their knowledge that the militia are not to be depended on. Why, as I
passed through Springfield, I saw whole companies of militia that had
been called out by the sheriff to protect the court, march, with drums
beating, over to the insurgents. No, gentlemen, there is actually no
force that could be confidently counted on against the mob save a
regiment or two in Boston. Weakness leaves the government no choice
but to adopt a policy of conciliation with the rascals, for the
present, at least. His Excellency has called the Legislature in extra
session the twenty-sixth, and a number of measures will at once be
passed for relief. If these do not put an end to the mobs, they will,
it is hoped, at least so far improve the public temper that a part of
the militia will be available.
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