St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-09-30

acter and faith. He carried the same
understanding and energy always with
him, and it quickly raised him to high
er rank. Confidence was created in
his capacity, and whether as soldier,
statesman or president, that confidence
never was betrayed. Gen. Buell. was
taken with him, and he was commits
stoned with one of the most important
duties ever given to man. Was he fiji
for it He studied hard until he I'M
derstood every maneuver of regiment
and carried with him regiment OF
men imbued with his own spirit, and
Buell. soon recognized in the man and
his regiment something more than or
binary force. Almost the first duty
given him was the command of brig
ade, and the rebel Humphrey Marshall
was to be the object of his attention
The state of Kentucky was then tremb-
ling in the balance between secession
and nOn-secession. Marshall was raid
ing the country. He had intrenched
himself firmly and was endeavoring to
turn the balance of opinion in favor OF
the Southern cause. Garfield received
his orders while n colonel, and then
took command of the brigade. His
work was to unite his scattered forces
and drive Marshall from the state. II
! was a difficult thing to do, but Garfield
undertook it. He drove Marshall from
the state and regained that territory to
Federal control. 1t was glorious
achievement, and was recognized by
his superior officer and by the country
at large.
The speaker here rehearsed Gar
fields splendid maneuvers in supply
ing his force with provisions in face %
great difficulty, and his successes al
COrinth and elsewhere. He referred
also to his two months sickness in
1863, his services on the Porter court
martial, his appointment as chief %
staff to ROsecrans, his valor at Chicka-
manga, and his death on the 18th an
niversary of that battle, when he IA
truly died for the nation as though he
had fallen in the field. Rosecrans N
first spoke of him as the "pOlitica
preacher" but soon learned to admire
and honor him. Mr.. Bates spoke earn.
estly of Gartield's work at Chickamaugf
and how he saved the day, when other
generals did not dare to assume the re.
spOnsibility. The limited time which
the speaker had prevented his going
into interesting details, as he might
otherwise have done; but every WORD
he said was closely listened to, and as
he recited the scenes in which the Ia
mented Garfield took part and showed
his great worth, there was a tendency
to applause which was only hushed by
thn Snlnr,nifN- Of tho
The president next introduced Hon
L. p. Poland, as one who served witt
Mr.. Garfield in Congress and was per,
sonally intimate with him. Judg,
Poland then spoke as follows on
GARFIELD AS A STATESMAN.
In the short space allotted to me
shall have time only for a cursOry re-
view of our dead President. But
have this satisfaction, that his public
life in Congress and as President is
better known to you than his career as
scholar and soldier, which has been sc
well presented here to-day. proba-
bly, am the only person present who
ever had largely the acquaintance OF
Garfield. For the ten years that l had
the honor to serve in part as represen-
tative of the state, and for the larger
part as your immediate representative
he was the whole time in Congress, and
our personal relations were of the most
friendly character. 1t ought to be said
that Garfield was the product of "A very
peculiar portion of this country. In
the northeast corner of Ohio there was
-,
serve" L shall not take any time with
the history of this place but it was a
portion settled almost entirely by New
England people, mainly from COnnec-
ticut, and there grew up on that re-
serve a population of liberty loving
people such as was hardly known il
any other portion of the United States
1t was that Congressional district tina
sent Joshua r. Giddings to Congress
one of the earliest men on the floor o
Congress who made war on slavery
Largely were Garfield's sentiments ant
his life the products of that people ant
that country.
| am to speak of his public life
When he was considerably below 81
years of age he was chosen by that dis
trict as its representative. He was /
member of the Ohio Senate when the
war broke out, and he left this position
in the Senate to go into the army
During his stay in the Ohio Legislature
he was foremost in protecting and car
rying forward measures to help tn,
general government put down the war
Ohio was as ready i'll the performance
of her duty as was our own state, an,
this was in large degree owing to Gar
field. While serving in the field III
was elected as member of Congress Il
fill Giddings' place. He proved him
self so able general and showed sucl
skill in military affairs, that they wer,
very 10th to lose him from the army
He himself desired to remain in til,
army, and | have seen it stated Zane
doubtless it is true) that he consented
to fOregO his place and take a seat il
Congress by request of Mr.. Lincoln
Early in the war we got it into on
heads that something was to be mad,
out of the war for political purposes
and that congressman tried to get tn,
advantage of each other in enactinl
war measures. Lincoln wanted som,
one in Congress whose judgment coulC
be relied on in such matters. Durinl
the two years in Congress till the wa
ended Garfield was among the wises
and best of the men who planned t.
carry on the war successfully.
The war ended. Garfield remained
in Congress. Now perhaps l ought t.
speak of his personal characteristic,
before speak of measures he was act
i've in for the salvation of the country
AS to his requirements, of all publ,
men in this country, believe no man
was ever so largely and ably versed il
everything pertaining to government
affairs, and more especially in political