Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-09-26


coupties AZ State Senator. and in that capacity
began his long and honorable public service.
AZ the breaking out of the var. Garfield, who
had long foreseen the struggle that was com
ling, vas ready. His military record cover.
only little over two years, but 1t Is fuii o.
achievements. He set about, when there
vas call for troops, raising recruits Tor tne
4zd Ohio volunteers, and was commissions
in August, 1881, as lieutenant colonel. and
Boon promoted to colonel. On the 18th Of
December, 1861, he took his well-driiied
regiment TO the front. So favorably impress
ed was Gen. Buell. with the genius OF the
Young coloael that he placed him in command
III an expedition against Humphrey Marshall,
. ho had invaded eastern Kentucky. an ex'
petition which was signally successful ne
Received brigadieY's commission simui-
raneon.ly with his fight with Humphrey
y hich resulted so gloriously for the Onion
iorces. His subsequent achievements as
soldier were brilliant He took part IN the
.econd Iay's fyhs at Shiloh. He was in all
the operations in front Of Corinth; rebuilt the
bridges on the Memphis and Charleston rail
road, and did his share in erecting forth
cations. Being ordered to Washington he
served on the Fitz John Porter court-martiai
and on il. adjournment in January, 1868, was
.en, N Rosecrans, who made him his ''chiei
of staff" The crowning effort OF his service
In this responsible Office came with the battle
ofChicamauya where he shared the honors
ofthe day with ''Old Pap Thomas and nooiy
won a major generals commission AHef
Cbiczmanga Gen. Garfield was sent to Wash
,ro,on IN reconcile the differences between
po.ecraps and Stanton. and in December,
1863. reluctantly resigned his commission to
perform the duties to which his constituents
had called Linn nearly - months before.
HIS CONGREGATIONAL CAREER.
Thea began his career in the House OF
,epresentatiyes, which closed only with his
Elevation to the Chief Maeistracy. he having
been reelected nine times, aud finally chos
IN to represent his state in the Senate. lie
ENTERED Congress when he was less than 81
wears of age. The acceptance of the seat IN
Conrress cost him many severe struggles De-
tween eontending convictions of duty. lie
was advised by Gen. Rosecraus to enter
(obgress. When Gen. Thomas assumed
conmand of the Army of the Cumberland,
he offered Gen. Garfield the command OF an
army corps, an invitation that made zen
Garfeld's impulse to go back to the army al
most irresistible. but Pesident Lincoln hav-
ling personally urged him to remain IN Con-
rress he yielded. To give fair notion OF
the scope and nature of Gen. Gar1elds work
In the 3Sth, as in all the succeeding Con-
crosses, would require much more space
than can here be given, and the task, indeed,
Is one that belongs to the patient, care
.ful. dispassionate historian. who may write
without prejudice or favor when the present
political conditions have changed. The
Wonderful versatility, activity, industry and
ability of the man has made the work some
king almost appalling. 1t is impossible
within the limits of even half dozen vol
nmes, to reproduce. with any fuilDess, his
|Csngressional achievements. He soon be
came recognized as q leader. He won dis
Emotion among his colleagues. not only fol
activity and influence in debate, but for hi
Industry in the committee room and his fam
|iliarity with details. which are only learned
lin committees He served during the Thirty
eight Congress on the committee on mi lltar,
affairs; in the Thirty ninth Congress, on tnt
Committee on ways and means; in the For
keith Cong ess, as chairman of the committee
on military affairs; Forty-first Congress, a'
chairman of the committee on banking ant
currency and as a member of the selec
committee on the ninth census, and Of thu
committee on rules; in the Forty second ant
Forty third Congresses he served as chair
man of the committee on appropriations, an,
continued on the committee on rules: in thu
Forty fourth, Forty-ffth AMI FOrty-Sixtl
Congress he served on the committee OIL
ways and means, and in the Forty-fift an'
Forty-sixth Congresses he served also as d
member of the committee on rules.
MS CAREER AS LAWYER.
General Garfelds career As lawyer wa
ms brilliant as it was peculiar. Engrosseo
rs he was in his public duties, he had little
time to devote to the practice of law, but h'
gave abundant evidence of legal ability
which. had he chosen to have devoted him
self to the profession. would undoubtedl,
have raised him to place of great distinc
Itiun among jurists. lie was admitted to tn,
bar in 1861 by the supreme court Of Ohio ant
vas about to go into practice when the wal
broke out. lie had never tried case, no
argued one, nor had anything to do with ont
until he appeared as one of the counsel in tn,
famous Milligan case, in the Supreme Cour
of the United States, in 1850. His lawyer
like presentation of the case, and remarkable
argument. raised him in day to a distin
guished place among lawyers. Hewas after
wards engaged in many cases of greater o.
less note.
SENATOR AND PRESIDENT.
His promotion to the Senate, followed b,
Ibis election as President of the United State
before he had taken his seat in the Senate
are matters of only recent occurrence. TIN
magnificent public display made when he wa
inaugurated was but a fitting expression o
the high esteem in which Gen. Garfield wa
held by men of all political minds, Tn
people who then rejoiced were plunged int
great grief four months later, when anothe
procession, bearing the form of the Presiden
mortally wounded made its way over tn
avenue. only so recently gay and brillian
with "A marching host of rejoicing people
His death ends life. which when its grea
achievements are considered may well b
said to have been well rounded. Gen. Gar
field leaves a family consisting of his wife
four sons and a daughter. His venerable
mother, who in her young days watched 81
teuderly over him and inspired him with am
hition and courage. survives him.