Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-03-08

ing before the mast on q coaStlnS vessel
or a merchantmen bound to the farther
India or to the China seas.
No manly man feels anything OF shame
in looking back to early struggles with
adverse circumstances, and no man feels a
worthier pride than when he has conquer cd
the obstacles to his progress. But no one
of noble mould desires to be looked upon
as having occupied a menial position, Us
having been repressed by feeling of in
feriority, or as having suffered the evils
of poyerty until relief was found at the
hand of charity. General Gariield's youth
presented no hardships which family love
and family energy did not overcome. sub.
iected him to no privations which he did
not cheerfully accept, and left no memo
ries save those which were recalled with
delight, and transmitted with profit and
pride.
Gariield's early opportunities ior secur-
ing an education were extremely limited,
and vet were sufficient to develop in him
an intense desire TO learn. He could read
at three years OF age, and each winter he
had the advantage of the district school.
He read all the books to be found with
IN the circle of his acquaintance; some
of them he got by heart. While yet in
childhood he was constant student OF the
Bible, and became familiar with its litera'
ture. The dignity and earnestness of his
speech in his mature life gave evidence OF
his early training. At Is years of age he
was able to teach school, and thencefor-
ward his ambition was to obtain a college
education. TO this end he bent all his
n IN, ba horuaet tial1 at tho
carpenters bench, and in the winter sea
son, teaching the common schools OF the
neighborhood. While thus laboriously
occupied he found time to prosecute his
studies, and was so successful that at %
years OF age he was able to enter the junior
class at Williams college, then under the
presidency of the venerable and honored
Mark Hopkins, who, in the fullness OF his
powers, survives the eminent pupil to
whom he was of inestimable service.
The history of GarGeld's life to this Pc
riod presents no novel features. He had
undoubtedly shown perseverance. self
reliance, self-sacrilice and ambition-qual'
tics which, be it said for the honor of onr
country. are everywhere TO be found among
the Young men of America But from his
graduation at Williams onward. to the
hour of his tragical death, Gariield's ca
rcer was eminent and exceptional. Slowly
working through his educational period,
receiving his diploma when u years of
age, he seemed at one bound to spring into
conspicuous AMI brilliant success. Within
six years he was successfully president of
u college, state senator of Ohio, major
general of the army Of tho United States.
and representative cleo, to the national
congress. A combination OF honors so
varied, so elevated, within period so
brief and TO man SO young, is without
precedent or parallel in the history of the
country.
Early in 1868 Garfield was assigned to
the highly important and responsible post
of chief of staff to General Rosecrans then
at the head of the army of the Cumber
land Perhaps in great military CAM
paign no suborr mate officer requires sound.
er Judgment and quicker knowledge of
men than the chief of staff to the COM
manding general. An indiscreet man in
such a position can sow more discord,
breed more jealousy and disseminate more
strife than any other officer in the entire
organization. His military du-
ties closed on the memorable field OF
Chickamauga, field which however dis
astrous to the Union arms gave to him the
occasion of winning imperishabe laurels.
The very rare distinction was accorded
him of great promotion for his bravery
on field that was lost. President Lincoln
appointed him major general in the army
of the United States for gallant and meri-
torous conduct in the battle of Chicka.
mauga.
The army of the Cumberland was roor-
ganized under the command of General
Thomas, who promptly offered Garfield
one of its divisions. He was extremely
dcsirous to accept the position, but was
embarrassed by the fact that he .had,a year
before, been elected 10 congress, and the
time when he must take his seat was draw
ing near. He preferred to remain in the
military service. and had within his own
breast the the largest confidence of success
in the wider field which his new rank
opened unto him. Balancing the argu.
mcnts on the one side and the other, anx-
ious to determine what was for the best,
desirous above all things to do his patriotic
duty, he was decisivey influenced by the
advice of President Lincoln and Secretary
Stanton, both of whom assured him that
he could, at that time. be of especial value
in the House of Representatives. lie re.
signed his position of major-general on the
9TH day of December, 1868, and took his
seat in the House of Representatives on the
9TH. lie had served two years and four
months in the army, and had Just COM
pleted his thirty second year.
The thirty-eighth congress is pre- cmi-
nently entitled in history to the designation
of the war congress. Only "a
states were represented, and one hundred
and eighty-two members were upon its
roll. Among these were many distinguish
ed party leaders on both sides, veterans in
the public service, with established repu-
tations for ability, and with that skill
which comes only from parliamentary
experience. Into this assomblage of men
Garfield entered without special prepara.
ton, and it might almost be said uneN.
pectcdly. The question of taking command
of division of troops under General
Thomas, or taking his scat in congress
was kept open till the last nloment,so late,
indeed that the resignation Of his military
commission and his appearance in the
llOuSo WCIC dlluOot COubCL pUIduCOuS. lie
wore the uniform of major general of the
United States army on Saturday, and on
Monday in civilians dress. he answered to
the roll call as representative in congress
from the state of Ohio.
With possibly single exception Gar
field was theyoungest member Of theIH House
when he entered, and was but seven years
from his college graduation. lie had no,
yet been in his seat sixty days when hi.
ability was recognized and his place con
ceded. He stepped to the front with the
confidence of ono who belonged there
The House was crowded with strong mon
OF both parties; nineteen of them have
since been transferred to the Senate, and
many of them have served with distinction
in the gubernatoral chairs of their respec.
tive states and on foreign missions Of
great consequence; but among them all
none grew so rapidly, none so firmly as
Garfield. If man NAV bo n
competent Judge of his own capacities and
adaptations, the law was the profession to
which Garfield should lave devoted him.
self. But fate ordained otherwise, and his
reputation in history will rest largely
upon his service in the House of Represen.
tatives That service was exceptionally
long. He was nine times consecutvely