The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-03-08

ing proofs of his great versatility
| His military duties closed on th
: memorable field of Chicamauga.
, field which, however disastrous te
the Union arms, gave to him the oc
casion of winning imperishable lau
rels. The very rare distinction wa
: accorded him of a great promotion
for his bravery on field that wa!
lost. President Lincoln appointed
him Major General in the Arm,
of the United States, for gallant ane
meritorious conduct in the battle O
Chicamauga.
/ The Army of the Cumberland " 5
reorganized under the command oil
General Thomas, who promptly Of
fered Garfield one of its divisions
He was extremely dcsirous to ae-
cept the position, but was embar-
rassed by the fact that he had, a
year before, been elected to Con-
gress. and the time when he must
take his seat was drawing near. He
preferred to remain in the military
service, and had within his own
breast the larges! confidence of sue
cess in the wider field which his
new rank.opened up to him. Bal
ancing the arguments of the one
side and the other, anxious to deter
mine what was for the best, desirous
above all things to do his patriotic
duty, he was decisively 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. He re-
signed his commission of Major
General on the 9TH day of Deem
Der, 1863, and took his seat in the
House of Representatives on the
9Th. He had served two years and
four months in the army, and had
just completed his thirty second
year.
TIE Thirty-eighth Congress is
pre-eminently entitled in history
to the designation of the War Con-
gress. Il was elected while the war
was hagrant, and every member
was chosen upon the issues involv-
ed in the continuance of the strug-
gle. The Thirty-seventh Congress
had, indeed, legislated to large ex-
tent on the war measures, but it was
chosen be'ore any one believed that
the secession, of the States would
actually be attempted. The magni-
tude of the work which was unprec-
edented, fell upon its successors,
both in respect to the vast sums of
money raised for the support of the
army and navy, and of the new and
extraordinary powers of legislations
which it was forced to exercise. On
ly twenty-four States were represent
ed, and one hundred and eighty
two members were upon its roll.
Among these there were many dis
tinguished party leaders on both
sides, veterans in the public service,
with established regulations for abr
ity, and with that skill which comes
only from parliamentary experi-
ence. Into this asseublaqe of men
Sarneid entered without special
preparation, and it might also be
said Unexpectedly. The question of
taking command of division of
troops under General Thomas, or
taking bis seat in Congress was kept
open till the last moment, so late,
indeed, that the resignation of his
military commission and his ap-
pearance in the House was almost
contemporaneous. He wore the
uniform of a Major General of the
United States Army on Saturday,
and on Monday, in civilians dress,
he answered to the roll call as a
Representative in Congress from the
State of Ohio.
He was especially fortunate in the
constituency which elected him.
Descended almost entirely from
New England stock, the men of the
Ashtabula district were intensely
radical on all questione relating to
human rights. Well educated, thrift
ty, thoroughly intelligent in affairs,
acutely discerning of character, not
quick to bestow confidence, and
slow 10 withdraw it, they were at
once the most helpful and most ex-
acting of supporters. Their lena-
cious trust in men in whom they
had once confded IS illustrated by
the unparalleled fact that Elisha
Whittlesey, Joshua +. Giddings and
James A. Garfield represented the
district for tifty-four years.
There Is no test OF 4 mans ability
in any department OF public life
more severe than service in the
House of Representatives ; there Is no
place where so little Difference is
paid to reputation previously ac-
quired, or to eminence won outside ;
no place where so little consideration
is shown for the feelings or failures
of beginners. What a man gains in
the House he gains by sheer force OF
his own character, and If he loses
and falls back he must expect no
mercy, and viii receive 10 sympa-
thy. Il is field in which the sur
vivai OF the strongest - the recog-
nized rule, and where no pretense
can deceive and no glamour can
misleaa. The real man IS discover
cd. his worth is impartially weigh
ed, his rank is irreversibly decreed.
With possibly a single exception
Garfield was the youngest member
of the House when be entered, and
was but seven years from his college
graduation. But he had not been
in his seat sixty days before his
ability was recognized and his place
conceded. He stepped to the front
with the confidence of one who be-
longed there. The House was crowd
ed with strong men of both parties
nineteen of them have since been
transferred TO the Senate. and many
of them have served with distinc-
ton in the gubernatorial chairs OF
their respective States, and on for
eign missions of great consequence 7;
but among them all none grew SO
rapidly. none so firmly as Garfield.
As is said by Trevelyan of his parlia-
mentary hero. Garfield succeeded