e State. Three Washburns had served in the preceding
Congress, but they represented three States.

--The far North-West was well represented by young men. William
Windom came from Minnesota, and from Iowa James F. Wilson, a man
of positive strength, destined to take very prominent part in
legislative proceedings. Fernando C. Beaman came from Michigan,
and John F. Potter and A. Scott Sloan from Wisconsin. Martin F.
Conway came from the youngest State of the Union, fresh from the
contests which had made Kansas almost a field of war.

The organization of the House was so promptly effected that the
President's message was received on the same day. Throughout the
country there was an eagerness to hear Mr. Lincoln's views on the
painful situation. The people had read with deep sympathy the
tender plea to the South contained in his Inaugural address. The
next occasion on which they had heard from him officially was his
proclamation for troops after the fall of Sumter. Public opinion
in the North would undoubtedly be much influenced by what the
President should now say. Mr. Lincoln was keenly alive to the
importance of his message, and he weighed every word he wrote. He
maintained, as he always did, calmness of tone, moderation in
expression. He appealed to reason, not to prejudice. He spoke as
one who knew that he would be judged by the public opinion of the
world. It was his fortune to put his name to many state papers of
extraordinary weight, but never to one of graver import than his
first message to Congress.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S FIRST MESSAGE.

The President informed Congress that he would not call their
attention "to any ordinary subject of legislation." In fact there
were but two things for Congress to do in the national exigency--
provide for the enlistment of an army, and for the raising of money
necessary to the conduct of a great war. The President vividly
narrated the progressive steps in the South which had brought about
the existing status of affairs. He depicted in strong colors the
condition in which he found the government when he assumed office;
how "the forts, arsenals, dock-yards, and custom-houses" of the
National Government had been seized; how "the accumulations of
national revenue" had been appropriated; how "a disproportionate
share of Federal muskets and rifles" had found their way into the
Southern States, and had been seized to be used ag