long past, will be the intelligence, the patriotism, the virtue of
a law-abiding, liberty-loving people. To a degree that cannot
be measured by words, the temple of justice will prove the city of
refuge. "The judiciary has no guards, no palaces, no treasuries; no
arms but truth and wisdom; and no splendor but justice."

II
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NOTABLE MEMBERS OF THE FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS--TRIAL OF GENERAL
BELKNAP--THE PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST BETWEEN HAYES AND TILDEN--CREATION
OF THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION--THE WRITER'S SPEECH ON THAT OCCASION--
PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE DURING THIS CONGRESS--ANECDOTES
OF MR. BLAINE--OTHER MEMBERS--ANECDOTES OF MR. HOAR--ELECTION OF
THE "BLIND PREACHER"--MR. LAMAR'S ERROR AT TABLE--"BLUE JEANS
WILLIAMS"--RETIREMENT OF DR. BUTLER FROM THE CHAPLAINCY--MR.
BLACKBURN'S SPEECH AT AN EXECUTION--MR. COX'S READY WIT--PROCTOR
KNOTT'S ABILITY AS A LAWYER--HIS SPEECH ON DULUTH--HIS REPLY TO
HIS COMPETITOR FOR THE GOVERNORSHIP.

The forty-fourth Congress--the first of which I was a member--
assembled December 6, 1875. Among its members were many gentlemen
of distinction, some of whom had known active service in the field.
Political disabilities had been in large measure removed, and
the South was now, for the first time since the war, represented in
Congress by its old-time statesmen. Of this number may be mentioned
Mr. Stephens of Georgia, Mr. Lamar of Mississippi, and Mr. Reagan of
Texas. From the membership of this House were afterwards chosen
twenty-six Senators, ten members of the Cabinet, one Justice of
the Supreme Court, and from this and the House immediately succeeding,
three Vice-Presidents and two Presidents of the United States. The
proceedings of this Congress marked an important epoch in our
history. During its first session occurred the masterful debate
upon the General Amnesty Bill. The very depths of partisan feeling
were stirred, and for many days it was indeed a titanic struggle.
The speeches attracting the greatest attention were those of Blaine
and Garfield upon the one side, and Hill of Georgia and Lamar upon
the other. This great debate recalled vividly that of Webster and
Hayne, in the other wing of the Capitol, almost half a century before.

This session also witnessed the impeachment of a Cabinet officer, General
Belknap, Secretary of War. The trial occurred before the
Senate, sitting as a court of impeachment during the closing weeks
of the