stimony, it was
almost impossible to determine the fact, and where the facts
when determined often presented the most novel and difficult
questions of public law and public policy. Mr. Washburn's
dealing with these cases was the very sublimity of common
sense. He very soon acquired the confidence of the House
so completely that his judgment became its law in matters
within the jurisdiction of his committee. I became acquainted
with him, an acquaintance which soon ripened into cordial
friendship, when I entered the House in the spring of 1869.
I think I may fairly claim that it was the result of what
I said and did that he was agreed upon by the opponents of
General Butler as their candidate for Governor, and was Butler's
successful antagonist.

Beneath his plain courtesy was a firmness which Cato never
surpassed. Upon a question of morality, or freedom or righteousness
there was never a drop of compromise in his blood. He could
not be otherwise than the constant foe of slavery, and the
constant friend of everything which went to emancipate and
elevate the slave. It was his good fortune to record his
vote in favor of all the three great amendments to the constitution,
and to be the supporter, friend and trusted counsellor of
Abraham Lincoln.

After his election to fill Sumner's unexpired term I had a
letter from Adin Thayer in which he said: "Washburn hates
Butler with an Evangelical hatred which you know is more intense
than a Liberal Christian can attain to."

James Buffington was a shrewd and amusing character. He understood
the temper of the House very well and had great influence
in accomplishing anything he undertook. He prided himself
on the fact that he never missed answering to his name at
roll call during his whole term of service. He understood
very well the art of pleasing his constituents. He made it
a rule, he told me, to send at least one document under his
own frank every year to every voter in his District. On one
occasion in a hotly contested election he had four votes more
in a town on Cape Cod than any other candidate. He was curious
and inquired what it meant. The Chairman of the Selectmen
told him that there were four men who lived in an out-of-
the-way place, who never came to town meetings and nobody
seemed to know much about them. They were a father and his
three sons, living together on the same farm. But at that
election they appeared at the town meeting. All four vot