he Thirty-eighth Congress is pre-eminently entitled in history to the
designation of the War Congress. It was elected while the war was
flagrant, and every member was chosen upon the issues involved in the
continuance of the struggle. The Thirty-seventh Congress had, indeed,
legislated to a large extent on war measures, but it was chosen before
any one believed that secession of the States would be actually
attempted. The magnitude of the work which fell upon its successor was
unprecedented, 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
legislation which it was forced to exercise. Only twenty-four States
were represented, and one hundred and eighty-two members were upon its
roll. Among these were many distinguished party leaders on both sides,
veterans in the public service, with established reputations for
ability, and with that skill which comes only from parliamentary
experience. Into this assemblage of men Garfield entered without special
preparation, and, it might almost be said, unexpectedly. The question of
taking command of a division of troops under General Thomas, or taking
his seat in Congress, was kept open till the last moment, so late,
indeed, that the resignation of his military commission and his
appearance in the House were almost contemporaneous. He wore the uniform
of a major-general of the United States Army on Saturday, and on Monday,
in civilian's dress, he answered to 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 questions relating to
human rights. Well educated, thrifty, thoroughly intelligent in affairs,
acutely discerning of character, not quick to bestow confidence, and
slow to withdraw it, they were at once the most helpful and most
exacting of supporters. Their tenacious trust in men in whom they have
once confided is illustrated by the unparalleled fact that Elisha
Whittlesey, Joshua R. Giddings, and James A. Garfield represented the
district for fifty-four years.

"There is no test of a man's ability in any department of public life
more severe than service in the House of Representatives; there is no
place where so little deference is paid to reputation previously
acquired, or to eminence won outside; no p