library, studying these and kindred questions. Whenever he spoke upon them, he spoke pointedly, and with great power. He led the senate in its patriotic stand against secession and compromise with slavery. He denounced Buchanan, the Democratic president, who was favouring the secessionists, and characterized Cobb, who robbed the national treasury, and Floyd, who stole the arms from every Northern arsenal, and Toucy, who sent the ships of the navy as far away as possible—all members of the Democratic cabinet—he characterized them as traitors to their country. In a speech that blazed with fervid eloquence, he told a Democratic senator, Judge Key, of Cincinnati, “To remember whose cabinet it was that had embraced traitors among its most distinguished members, and sent them forth from its most secret sessions to betray their knowledge to their country’s ruin!”

When Congress very unwisely proposed a “Constitutional Amendment,” prohibiting further legislation upon slavery in the States,—a measure designed to placate the secessionists,—Garfield denounced it in the Ohio senate as a compromise with traitors, an unpatriotic and base surrender to the slave oligarchy. He declared that his arm should wither in its socket before it should be lifted in favour of a measure that virtually abandoned liberty, and left slavery master of the situation. “The events now transpiring make it clear that this is no time for any such amendment,” he exclaimed. “Would you give up the forts and other government property, or would you fight to maintain your right to them?”

When the vote was taken, Garfield, with six others, recorded their names against the “base surrender.” He opposed the meeting of the famous Washington Peace Commissioners until after the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln; he protested against all such “peace measures” as cowardly and futile, preferring himself to stand by the old flag, and fight for human rights.

Before this he was satisfied that war could not be averted. Late one night he said to his room-mate:

“Cox, war is inevitable.”

“That is sure as you live,” answered Cox.

“You and I must fight.”

“Or prove ourselves cowards.”

“Here, then, we pledge our lives to our country in this hour of peril.” And they clasped hands silently, such emotions stirring their breasts as patriots only feel in the solemn hour of danger.

News of the firing upon Fort Sumter was followed immediately by a call from President Lincoln for seventy- five thousand men. The call was read in the Ohio Senate, crowded with patriotic spectators, whose tumultuous applause seconded the President’s demand. As soon as the deafening cheers had subsided, Garfield sprang to his feet, and in a short speech of almost surpassing eloquence and power, moved:

“That Ohio contribute twenty thousand men, and three million dollars, as the quota of the State.”

The motion was carried amid the wildest demonstrations of devotion to the country.

Governor Dennison, of Ohio, sent Garfield to Missouri to obtain five thousand stand of arms, a portion of those which General Lyon removed from the arsenal at St. Louis. He was successful in his mission, shipped the guns, and saw them safely delivered at Columbus.

After the fall of Sumter, Governor Dennison sent him to Cleveland, to organize the seventh and eighth regiments of Ohio infantry. Having organized them, the governor offered him the colonelcy of one of them; but he declined the offer because he lacked “military experience.” He promised to take a subordinate position, however, provided a West Point graduate was placed in command. The result was, that the governor appointed him lieutenant-colonel, and sent him to the Western Reserve to recruit a regiment, promising him a West Pointer to command it if one could be found. Garfield suggested his old friend