ative answer to this question, he felt called upon to recommend an admission as following a well-established precedent if not statute law. Of course, a supper was eaten after admission, by as hilarious a company as ever sits down, wanting the usual fluid excitement.

There soon came to me two offers of law partnership, and the proffer of collections, which were declined. Once a draft of two hundred and fifty dollars came just at the right time. I was counsel on the right side of the largest case in our county, and it is not vain for me to mention that I secured a proposal to the county of settlement of railway indebtedness, which would have saved us more than fifty thousand dollars had not the advice of lawyers in ignorance or with motives I will not name, been followed.

At that time admission to the Bar of course was a burlesque, but, written in the briefest language, my legal papers have stood the test, while many words have been fruitful of litigation, whereof only the hungry lawyers were gainers. A fortunate interpretation of contracts in the legal affairs of the Central Iowa Railway saved thousands of dollars to the company, and, before the Supreme Court of the state and the Supreme Court at Washington, I became a practitioner in matters of personal interest leading to equity, and I found mingled pleasure and success. The cases which I have caused quietly to be compromised were many. The first device was to subdue the temper, and the second to show that success even, in many cases, involves friction and pecuniary loss. This required delicate treatment to bring victims from the coils of counsel who had more regard for notoriety and fee than for justice.

There may be honor, which I doubt, among thieves, but little when robust clients are to be plucked or a pound of flesh taken regardless of blood. A class of idle loungers stir up canines on the corner for a fight, nursing brutality; a class of pettifoggers in legal business stir up litigation more degrading than any brute warfare, and then laugh at their dupes, traducing the judge as the author of defeat, or a jury which they irreverently send to another and warmer realm. Honorable and strictly honest counsel will make our court dockets slim, for there is not in the West legitimate business for one out of five of the lawyers, seeking practice by technical arts and fictitious pleas too long tolerated. Business

demands but few, plain words, and I hold in high honor those who study peace, and practice in emergencies with fidelity. Bribery in official station so often talked of, I have never known, but legal collusion in secret, and open words like daggers, both of which must excite disgust even in the lower regions. Such shysters are in love with grand juries, and can coach or corner a witness on the stand with grimace and snakish eye. Filth to them is like nutritious food; they are crazy on constitutions, and in spasms of assumed virtue on a human suggestion not written in law. They have no God, nor one fit to be written with a small g. Human gad-flies Vale! -!

My examination for the Bar reminds me of the early Oxford examinations for degrees. Professor Bryce, addressing the students of Iowa College, alluded to an eminent scholar years ago, not yet tested in his literary talent. While a candidate he was asked but one question, and that was, who founded Oxford University. His reply was, "I am not certain, I think it was King Alfred.” His answer was wrong, but he obtained the degree, as I did an admission to the Bar, without regard to qualification. Thirty years have changed the conditions of admission to legal practice.

CHAPTER IX.

The War Congress-1863-5-A Seat Episode- Wilson, Kasson, Price, Allison, Hubbard, E. C. Ingersoll, Lovejoy, Henry Winter Davis, Oakes Ames, President Hayes, President Garfield, Colfax, Blaine and others- The Opposition Leaders, Hendricks, Voorhees, Brooks, Wood, Cox, etc.- War Days at Home.

I TOOK my seat in the Thirty-eighth Congress assembled in December, 1863. It was charged with the gravest duties ever intrusted to statesmen of any country or age. Gigantic war carried on in new methods, and a financial policy involving thousands of millions of dollars, were of equal concern all related to the issue of battles. There was the arming of the blacks, the act of emancipation, and confiscation-topics of stern debate and of momentous import, watched as we were by jealous enemies abroad, and more exposed to dangers from much of the professed loyalty at home, which the sequel proved was for the defense and restoration of a disloyal party to place and power.

A SEAT EPISODE.

I must give in reminiscence how I came to be favored by a number of the chief actors in this grand epoch. There is a great choice in seats in the Representative Hall, which was built with regard to show, rather than business and acoustic qualities. Those in the front are disliked, and those in the rear are obnoxious on account of distance and intrusions by a cloak-room lobby, where there is noise and confusion.

This is the method on an occasion to which there is attached a deep interest by the old members, who know the advantages of a good location to hear readily and gain an audience in times of excitement. The names of all the members are written on slips of

paper and placed in a box, from which a blinded page draws the names, and the early called get the choicest seats. It was my fortune to draw third, and I chose the best locality in the Ways and Means circle next to Mr. Stevens' old seat, long held by him—the Nestor of the House. Nearing the end of the called list, a member from New York, amid hisses, took Mr. Stevens' long reserved seat, saying, "This is a body of equals." Nearly the last member to draw was Mr. Stevens, and all but the very rear were taken, from which he could not be heard, besides being unfit locally for the leader of the House.

Soon the feeble old man, with a club-foot came hobbling up the aisle. As he passed along, I stepped out and touched his shoulder, saying, "This is the seat for you, which I yield to the venerable." "No, I cannot take it, for it is worth more than money." But, without rudeness, I placed him in the seat aided in entreaty by his old friends. Though deserving no credit, I was as much praised as the other was blamed, whose greed got the better of his judgment. I call no name, but he lost caste—was never listened to without a private gibe or a severe press notice. He failed of renomination and sank out of political view by this trivial act if nothing else, a political blunder, next to a crime.

A bright page found me a good, overlooked seat, and the acquaintance made with the old Commoner was of more value than one term in Congress. I had only to hint to Mr. Stevens to learn the order of bills, with the privilege of amendment and frequent yielding of time in debate. He said, "If we live, time will bring us side by side in the next Congress." My good fortune in sitting by Mr. Stevens in the Thirty-ninth Congress, to be referred to later, further illustrates his character.

From Iowa we were all new members, save James F. Wilson now and for eight years United States Senator. He was the youngest member of the great Committee, the Judiciary, in a previous Congress, also at its foot. In the new Congress, Mr. Wilson was the only republican returned of the former cast, but there were older lawyers aspiring to the chairmanship, and with others I did. not choose a speaker without an assurance that our colleague was not to be jumped. Mr. Wilson became a leader, while his colleagues were Judges Bingham, Williams, and Ex-Governor Boutwell, who served in this capacity with honor during the impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson. While this may be no time to