James
Garfield, the son of a poor farmer, was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio,
on 19th November, 1831. After a brief formal education, Garfield worked
as a helmsman on the Ohio Canal.
Garfield returned to education and studied at Geauga Seminary (1849-51)
and the Hiram Institute (1851-54). After graduating from Williams
College in 1858, Garfield became professor of ancient languages and
literature in Hiram College. At the age of 25, Garfield became president
of Hiram College. He also became involved in politics and joined the
Free Soil Party.
A strong opponent of slavery, Garfield
was one of the founders of the Republican
Party and in 1859 was elected to the Ohio legislature. On the
outbreak of the American Civil War Garfield
joined the Union Army and was commissioned
as a lieutenant colonel. He helped recruit the 42nd Ohio Volunteer
Infantry and commanded a brigade at Shiloh
(April, 1862). After fighting at Chickamauga
(September, 1863), Garfield was promoted to the rank
of major general.
Garfield left the army after he was elected to the 38th Congress and
over the next few years became a prominent member of the Radical
Republicans. This group favoured the abolition of slavery
and believed that freed slaves should have complete equality with
white citizens.
Garfield opposed the policies of President Andrew
Johnson and argued in Congress that Southern plantations should
be taken from their owners and divided among the former slaves. He
also attacked Johnson when he attempted to veto the extension of the
Freeman's Bureau, the Civil
Rights Bill and the Reconstruction
Acts.
In November, 1867, the Judiciary Committee voted 5-4 that Andrew
Johnson be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors. The majority
report contained a series of charges including pardoning traitors,
profiting from the illegal disposal of railroads in Tennessee, defying
Congress, denying the right to reconstruct the South and attempts
to prevent the ratification of the Fourteenth
Amendment.
Garfield supported Johnson's impeachment but was unhappy that his
replacement would be Benjamin Wade. Garfield
warned that Wade was "a man of violent passions, extreme opinions
and narrow views who was surrounded by the worst and most violent
elements in the Republican Party." Despite this objections, Garfield
voted for impeachment. However, the 35 to 19 vote, was one short of
the required two-thirds majority for conviction.
Garfield remained a member of Congress for seventeen years. During
this time her served as chairman of the Banking Committee (1869-71)
and in 1880 was asked to organize the campaign of John
Sherman, who was attempting to become the Republican
Party presidential candidate. During the campaign Garfield was
so impressive that he became one of the candidates and after 36 ballots
defeated Ulysses S. Grant and James
G. Blaine for the nomination. To preserve party unity, the conservative
Chester Arthur, became the vice-presidential
candidate.
The Democratic Party nominated Winfield
S. Hancock, who like Garfield had been a senior officer during
the American Civil War. It was a close
election and Garfield won by 4,449,053 votes to 4,442,030. In his
inaugural speech Garfield returned to the issue that had first brought
him into politics: "The elevation of the Negro race from slavery
to the full rights of citizenship is the most important political
change we have known since the adoption of the Constitution of 1787.
It has liberated the master as well as the slave from a relation which
wronged and enfeebled both."
Garfield attempted to select a Cabinet that would retain the unity
of the Republican Party. However,
Roscoe Conking, the leader of the Stalwart
group, was unhappy with some of Garfield's choices and refused to
serve in his administration.
On 2nd July, 1881, Garfield was waiting for a train in Washington
with Robert Lincoln, his Secretary of
War, when Charles J. Guiteau, shot him in the back. A supporter of
Roscoe Conking, Guiteau, surrendered
to the police with the words: "I am a Stalwart. Chester Arthur
is now the president of the United States. After a four month struggle
James Garfield died on 19th September, 1881 and Chester
Arthur became president.
(1)
James
Garfield, letter to
Burke A. Hinsdale (15th January, 1861)
I do not now see any way this side a miracle
of God which can avoid a civil war with all its attendant horrors.
Peaceable dissolution is utterly impossible. Indeed, I cannot say
as I would wish it possible. To make the concessions demanded by the
South would be hypocritical and sinful. They would neither be obeyed
nor respected. I am inclined to believe that the sin of slavery is
one of which it may be said that "without the shedding of blood
there is no remission. I believe the doom of slavery is drawing near
- let war come - and the slaves will get a vague notion that it is
waged for them.
(2)
James Garfield met Abraham Lincoln
for the first time in 1861. He wrote a letter to Burke A. Hinsdale
describing his thoughts on the man (17th February, 1861)
On the whole I am greatly pleased with
the man. He clearly shows his want of culture - and the marks of western
life. But there is no touch of affectation in him and he has a peculiar
power of impressing you that he is frank, direct and thoroughly honest.
His remarkable good sense, simple and condensed style of expression
and evident marks of indomitable will, give me great hopes for the
country.
(3)
James
Garfield, like many
officers in the Army of the Potomac, was highly critical of his commander,
General George McClellan (13th October,
1862)
All my former opinions of McClellan are
confirmed. His late campaign in Maryland has been most shameful. He
has lain perfectly idle 27 days since the last battle with a force
almost twice the number of the rebel army and has been constantly
been asking for reinforcements. All three (Edwin Stanton, Abraham
Lincoln, Henry Halleck) desire to get rid of McClellan and two or
three times have been at the point of removing him, but have lacked
the courage. Stanton would have done it but was not allowed - the
President would have done it, but feared the Border States and the
army - Halleck would have done it, but claimed the responsibility
should not be placed on his shoulders. It is still being agitated
and I think it is to be done soon, but I believe they are waiting
for the elections to be over - lest it may strengthen the Peace Democrats
who will praise McClellan to the skies.
(4)
Henry
Villard worked for the New
York Tribune during the American
Civil War. In his memoirs he wrote about James Garfield, a man
he met for the first time in 1863.
General Garfield, not much over thirty
years old, presented a far more commanding and attractive appearance
than General Rosecrans. Very nearly, if not fully, six feet high,
well formed, of erect carriage, with a big head of sandy hair, a strong-featured,
broad and frank countenance, set in a full beard and lighted up by
large blue eyes and a most pleasing smile, he looked like a distinguished
personage. his manners were very gentlemanly and cordial, and altogether
he produced and sustained a most agreeable impression.
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