S MEANING.--ITS EFFECT.--ITS
END.--REVIEW OF THE TWENTY YEARS.--PROGRESS OF THE PEOPLE.--MAJESTY OF
THE REPUBLIC.

LIST OF STEEL PORTRAITS

ULYSSES S. GRANT
ANDREW JOHNSON
HANNIBAL HAMLIN
SCHUYLER COLFAX
HENRY WILSON
WILLIAM A. WHEELER
ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS
SAMUEL J. RANDALL
LUCIUS Q. C. LAMAR
THOMAS F. BAYARD
BENJAMIN H. HILL
AUGUSTUS H. GARLAND
JAMES B. BECK
B. K. BRUCE
H. R. REVELS
JAMES T. RAPIER
JOHN R. LYNCH
J. H. RAINEY
ALLEN G. THURMAN
TIMOTHY O. HOWE
BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
ROSCOE CONKLING
GEORGE P. EDMUNDS
MATTHEW HALE CARPENTER
WILLIAM A. BUCKINGHAM
RUTHERFORD B. HAYES
JAMES A. GARFIELD

TWENTY YEARS OF CONGRESS

CHAPTER I.

Abraham Lincoln expired at twenty-two minutes after seven o'clock on
the morning of April 15, 1865. Three hours later, in the presence of
all the members of the Cabinet except Mr. Seward who lay wounded and
bleeding in his own home, the oath of office, as President of the
United States, was administered to Andrew Johnson by Chief Justice
Chase. The simple but impressive ceremony was performed in Mr.
Johnson's lodgings at the Kirkwood Hotel; and besides the members of
the Cabinet, who were present in their official character, those
senators who had remained in Washington since the adjournment of
Congress were called in as witnesses. While the death of Mr. Lincoln
was still unknown to the majority of the citizens of the Republic, his
successor was installed in office, and the administration of the
Federal Government was radically changed. It was especially fortunate
that the Vice-President was at the National Capital. He had arrived
but five days before, and was intending to leave for his home in
Tennessee within a few hours. His prompt investiture with the Chief
Executive authority of the Nation preserved order, maintained law, and
restored confidence to the people. With the defeat and disintegration
of the armies of the Confederacy, and with the approaching disbandment
of the armies of the Union, constant watchfulness was demanded of the
National Executive. It is a striking tribute to the strength of the
Constitution and of the Government that the orderly administration of
affairs was not interrupted by a tragedy which in many countries might
have been the signal for a bloody revolution.

The new President confronted grave responsibilities. The least
reflecting among those who took part in the mighty struggle perceived
that the duties devolved upon the