Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/147

 RUTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAYES 115 Gen. Hayes attained, by his meritorious service, the rank of brevet major-general before its close.&quot; While Gen. Hayes was in the field, in August, 1864, he was nominated by a Republican district convention at Cincinnati, in the second district of Ohio, as a candidate for congress. When a friend suggested to him that he should take leave of absence from the army in the field for the pur pose of canvassing the district, he answered: &quot;Your suggestion about getting a furlough to take the stump was certainly made without reflection. An officer fit for duty, who at this crisis would abandon his post to electioneer for a seat in congress, ought to be scalped.&quot; He was elected by a majority of 2,400. The Ohio soldiers in the field nominated him also for the governorship of his state. After the war Gen. Hayes returned to civil life, and took his seat in congress on December 4, 1865. He was appointed chairman of the committee on the library. On questions connected with the re construction of the states lately in rebellion he voted with his party. He earnestly supported a resolution declaring the sacredness of the public debt and denouncing repudiation in any form; also a resolution commending President Johnson for declining to accept presents, and condemning the practice as demoralizing in its tendencies. He op posed a resolution favoring an increase of the pay of members. He also introduced in the Republi-