Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/208

 170 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS seemed never to have even voted before the autumn of 1856. No one who knew the man could doubt that he would then cast it, as he did, for John C. Fremont, the first Republican candidate for the presidency. As moral questions entered more and more into politics, Garfield s interest grew apace, and he sought frequent occasions to discuss these questions in debate. In advocating the cause of freedom against slavery, he showed for the first time a skill in discussion, which afterward bore good fruit in the house of representatives. With out solicitation or thought on his part, in 1859 he was sent to represent the counties of Summit and Portage in the senate of Ohio. Again in this new field his versatility and industry are conspicuous. He made exhaustive investigations and reports on such widely different topics as geology, education, finance, and parliamentary law. Always looking to the future, and apprehensive that the impending contest might leave the halls of legislation and seek the arbitrament of war, he gave especial study to the militia system of the state, and the best methods of equipping and disciplining it. The war came, and Garfield, who had been farmer, carpenter, student, teacher, lawyer, preacher, and legislator, was to show himself an excellent soldier. In August, 1861, Gov. William Dennison commissioned him lieutenant-colonel in the 42nd regiment of Ohio volunteers. The men