Every man felt safe in following his recommendation in any matter which he had carefully investigated.
Congress was beset by claims to the amount of hundreds and hundreds of millions, where fraud seemed sometimes to exhaust its resources, where, in the conflict of testimony, it was almost impossible to determine the fact, and where the facts when determined often presented the most novel and difficult questions of public law and public policy.

Mr.Washburn's dealing with these cases was the very sublimity of common sense.

He very soon acquired the confidence of the House so completely that his judgment became its law in matters within the jurisdiction of his committee.

I became acquainted with him, an acquaintance which soon ripened into cordial friendship, when I entered the House in the spring of 1869.
I think I may fairly claim that it was the result of what I said and did that he was agreed upon by the opponents of General Butler as their candidate for Governor, and was Butler's successful antagonist.
Beneath his plain courtesy was a firmness which Cato never surpassed.

Upon a question of morality, or freedom or righteousness there was never a drop of compromise in his blood.