The situation was one very difficult to justify by a man with the record of Mr.Cowan.

He had been not merely a Republican before his entrance into the Senate but a radical Republican, taking ground in the campaign of 1860 only less advanced than that maintained by Mr.Thaddeus Stevens himself.
These debates in both Senate and House, at so early a period of the session, give a full and fair indication of the temper which prevailed in the country and in Congress.

The majority of the members had not, at the opening of the session, given up hope of some form of co-operation with the President.

As partisans and party leaders they looked forward with something of dismay to the rending of all relations with the Executive, and to the surrender of the political advantage which comes to the party and to the partisan from a close alliance between the Executive and Legislative Departments.

On the re-assembling of Congress after the holidays a great change was seen and realized by all.