With the disposition manifested in both Houses of Congress it was feared that the conflict between the Legislative and Executive Departments of the Government would assume a virulent and vindictive spirit.

It was known that President Johnson was deeply offended by the indirect refusal of the House to pass any resolution in the remotest degree approving his course.

He had doubtless been led to believe that the influence of such eminent Republicans as Mr.Seward in his Cabinet, Mr.Cowan and Mr.Doolittle in the Senate and Mr.Raymond in the House, would bring about so considerable a division in the Republican ranks as to give the Administration, by uniting with the Democratic party, the control of Congress, or at least of one branch.

The test vote of January 9th was an unwelcome demonstration of the degree to which the President had almost wilfully deceived himself and had been innocently deceived by others.

He foresaw the struggle and with his combative nature prepared for it.
On the last day of the preceding Congress, March 3, 1865, an Act had been passed to establish a bureau for the relief of freedmen and refugees.