Congress found itself legislating in a fortified city, with patrols of soldiers on the streets and with a military administration which had practically superseded the civil police in the duty of maintaining order and protecting life.

The situation was startling and serious, and for the first time people began to realize that we were to have a war with bloody fighting and much suffering, with limitless destruction of property, with costly sacrifice of life.
UNITED-STATES SENATORS.
The spirit in both branches of Congress was a fair reflection of that which prevailed in the North.

Andrew Johnson of Tennessee was the only senator who appeared from the eleven seceding States.
John C.Breckinridge was present from Kentucky, somewhat mortified by the decisive rebuke which he had received in the vote of his State.

The first important act of the Senate was the seating of James H.Lane and Samuel C.Pomeroy as senators from the new State of Kansas, which had been admitted at the last session of Congress as a free State,--in a bill which, with historic justice, Mr.
Buchanan was called upon to approve, after he had announced in Congress, during the first year of his administration, that Kansas was as much a slave State as South Carolina.

The first question of moment growing out of the Rebellion was the presentation of credentials by Messrs.