"I hardly know whether to congratulate you or not, but of one thing you may rest assured, that you possess my entire confidence, and I cannot imagine that matters that may involve the future of four millions of souls could be put in more charitable and more conscientious hands. So far as man can do, I believe you will, but I fear you have Hercules' task. God has limited the power of man, and though, in the kindness of your heart, you would alleviate all the ills of humanity, it is not in your power; nor is it in your power to fulfill one-tenth part of the expectations of those who framed the bureau for the freedmen, refugees and abandoned estates. It is simply impracticable. Yet you can and will do all the good one man may, and that is all you are called on as a man and a Christian to do; and to that extent count on me as a friend and fellow-soldier for counsel and assistance." General Sherman more than once repeated to others similar testimonies of his faith in General Howard. General Howard has not the vast intellect and brilliant genius of General Sherman, nor the massive strength and immense tenacious will of General Grant. But he has qualities which are even loftier; namely, those which are the sure basis for such respect and confidence as General Sherman's; which alone have enabled him to accomplish what he has in an enterprise wholly discouraging on any merely human principles. Grant and Sherman, in what they have done, had at their backs a people far more intelligent, resolute and wealthy, than those against whom they warred; but a man like Howard, whose soul opens upward and takes in the unselfish strength and love and faith of Almighty God, can do great things for humanity irrespective of money and majorities. [Illustration: Wm A Buckingham] CHAPTER XVI. WILLIAM ALFRED BUCKINGHAM. The Buckinghams an Original Puritan Family--Rev. Thomas Buckingham --Gov. Buckingham's Father and Mother--Lebanon, the Birthplace of Five Governors--Gov. Buckingham's Education--He Teaches School--His Natural Executive Tendency--His Business Career-- His Extreme Punctuality in Payments--His Business and Religious Character--His Interest in the Churches and Schools--His Benefactions in those Directions--His Political Course--He Accepts Municipal but not Legislative Offices--A Member of the Peace Conference--He Himself Equips the First State Militia in the War--His Zealous Co-operation with the Government--Sends Gen. Aiken to Washington--The Isolation of that City from the North--Gov. Buckingham's Policy for the War; Letter to Mr. Lincoln--His Views on Emancipation; Letter to Mr. Lincoln-- Anecdote of the Temperance Governor's Staff.