Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-09-18
Political Mysteries of indianapolis.


history of the leading members of the Old Junto,
misnamed Democratic. Of these the most prominent
and talented may be found in the 'MoRRsoN family"
which has occupied relation to party very similar
to that SO long held by the MoRRIsEs to the Wing
party-a sort of Royal Family, in either We
begin with So the biggest toad in the puddle -
JAMES MORRISON, now President of the State Bank.
Mr.. Morrison is by birth Scotchman by profession
a lawyer, by nature aristocrat and by accident
nominal Democrat. He is man Of talents-no doubt
about that-and learned in the law. He is poll
tcian. He could not be a politician if he tried ever
so hard. He has no sympathy with the great of
the people. He rather despses them than otherwise,
and consequently has no shadow of popularity. In
this matter he cannot play the hypocrite sufficiently
well to act the demagogue successfully His disgust of
the common herd is intense, that it will stick
out in spite himself Socially, Mr.. Morrison (James)
is regarded " highly respectable" and justly
Selfesteem, and love of appreciation. if large
development of the moral faculties, impels him to
that kind of walk and conversation I" which never
fails secure public respect, and which even the
occasional ebullitons of an irascible temperament
will not forfeit.
We speak of these personal qualities of Mr.. Nor
rison especially of the agreeable ones, because
that of the newspapers confound James and A F.
Morrison together, which is great mistake. Though
brothers, they as different chalk and cheese,
in almost every respect Though the elements of their
composition may be the same there is vast difference
in the proportions thereof; and, in chemistry,
in human nature the product varies according to the
Proportionate sum of the elements. But proceed.
James Morrison was originally an Gnti-DemOcrat
of the bitterest kind, and as anti-Jackson man,
was first elected to Office Secretary of State, in
1928, for the term Of four years. Judge Wick, now
member of Congress from this District, then his
competitor and the vote of the Legislature stood, for
Morrison 40, for Wick a.
During his term of service as Secretary of State,
Mr. Morrison is supposed have changed his original
political principles for those of the Democratic party
But if any further evidence of the change exists,
ever has existed more than his permitting himself to be
1ionisally classed Democrat, we have yet see
or hear of it. The Immediate evidence of his con-
certainly could have been very strong,
is evinced by the fact, that when he became candi
date for reelection Secretary in 1892 the Demo-
cratic members had not confidence enough in his pro-
fessions to vote for him. and much doubt to vote
against him, for avowed Wing. This is proved
by the result of the election, which as follows
For William Sheets H. for J. Morrison 30 scattering
The next important Office held by Mr.. Morrison
that of Secretary that memorable concave the
Board of Internal Improvement in 1885, 1886, 1887
1898 and 1899. This was fat sop-about three
months official work in the year a salary of thou
sand dollars annually; besides the friendship, and
large slices of the official patronage of Gov Noble
easily secured by going the whole hog for the "Sys
tenn Very few democrats had chance for such
hicks that at the public platter
While holding this profitable office, Mr.. Morrison
appointed, by the Governor, to fill the vacancy
the bench of the Circuit Court occasioned by the
resignation of Judge Wick. And he held both the
Office of Secretary to the Board, and Judge of the
Circuit Court, till public opinion forced him reluct-
antly to resign the former.
At this time, Judge Morrson's politics were more
than usually doubtful There seems to be no doubt
far can learn, that he was certainly opposed
to the Independent Treasury, if he was not in
favor of National Bank. On the 22d February 1888,
Mr. Morrison delivered Grafton in this city, which
is said to have sguinted horribly towards Whggery
The speech published, and nere, acia be !;
for which We are very sorry, should like to re-
publish few extracts.
Mr.. Morrisons position still remained very doubt
full up to 1870 During the eventful canvass of that
year, he refused to permit democratic speeches to be
made in Court Houses which he had control, and
evinced hostility to the democratic party in other
ways. Common fame indeed, goes so far as to say
that he voted against the democratic candidate for
President; or at least, did not vote for him; and
though common fame sometimes tells very great lies,
think, from ali the evidence we have been able to
gather, it tells the truth in this instance.
Judge Morrison resigned his judgeship, we think,
In 1912, and soon, in company with his brother A.
F., became candidate for Congress. They each con.
tnued to electioneer for the nomination up to the
Marion County Convention of April, 1913, and it is
a fact within our own knowledge, that A. F. claimed
the advantage his brother James, the score of
popularity, saying that James exceedingly de-
fcient in that quality, that he could do nothing with
the people on the stump Nevertheless, in the con-
vcntion, A. F., finding there chance for him.
self, generously made his friends to James, and
the latter obtained the vote of Marion county as it,
first choice for the nomination in the coming District
Convention. At that time, James's opinion relative
to the Public Lands Proceeds generally question
ed, and it was supposed that he favored Mr.. Clays
views on the subject For this reason, he was called
by the county convention, after nc had received it
vote Of first choice, to define his position His at
tempt to do this was any thing but creditabe him
self satisfactory to the democracy and if he hat
not previously obtained the of the convention he
would not have got it at ALL 1t is true, ne said b,
was then opposed to Mr. Chy's views, but he wal
unable to give the reasons why, notwithstanding the