The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-14


ri ~ Wness of Ear Governor .Morton-His
Distinguished Wing State Con-
venti0,-JNr TVilde's .appo automatically
Expenses .Ne,C Hampshire Educational
Stotistics.
The training" of the First Divis' on Of Mas
sachufetts Volunteer Militia, at Quincy, this
week, was every thing that could be desired.
The weather was cool, but not cold, and dry.
The ground selected was excellent; the head
quarters Of the commander being either on or
hard by the very spot on which Morton erected
the May pole of Merry Mount, in the very old
times, to the great wrath Of the Pilgrims. The
companies were numerous and full, their disci-
pline was admirable, and there were no cases of
sickness Of any consequence. His Excellency
the Governor made very favorable impression
when he visited the field on the third day.
There were great number of spectators, but
there was less of crime committed than on most
similar occasions. Not that l mean to assert
from it. There was rum to be had in many
places, and consequently there was great deal
of fighting and rowdyism. There were
numerous gambling booths, in which the
old stale tricks were played off on the
new crop of green horns, with the usu-
al success. There were many ladies
of very uneasy virtue present, attended by
gentlemen of no virtue at all; therefore there
was fair amount of unfair fighting. One gen.
tlemon from the rural districts, who was capt-
waited by the charms of lady, got into fight,
and was tossed in blanket and though he did
not go quite az high as the moon, he fell on to
the bosom of the earth, and broke his leg.
There was great business done in the manu-
facture of fractured heads, bloody noses, black
eyes, damaged habiliments, and shocking bad
hats A great deal of this might have been
prevented if there had been an efficient corps Of
Boston policemen present; but the dashing men
from town care nothing for country constables,
whom they laugh at. The city ought not to
send poison into the country without sending
the antidote with it,
Governor Washburn has publicly reprimand
ed the two Irish com anies of Boston that con-
verted Long Island into sort of Donnybrook
Fair on the occasion of the visit of the Mont
gomery Guards Of your city. He might have
broken them, if he had seen fit to do so, but
preferred the milder course. Some attribute
his conduct to his sympathy with the Irish Ca
holics, whose votes he is supposed to be ang-
ling for; but half way conduct is as little
likely to make man popular with the Irish,
who like b0ldness, as with any other portion of
the public
hear that ex. Governor Morton is fatally in
Ak-Ah 10 a.
His complaint is dropsy, malady from which
man at three. score and ten has but small
chance of recovery. Mr.. Morton has so long
filed prominent place in our public life that
it seems as If an old familiar acquaintance were
about to be taken from us, now that the hand of
disease is laid heavily upon him. He has been
fortunate man, taking life as it goes, and has
filled few but prominent Offices. He was men,
Der of Congress more than thirty years ago, and
at ,inae when that svdy commanded a. la.s.s
amount Of public respect than is nov awarded
to it, He has been Governor and Lieutenant
Governor of Massachusetts, three times occupy
ing the executive chair; once by succession, as
it were, he being Lieutenant Governor at the
time that Governor Eustis died; once by
popular election, being chosen by one ma
iorty, in 1889, over Governor Everett and
once by the choice of the Legislature, in
1912. For many years he was one Of the
Justices Of chr Supreme Court, and had
a high reputation ss jurist, though it
was seriously damaged by Mr.. Hcnshaw's
very able, learned and elaborate criticisms on
some of his decisions; and he left the bench
with great regret, on taking the gubernatorial
chair. in 1910. He felt that the cushion of the
coui was more comfortable than the best politi-
cal place that he had any chance of get ing. In
lSI5 he wished for the place in the United
States Supreme Court that Mr.. Woodbury. OBJ
tanned, and on some accounts it is to be regret
ted that he did not get it, He was made Col
lector Of Boston that year, an office that brought
him into some unpleasant positions, as he had
neither the vigor Of Mr.. Henshaw nor the suavity
ard genrlemaIly feeling of Mr.. Peaslee. and al
lowed himself to bc troubled about matters that
should not have discomposed him in the least.
The democracy formally communicated him
at their State convention Of 1913, after which
event he acted with the free sellers. The last
place that he held was that Of delegate to the
Con stitutional convention, in which body he
showed great talent and exercised much inau-
ence. Dissatisfied with some of the provi-
sions Of the new constitution and personally
hostile to Gen. Wilson, who would assuredly
have been made Governor If that instru-
ment had been adopted. lie went over to the
wings, and was the ablcst Of the prominent
free soilers-Adams, Palfrey. and others--who
joined the wings and Lunkefs and Catholics in
their warfare against the coalition. Perhaps
not the least singular fact in his political his
tory is, that his public career should have clos
ed in the service of that party against which he
had contended for nearly half century, and at
whose expense he had won all his political
honors In this respect and on small scafc,
he initiated the condact OF Mr.. Van Buren,. who,
to crafty his personal malice effected the de-
feat, in 1913, of the very party that had made
him President Of the United States Mr.. Nor
ton will be missed, and he will leave few men
Of equal talents behind him.
The Wing State Convention will meet N
Music Hall, as being more convenient than
Fancuil. A disposition has manifested itself in
certain qusrters 10 drop Gov. Washburn and
put up Mr. Senator Rockwell, with free soiler
for the Office Of Lieut.. Governor. which
would render necessary the dropping Of
Mr. Plubkett, too the twenty hours labor