The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-04-01
From Cincinnati Commercial
Gov. Merton I'm the Senate.

a0v. Horton I'm the Senate.
1t will scarcely be news to the
country, and especially to the people
of the Northwest, to be told that Gov.
Morton, even thus early In his career
as Senator, has attained a standing
and influence as a statesman which 1t
IS given TO very few men to enjoy even
after ten or fifteen consecutive years
of service. IF he hadn't done pre-
cisely this. he would have disappoint-
ed all who knew him, friends and ene-
mics alike, for he is one of the few
public men about whom both friends
and enemies are agreed when it comes
to the naked question of solid and
substantial ability. Not to concede
this has, by common consent, been
/ voted prinsd fdcie evidence of bigotry
or stupidity on the part Of him who
denies. Mr.. Sumner was asked the
other day what he thought of Morton
as q specimen of the kind of Govern
ors they had, out West to help them
through the war. The classic Charles
replied: Gov. Morton is very great
man, indeed. | have been de-
lighted at all he has said in the Sem
ate, so far. 1t is an honor to be as
ISOLATED with such man in any de-
partment of public life. He is. val.
uable, addition to the thinking men of
the Senate. This compliment from
one who, like ! the Englishman of
whom the ahecdote is related. would
probably find it less difficult to say
who is the second than who is the
first of American orators and states
men. is not more fattering than just
The Governor has made several
speeches since taking his seat in the
Senate. They are all characterized by
plth and good sense, whatever may be
said of the particular doctrines they
advocate. They are short and to the
point, and in this respect are quite an
agreeable innovation on the general
rule of Senatorial oratory, which cor
responds with the geometrical defni-
ton OF. line, in being-lengthy with
out depth. They show a power of
eondensing the marrow of an
argument 8 into a ten minutes
speech, and of saying in that short
space of time what it takes others
three or four hours to attempt to say,
and not to say after all. It will be
painful tidings to G: Washington
Julian and that large class of poitieT
cal nondescripts, of which he is the
leading spirit. who have delighted in /
nothing 50 much as In barking att
Morton's heels and traducing and
vllifying his private character when
they found it impossible to injure him
In any other way, to be informed that
the Governor has improved in health
so nuch during the past five or six
weeks, as to warrant the belief that
he will have entirely recovered before
the first Of July. His general health /
is as good now as it eyersswas. He
looks, when seated, as hearty and |
sseehhustuqus as he ever did, I think. !
His only trouble is little weakness
in the knees which is rapidly disap- /
As for dying, which few |
months ago many kind souls wanted |
him to do, be has as little notion of it |
as any man have seen in Washing |
ton. know of no worse investment |
which middle aged man could make !
than to buy reversionary interest in |
the Governors estate. III -, IS Il
~ With Morton straight and stiff On
his pins again. some Of the gentlemen
who have been making Presidential |
!" rings, and have counted him out
entirely, will find themselves guilty.
of very serious omission. The idea |
of a Colfax ring will then appear
to the world the lunacy it really is, if |
indeed all the other rings won't share
the same fate. H o. P. NJ. in the good
physical trim which he confidently
expects to be in before the Summer is
over, is stronger team for the next
Presidential course than any man yet
named-always provided that General
Grant, like the sensible man he is,
shall keep out of politics and shall
prefer the we'll worn laurels he now
enjoys to the doubtful honors of a
four years lease on the White House.
IF Grant wants the Presidency he can
have it-that's certain. But if he
doesn't want it, will some one name a
man whose past record gives the
country better assurance of bringing
to the Office of President all the abili-
ty, the dignity. and the executive vim
SO essential at the present crisis than
Oliver P. Morton. Take him any way
you please, as Governor of Indiana,
as Senator, or as poor Andy's success
sor, he is one of the statesmen who
will be beard from" Mack" Wash
Sn9ton Correspondent. =
fa4e-sE 80