The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-23
THE ENGLISH MISSION.

Sketch of his Career.
After repeated rumors that the Government
had long been dissatisfied with the course of
Mr. Motley as Minister to England, the name
of the Hon. Frederick 7. Freinghuysen was
finally sent by President Grant to the Senate as
his successor, on the 18th of July last. Mr..
Motley's friends made an earnest effort in the
Senate to defeat the confirmation of his success
sor, but failed. Mr.. Frelinghuysep, however,
declined the appointment, his letter to the
President being withheld from the pnblic
for some weeks. Since it has been made public
the air has been full of rumors as to who would
next be rendered the most responsible of our
diplomatic posts, but it was not until this morn
ing that the Presidents definite intention was
made known. A reliable Washington despatch
published elsewhere announces that the Presi-
dent has rendered the position to Hon. Oliver
p. Norton of Indiana, and that the latter has
signified his acceptance of it.
Oliver P. Morton was born in Wayne county,
Indiana, on the 4th of August, 1928, and is
therefore in his forty eighth year at present
He was placed under the care of grand
mother and two aunts in Ohio, in Consequence
of the early death of his parents, and served
for while with his brother at the hatter's trade
At the age of fourteen he entered the Wayne
County Seminary, being described as being at
that time "a timid and rather verdant-looking
youth too shy to bear, with head erect a
masters look" He subsequently, entered the
Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio where he
showed great proficiency in his studies, espe-
cially in forensic exercises. He left coll ege
however, without graduating, and returning to
Indiana studied law, and was admitted to the
bar in 1896 soon attaining a position among
the first lawyers of the State.
In 1852, he was elected a Circuit Court Judge,
as a Democrat; but when, in 1854, the Demo
cratic party repealed the Missouri compromise
and passed the Kansas-Nebraska bill, Mr.. Nor
ton, who had been known as a Free-soil Demo-
crat, abandoned his old party and aided in
forming the Republican party, of which he was
from the first one of the acknowledged leaders
in Indiana. In 1856, he received the Republican
nomination for Governor of his native State, but
was defeated, after a vigorous canvass, by
about 5000 votes. When the vital struggle of
1860 approached, the Republicans of Indiana
put forward an unusually strong State ticket,
with the name of Henry s. Lane for Governor,
and that of Oliver P. Morten for Lieutenant
Governor. This ticket was triumphantly
elected, and in January, 1861 in accordance
with the previous understanding, Lane was
elected to the United States Senate and Morton
was duly inaugurated as Governor of the State.
the loyal States, was one ofextreme difficulty but
he devoted himself with untiring energy to
the task of upholding the administration of
President Lincoln in the efforts of the Govern
ment to suppress the Rebellion. He was among
the most Jealous and proficient of the celebrated
'War Governors" and by a never-ceasing
anxiety to promote the comfort of the Indiana
volunteers, justly became great favOrite in
the camp and field. He likewise enjoyed the
| entire confidence of the President during this
critical period of our history.
In 1862 the Democratic party carried the State
| election in Indiana, but Governor Morton's term
was for four years, and the country was not de-
| priyed of his sterling services. The Democratic
majority of the Legislature which was in session
| in the winter of 1862 SO, having insolently
refused to accept Governor Morton's message on
the state of the country and its re-
| quirements, then drew up a bill in
caucus, which was designed to strip him of all
his military power and lodge it in the hands of
four Democratic State officers, but this scheme
was foiled by the withdrawal of the Republican
members, leaving the Legislature without a
quorum after the bill had been engrossed ready
for its final passage.
In October, 1864, Mr.. Morton was reelected
Governor of Indiana by majority of %, ,OOC
votes, and continued in the active discharge OF
the duties of this Office for another year. In
the summer of 1865 however, he was attacked
with partial paralysis, and was forced to make
the journey to Europe, as the only chance OF
averting a fatal result. He remained abroad
several months, and on his return resumed the
duties of the Goyernorship, until 1867, when, on
March A. he resigned, to take the seat in the
Senate to which he had been elected.
Although crippled by disease, he has con-
timed to discharge fully the duties of the Sena-
torship, and by frequent elaborate orationf
on the IMPEACHMENT of Andrew johnson, on re-
construction, and especially on financial ques.
tions has achieved reputation as an orator
and fairly risen above the rank o
the mere politician to the dignity
of craftsmanship. In the field o.
diplomacy he is as yet without trial or expe
rience, but he possesses abilities of high order
and, despite his feeble health, win doubtless
prove himself fully equal to the demands made
by the responsible position TO which he has JUS
been called by the President. OF his confrma
tiOn by the Senate there can be no doubt at al.