National Republican., 1876-05-23
SENATOR MORTON.
Something More About the Charges.

WASHINGTON, May 10, 1870.
To the Editor of the National Republican:
SIR: Senator Morton made a statement in his
place some days since respecting the loan of $780,
600, advanced TO him as Governor CT Indiana, in
1883 to carry forward military operations in that
State, and gave history Of the circumstancesren
derng it necessary, and also the condition Of the
State and Of the Democratic party at that time
take the liberty Of raising my humble voice in
confirmation Of the Senator's statement, as had
the privilege of being at that time a Republican
member of the House of Representatives Of Indi-
ana.
have before me few brief extracts from the
famous Military Bill, which the Democrats had
submitted, and were trying to pass, and upon the
engrossment Of which we were compelled to
break q quorum. The constitution of Indiana
constituted the Governor commander-in-chief of
the military forces Of the State.
The Democratic party Of Indiana were making
extraordinary efforts ocripple Governor Morton's
efforts in aiding the General Government in sup
pressing the rebellion, and their leaders in the
House were denouncng the administrations Of
President Lincoln and Governor Morton, and en-
deayoring to wean their party from loyal and
cordial support of the General Government or
these things am cogniZant.
Now, this famous Military Bill caused
quorum to be broken. and the result was that
the State was left without the necessary appro-
pTiatGIs on ito to ea1ty % on the benevolent instu
generally; and, as Senator Morton has stated,
many counties Of the State advanced to HIM funds
from their treasures by vote of their commission
ers. know, at my own instance the commission
ers of the county I had the honor to represent
met in special session, and by unanimous vote
advanced what they could for the purpose Of en-
abling the Governor to carry on the State govern
ment, and take care Of her unfortunate popula-
tion, viz; the blind. the insane and the deaf and
dumb who were in her asylums. The necessity
for all this, and which has given rise to unjust
attacks upon Senator Morton's character and
course, had its origin in the manifest antagonsm
presented by the Democratic leaders Of Indiana
towards he patriotic efforts and untiring energies
of the President and the Governor in keeping
step to the music Of the Union"
] Section II Of that Military Bill constituted the
Secretary of State, the Treasurer of State, the
Auditor Of State, and the Attorney General
military board, with authority TO appoint all the
Major and Brigadier Generals OF the militia Of
the State.
Section = made it the duty of the staff officers
of the major general thus appointed to forthwith
call in all the arms, military accoutrements and
munitions Ofwar belonging TO the State, and when
called in they were to be kept in safe place and
in good order by the assistant Quartermaster gen.
eral, the staff of the major general, and issued
by him in accordance with directions from the off,
GERS Of State.
These officers of State, who were to compose that
military board, were Just then all Democrats. 0f
course the major general and brigadiers would
have been Of like faith and order all their staff
and subOrdinates would have been also.
Can any one fail 10 see the direful results which
would have followed had that infamous bill
passed? Gov. Morton would have been shOrn OF
his constitutional power as commander in-chief Of
the military forces, and without arms, without
money, he would have been powerless; the loyal
people of Indiana would have been at the mercy
Of the dislOyal element; treason would have shown
its hydra head in Indiana, and in a very short
time her soil would have been drenched in blood,
~ she would have been carried forcbly into the
oIms M he Southern GOafedsracy, even though
the majority It her people aere On the side of the
UniCn.
Thomas A. Hendricks did go SO far as to make
speech about Northwestern Confederacy. which
was, however, only sympathetic feeler toward
loosening the Union bonds and ieading toward
the tinGl result OF secession. We were standing
volcano during all that session of 1883, and
the efforts, courage and patriotism Of Oliver p.
Morton were powerful in preventing its outbreak.
Untirng in his efforts to support the authority
of the General Government, to save his own State
from anarchy and bloOdshed. sleepless in his yigi
lance in looking after the interests of those of her
sons who were rallying around the Stars and
Stripes, TO wonder he was the central object of
hatred Of every disloyal man in Indiana, and the
focus toward which the love of every soldier of
the Union and every loyal citizen of the State
tended.
The Republic of the United States will never do
her duty, or properly show her gratitude for pa
trOtism energy or vigilance, until she calls upon
Oliver p. Morton to take charge of the helm Of
State. Many have done ncbly, but his name, like
Abou Ben Adem's, leads all the rest am not
surprised that the Baltimore NeUs should attack
his speech and motives, but when it says, will
the country to learn that Morton alone kept her
in the Union against the votes and feelings Of a
majority Of her people, let me answer, that In
diana's majority was loyal to the Union,
but / have serious doubts that her Demo
cratic leaders were, or they would not
a bill which was grossly unconstitutional,
grossly insulting to the chief magistrate of the
State. and the effect of which would have been to
have placed her in the hands of men who were
delcuncing President LincOln's policy in behalf Of
tie Unicn.
have been informed that John Morgan,
Kentucky, was in Indianapolis was in the lobby
of the House of Representatives watching the
progress of events, watching the ball that our
when the plot had ripened and when the Demo-
cratic military board of Indiana had secured all
the arms and munitions of war and put them out
Of reach of Indiana's loyal Governor and her
loyal population, he could step over from Ken
tucky and aid the Southern Confederacy without
hindrance.
These are not fables to US who passed through
the agOnies of 1868 in Indiana. And shall we fail
now TO stand by and support to the utmost the
we ever had. and whose patriotism, and whose in
tellectual ability, are sources Of pride to every
HOOsier. and which are second TO those oil no man
in the nation? My revered father, who sleeps in
an honOred Union grave, marched under that old
flag Of the Union at North Point, in defense of
Baltimore, in 1918, and l, native of Mary
land, but for twenty-five years adopt
ed son Of Indiana, appeal with pride to
my native State and the whole Union to
recognize the patriotism. the ability. the energy
of one who has stood so conspicuously prominent
in behalf of the interests Of this whole nation, to
put at rest the malicious attacks upon his mo-
tives, character and official career, and to show
the gratitude that is due him by making him the
successor of the hero of AppomattoI, and the