The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1876-05-18
THE HON. OLIVER P. MORTON.
Review of His important Services in
the United States Senate.
His First Speech and how it was Re-
ceiyed Throughout the Country.

without some reference to his important
work in the United States Senate. At this
time, therefore, when his strength as Presi-
Dental candidate is rapidly developing in
every State from Maine TO Californis, it
seems proper that ] should complete the
sketch published in the Gazette several
months ago.
HIS ENTRANCE INTO THE SENATE.
Gov. Morton was elected TO the United
States Senate in January, 1867. and, resign
ing the GovernorshIp, took his seat on the
4th of March, for the term ending in 1873.
Many of the great war Senators were still
in their places. Mr.. Wade was there as
President Of the Senate, and Acting Vice
President. Charles Sumner and William
Pitt Fessenden still occupied the seats held
so many years with honor. Grouped about
them were Edmunds, and Wilson, and
Trumbull, and Frelinghuysen, and Others
of similar character. who will ever be re-
| membered among Americas ab!est states
men.
1 r. cuuduCC W W.. was
considered by them as an accessi IN TO the
talent and character OF the Chamber. The
part he had taken in the war, the ability
exhibited on the stump, and the wonderful
energy and power displayed in every trying
situation, had proven his strength, and
made his name familiar to the country.
Referring to these services, the Cincinnati
Commercial said, "Dnring the war there
were three civil officers who displayed great
executive ability-namely, Stanton, An
drew and Morton. However others were
distinguished, though Curtin, OF Pennsyl-
vanis, and Dennison and Todd and Brough,
of Ohio, were active, capable and Jealous,
the first distinction for grasping the re-
sponsibilities of the occasion, and becoming
recognized positive personal forces, distinct
i've and vastly Influential, belongs to the
Secretary of War, and the Governors OF
Massachusetts, and Indiana. The labor
performed by these men, the energy they
put into the war, the mighty impulses they
gave to armies, can not be understood by
the ordinary workers, were but dimly APP
preciated in the days when their services
were most essential, but they will stand
forth refined and gigantic in history"
AS in the advent of Burke to the British
House Of Commons, great things were ex-
pected of him at the outset, and a. proof
Of the Senates confidence, he was very coon
placed at the head Of the Committee on
Manufactures and associated. with Mr..
Sumner on Foreign Relations, and
with Mr.. Wilson on Military Affairs.
HIS FIRST SPEECH
The great question before the Fortieth
Congress was Reconstruction. Mr.. Stevens
and the Joint Committee of Fifteen" in
the preceding Congress had acted as pio-
| neers in the matter, passing the Military
Reconstruction Act" over the veto Of Pres
ident johnson. But it was left to their
successors to perfect the measure and car
| ~ it into effect To this task Mr.. Morton
first addressed himself. An experience of
four wears of warfare had made him famil-
lar with the South, Its people, ard their
sentiments. He sympathized with the
masses In their helpless and dependent con-
dition. He desired to accord to them all
civil and political rights at an early day.
But he wished also to have the future peace
and security of the Union so Embedded in
the imperishable bulwarks of the national
Constitution that the waves of secession
might dash against it in vain"
His FIST speech, therefore, was made up
on this subject. 1t was delivered on the
9th of January, 1865, "and was one of the
most mem orable and effective speeches, "
says Mr. Barnes, the Congressional histo-
rian, sever delivered in the United States
Senate" Describing this effort, Mr.. For
ney, in letter to the Philadelphia Press,
wrote "The scene this afternoon reminded
mo g he t,p,a wbao lVah,tor ooI Cl.y
spoke to eager and applauding galleries,
and of the later struggles, after the war be-
gan, when Breckenridge, laundering treason
| from his seat, was met and mastered by the
martyred Baker. Governor Norton
speech surprised even those who knew his
consummate abilities. Speaking, seated in
| his Senatorial chair, On account of his ex-
IRENE debility, his physical weakness added
to the interest of his argument. l remem-
Der how, long, long ago, George McDutfe,
Of Mississippi, habitually pronounced HE
dazzling rhetoric seated. But in how diff
ferent cause the Senator from Indiana il
engaged McDuffe spoke as brilliant par
tisan, Morton almost as an inspired patriot.
l will not attempt to give you a glimpse of
his tremendous REPUTATION of Democratic
falsehoods, or his overwhelming vindica-
ton of the Republican Congress.
He left the chamber amid the admiration
of his friends and the respect of his enc
mics. No statesman who listened to him
but must have been convinced that he had
heard a master-master not only in INTEL
lect, but in heart-a profound thinker and
a resistless logician-but more than these, a
sincere and fervent lover Of his country,
and all the oppressed races of men," Hon.
Reverdy johnson, who was also in the Sens
ate at this time, remarked that "the speech,
in manner and in matter, recalled the
days when the chamber was graced by such
men as Webster, Clay, and Calhoun" The
next day after its delivery, Gen. Rawlins
read it TO Mr.. Grant, then General of the
army, who remarked, as Gen. K, concluded,
'that settles it, Rawlins; that one speech,
If not another word is said, insures a Re
publican victory next fall"
Mr.. Morton had no expectation of speak
ing at this time. nor was a debate anticipa-
ted. In the course OF come remarke, how
ever, Mr.. Nye aroused Mr.. Do little into
making bold defense of President John
son, and a bitter attack upon the course Of
the Republicans. As soon as he had con-
cluded, Mr.. Nye again got the floor, but
gracefully yielded to Mr.. Morton, who
spoke without notes and without having
written line upon the subject. As Mr..
Forney intimates, the effect was electric.
The reasoning was simply unanswerable
Without hesitation it was accepted, as de-
timing the policy of the Republican party.
Mr.. Stevens declared it the first successful
attempt to defend the reconstructive meas
ures of Congress, and the National Execu-
tive Committee treated it as . campaign
document, distributing 100000 copies of
it in the ensuing Presidential canvass
Thus early was his reputation as . debater
firmly established throughout the coun-
try.
PASSAGE AND RATIFICATION OF THE 18th
AMENDMENT.
The passage of the 18th Amendment,
which engaged large share of attention
during the third session of the Fortieth
Congress, and its subseq cent ratification BY
the States, early exhibited to the Senate
another element Of Mr.. Morton, viz his
great will power, backed BY patient per-
and firm determination to win. |
After an all-night session, the report of the |
Committee of Conference, recommending
the passage of the amendment, was agreed |
to between six and seven O'Clock in the
February Goth, 1869. At six
o'clock, MI. Sumner had Withdrawn from
the Senate Chamber, refusing TO vote, or
even to be present when the vote vas taken. /
He maintained that besides being con-
ceaion on the part of Congress, that it had |
not the power TO regulate suffrage in the
States, it was = useless work. Enough /
States could not be induced to ratify il. To /
make up the necessary three-fourths (twen-
!y-eight), it would require Indiana, Texas,
Mississippi and Georgia, and in