Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-11-07
Death Of Senator Morton.

sufferings and tie measures employed
to alleviate them. About noon Mrs
Morton and her two sons, by her re.
quest, were left alone with the Senator
for about an hour. What passed be-.
tween them is not for us to inquire
Before 5 o'clock it became evident
that he had entered upon his last hour
upon earth. He had rested the great.
er portion Of the day in half sitting
position. AS he grew weaker the sup
porting pillows were Withdrawn so that
he lay prone upon the bed. A deep
silence now pervaded the room and
remained unbroken except by an occa-
sional question to the dying man.
Once when the Senator exclaimed, Il
am dying" his sister, in Law; Mrs Hol-
loway inquired: "you are not afraid to
die, Oliver?" he indicated no" by
shaking his head. Soon after SINH
lar exclamation, question and answer
passed between him and DR.. Thompson.
AT ten minutes past 5 o'clock he ex
claimed: II am dying: I am worn
out," and these were his last words.
From this on it was difficult to dis
cover that life remained. On the
doctors announcement that he was go
ing the gaze of bis wife and sons be-
came fixed on the face of the husband
and father with now and then pite-
GUS look of inquiry towards the Doctor,
until his further announcement cit
is over" The widow clasped her
sons to her, exclaiming quietly, but in
tones never to be forgotten MY dar-
ling boys" The friends withdrew
leaving them, after a time when they
were led tenderly from the room.
Senator Morton was far from being
an old man, yet his last words told the
story: II am dying; | am soorn out"
Overwork and hereditary predisposition
to paralysis conspired to make him old
before his time. Born August 4, 1928,
he was not past the prime of vigor-
Gus manhood. It is now twelve years
since the shadow of death fell upon
him. Stricken with paralysis in 1865,
he waged terrible hand-to- hand fight
with the grim enemy until half past
5 o'clock Thursday when he yielded
up his soul, dying calmly as became a
great heart, which had fought good
fight aud made the world better for his
having passed through it. He was
not pious man, as the term is gener.
ally understood, but in the Immediate
presence of death he disavowed any
fear of it. There was no reason why
he should dread the great assize, or
desire to prolong lite of agony and
helplessness.
Senator Morton was native of
Wayne county, Ind. His mother died
when he was 3 or 4 years old, and he
was taken home by his grandparents
He was early apprenticed to the hat
ter's trade, but evinced such fondness
for books that he was given a liberal
education, being educated at Miami
University, Oxford, O. He did not
distinguish himself in school. But at
the bar he soon made his mark; settling
at Centerville, the shire town of his
native county, he soon established him.
self in large practice. In 1852 be
was elected Judge, position he re.
signed in year He was a Democrat
in those days, but when the Missouri
compromise was repealed he left the
Democracy. The Republican party
was born and christened, it will be re.
membered, at Pittsburgh, in February,
1856. Mr.. Morton, then a young man,
was delegate to that convention. He
was the acknowledged leader of the
Democratic wing of the party. Hen
ry S. Lane and the present Secretary
Of the Navy, Thompson, were the lead
ers Of the Whig wing. Mr.. Morton
was candidate for Governor that year.
The Democrats carried the election.
Four years later Mr.. Lane was the
candidate for Governor and Mr.. Morton
for Lieut.. Governor, with the under
standing that the former should be
elected to the Senate if the state was
carried by the party. That programme
was carried out. Thus Governor Nor
ton came to have in bis hands the reins
of the State Executive just the wal
began. He was reelected when Mr.
Lincoln was, and held the Office until
elected to the Senate, about ten years
ago. So pre-eminent was he among
the great war Governors that when he
entered the Senate it was with an es
tablished national reputation. He a
once took rank as leader. Ready II
debate, tireless in labor, wise in coun
sci and unwavering in fealty to the po
litical principles which he professed
his name towers up among the few 81
ants who have rendered the Senate 0
the United States illustrious.
Mr.. MORTON was prominent can
didate for the Presidency last year
The state of Indiana was very enthusi
astic and sanguine. Had he beer
nominated, it would have gone Repub
lican, instead of Democratic. But hi