The New York herald., 1877-11-02

hood He was Theoretically a free trader, and SO
was in agreement with tho democratic party ON its
predominant side. But he was in favor OF slavery
and he lot believe that sectionallsm with slavery
based upon should be the groundwork OF democratic
politics. In 1854 the Missouri compromise and the
Kansas Nebraska bill were the means oil taking MIN
into the ranks OF the new republican party He ioi-
lowed his princples He was only thirty-threc years
old wben n 1856. the republicans, who were glad to
receive this strong young man from their deuocraic
enemies, nominated HIM for Governor OF ind'ana: s.
Against HIM. on the democratic side was
Ashbei p. Willard, a sort OF pioneer ocao,
arrogant and impudent, ignorant ana garTalous,
stumped the State, but defeated Again
in 1860, whom ropublicanism was turbulent TIDE no
was nominated for Lieutenant Governor OF Indiana,
with Henry S. Lane for Governor. This was rather
slight 10 who had headed tho ticket 10 1000, out
he sincere though passionate politician, and
he work ed like q hero during the campaign he was
elected.
long before Lincoln any other Of the great leaders
the republican party had bcen able 10 originate or
to distinguish any clear policy, or in fact any policy
through Efforts made known by the threats OF the
Soutn--as early, indeed, as November, the month
iy in favor OF complete and uncompro-
missing eniorcemcnt OF tue laws and the
Of The q. any Srih1s &C.
crcant individuals behind the State governments mis-
applying IDEAS and he was IN favor OF having the
President enforce tho laws, matter whether ma
jorty OF the people in favor OF State rights or
not. There never aiterward any arRumcn. on the
federal side stronger than that made by young Norton
IL made his reputation wide IL Is said 10 have con-
yDced Lincoln though At this time 1t does not appear
that Lincoln had made up his mind to any positive
thing. The influence, however spread as lar as Eng
land where II made known the policy OF the strongest
men Of the republican party From me day OF ms
utterance of that doctrine Morton became nationai
leader.
When the Indiana Legislature convened early In
1861 Governor Lane elected to the Senate OF the
United States, and Morton became Governor. He was
only thirty-eght years old. lie became the war
Governor OF Indiana There no doubt that his
labor recruiting leader was something marvellous
The day before the Presidents call Tor troops Cover
nor Morton offered HIM 10 600 men, He Immediately
after set about recruiting g. 900 more organized his
camps and personally attended to the many de-
tails oil army government. NOTWITHSTANDING that men
like Andrew Ward and others have claim 10 consid-
Tor their enterprise during the rst days OF the
rebellion, Morton must rank them ALL HIS energy icu
TO enthusiastic eniistmcnts In relieving tne suner-
ngs OF Indiana men IN the field he was as ener-
gelc and as tireless he In hlling rcgi-
ments He was really 'the great war Governor. !"
his was next to that oi Magon OF Kentucky,
who trying TO take Indiana into neutrality, so tnat
Morton called also ''the Governor OF Kentucky.
To his exertions was due IN great measure General
Grants ability to win IN the Western campaign. From
vcksburg Grant was pleased TO thank Morton specially
for supplies. The story Is told that Ut one Tine when
Morton wanted $500 900, he went around to different
banks with market basket and got II on his own re-
spolsibity. II used to pay seventeen regiments.
During all this time opposed by the democratic
party oil Indiana. The Knights OF the Golden Circlo
wero formed into an organization to oppose
the war The democratic party IN 1867 carried
the State, and its Legislature in 1868 refused to
receive Governor Morton's message An effort was
When tho democratic Legislature refused to give HIM
appropriation he went about raising money as best
he could. He borrowed much, but not enough. Then
he went TO Lincoln but could get nothing. Then he
TO Chase, who advised him to let matters SO and
to himself and friends Then he went to Stanton
"Stanton was always my man In an emergency" said
he. Said Stanton, ''By -, you shall have the
money" Morton got it Everywhere he received
money. Mr. d. r Martin, OF the Ocean Bank, New
York, fnancier whom he had never met, lent him
$3.50, 900 his Meanwhile he was strictly at
tending TO the civil affairs OF his State While Ad-
trnI En0f Wae rit
nsncd mo the powder with which my fleet took Fort
Henry" he was personally attending to the poor
houses and insane asylums
In 1864 Joseph Mcdonald. afterward made United
States Senator, the leader of the democrats In
Morton. In the campaign the latter showed tho
strength OF great politician. He carried the whole
State by over twenty thousand majority. IL was In
1865 that he began TO feel mental langpor His father
had been paraytc. Two OF his aunts had suffered
from the aillicton. 1t feared that Governor
Morton Inherited disposition toward the NAL
ady. Suddenly one morning 1t was discovered that he
longer had the use OF his legs. Since that time,
almost without intermisson, he has been cripple.
II is political enemies fond OF saying that the al
fiction was visitation of divine Providence as pun
,hmen, 10, his great SINS but mis- friends could no,
other than those OF incessant work in
raising troops arms ana money Tor the
imme cause OF his lameness. He was subject 10
disease. and the intense mental ana physical strain
brought II on There were men who were even illng
10 say that he was the victim OF debauchery To tho
last he intlrm HIS strongest speeches made
while he was sitting. During the session OF the Elec-
tora Commission he was excused by silent consent
from rising when ne spoke ard IL was matter OF in
terest 10 this strong man being carried in chair
from the Supreme Court room to the Senate chamber
1t brought TO memory Macaulays description OF Chat
ham, From the day when he became cripple his men,
tai encrgy returned. trip TO Europe did not cure
him. On his return he entered into politics more
actively than ever. From the hips up he
elected to the United States Senate In 1870, he
reelected During his forms OF service he was known
the most radical OF the leading republicans Presi
dent Grant, in 1870, nominated him tor Minister 10
England, but as it was not certain that the Indiana
Legislature would be able to elect republican success
sor he declined the honor. Early after the he
was IN favor of President Johnsons system OF
sructon and he did not believe that the negro with
his ignorance was capable OF being voter. He
believed. however, in his Senate speeches that the
Confederates oreled all civil and political rights and
that the Confederate States had o any
kind Yet it was his opnion that the federal govern
men under the constitution, was enabled TO give and
guarantee republican form OF government
to each State, and that, as measure OF
policy policy Il Iva, was necessary to hnd SUI
into voters Tor the purposes OF reconstruction. He
never aftcrward relied upon the white south and he
did rely upon the negroes whom. being voters he de-
termined TO support. Certainly his announcement of
this doctrine never lacked Tor clearncss. No
misunderstood Senator Morton. His speeches on re-
construction were reported in full IN the leading
publican journals OF tho country, and he regarded
very much as Seward had been regarded the early
days. He early the Inconsistencies OF the state
laws regulating the rights OF citizenship in regard to
elections, and while the fifteenth amendment 10 tho
constitution was under discussion he announced mat
he was IN avor OF making suffrage uniform. He wished
as political measure TO prevent Southern states from
acquiring the right to impose any peculiar qualification
OF citizenship upon the blacks lie was sn-
ccre IN his belief that secession fingered
after after me war, us snow fingers behind the
cEHs IN midsummer The fault, he believed,
lay IN considering Tor moment that the States con
sututcd anything less than an ndssolubc nation. 'sWe
have" said he, state rights, but no State sovcr
el9ntyo To the very last he chung this doctrine
and applying II 10 political purposes he gave up
the dea that the President hao right TO interfere IN
the affairs Of States like South Carolina and Louis
nd tlxa
parties existed That the black the repuDli-
can party were the victims Of .elemcnt which
learned Us principles before the war; exercised them
during the war, ani lurtivcy practiscd them
after the war; was an idea which lett
hm. He never tired oil holding up the bloody
SHIRT before mankind. Meanwhile he was ear
nest III trying to elect reforms OF tho
suffrage His measure Tor giving TO the people a direct
voe Tor President is the only that pro-
posed with any elect Tor the remedy ot evil
as the result OF last election 1t was the wooi OF
craftsmanship woven through the warp partisan
politics. This mplacablc party man. VINO trusted no
enemy and who had the reputation OF being hot and
bilious. but whose style clear and cold as ice ire
nm flu ipns fha nj