The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-11-07
History Of the Deceased Statesman
Hon. o. P. Morton.


Casting about for reliable history
of the great statesman whose earthly
career ended last Thursday, at $50 P,
NJ, we find the following, which we
copy from the Contmerciol- Gazette of
the I'd inst:
Senator Oliver P. Morton, whose
death We chronicled yesterday, closes
the lise of the specially great states.
amen of the war. Senator Conkling, in
some respects, will take rank in this
relation, but not as fully as Morton.
He was rising .nlan before the war,
but during it he rose 5nto national rep
mtation and fame. lie was born in
Wayne county, Indiana, August 4,
1923, and vas not, therefore, go old
man as has been supposed. He shon1ds
indeed, be in the full possession Of his
powers. but like so many American
public men, he overtaxed his powers,
and his death is the result. He was
educated at Miami University studied
law and came te the bar in 1S47. In
1852 he was elected Circuit Judge of
the Fifth judicial Circuit of Indiana
and in 1866 he was nOminated by the
Republicans az tI,eir candidate for
! Governor of Indiana, but was defeat
ed. He thus WAS the leader of for
lorn hope, in the very organization of
the Republican party. This was the
year of the Fremont campaign, and it
indicated the drift of his career, that
he was in the forefront at such time.
In 1860 he was elected Lieutenant
Governor, and in 1854 succeeded to
the Office Of Governor, on the transfer
of Governor H. S. Lane to the United
States Senate.
HIS CAREER &s GOVERNOR.
He was then Governor of the State
at the outbreak Of Ghe civil war, and
was the right man in the right place.
The Legislature was Democratic and
refused the means to raise troops to go
to the front. The Knights of the Col
den Circle formed their organization
in the State, and it was generally con-
ceded that the leading influences of the
State were against him. On the ad,
journment Of the Legislature, however,
be set himself determinedly to work,
raised money on his personal assurance
of its repayment, went to Washington,
secured aid from the General Govern
ment, equipped troops, and sent his
full State quota to the field. His la
bors at this time were enormous. Not
only did he thus raise money for the
troops and for the purposes ofhis Gov
ernment, but he kept the Knights of
the Golden Circle and disloyal Demo-
Gratis in check, and even went to dis
CANT States as a political campaign
Speaker. It is impossible TO do justice
TO this period of his career. He was
consumed with burning eagerness to
defeat and overthrow rebellion. When
Pittsburgh was threatened, toward the
close Of the war, by rebel raid, he
telegraphed General Brooke, in com.
mand there, that he could, if needed,
send Him regiment at an hours no.
tice, and another regiment at a days
notice. And thus he toiled through
tho war. And at the first legislative
lion that occurred he secured a
Republican majority that ratified his
loans aud legalized his debts. More
than any other man during the war he
moulded and carried his State In
1864 he was elected Governor for a
second term, and in 1865 he had a
foke Of paralysis which necessitated
pension Of labor and rest.
iied Europe, was a long time
ndeg treatment, aud yet busy