The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-11-03
ESTABLISHED AUGUST "a. 1852 "

Morton kept the run Of public affairs by
having the papers read TO him daily.
Since then, With an apparent sense Of
danger, he has devoted every moment Of
consciousness TO his family. Il 10 not
encroaChing upon those sacred intervals
TO say that the few words he uttered we're
expressions Of affection and gratitude.
This has been his habit all through his
sickness not only TO his family, but 10 his
friends and attendants. He has even re.
ferred TO acts Of tender devotion in the
past, which, borne in precious memory,
must do something toward assuaging the
grief OF the friends who survive him.
All Of his family are with him except.
Ing his eldest son, John Morton, who is
detained by sickness in Alaska. The sad
intelligence was never communicated to
Mr.. Morton, and last week he asked II Il
was not nearl y time for John 10 come.
He has not since alluded to him.
The question has frequently been asked:
Does Senator Morton know he eau nOs
live 2"
When frst attack ed he was satisfied lie
would die, and his desire was 10 live 10
get home. After rallying from several
very dangerous attacks, his condition i'm
proved NJ much that he was encouraged
Al the time Of President Hayes visit lie
seemed very much better. lie was COM
posed, and even cheerful. Ilis counle-
nance was natural, his condition good
and his voice was clear and strong. la
the evening he was quite his old self, IT.
latlng an anecdote or two and smiling
frequently in his old bright way. Those
who saw him then were inexpresSibIy
shocked 10 see him upon his arrival 10
Indianapolis. He was emaciated and
feeble, and the life Of his voice was gone
His suffering became intense, and an ex.
preston Of despair came over his face
There was, no doubt, many communiBgs
with the idea oil death, but he said moth
ing until day before yesterday. Racov
ering from an Ill turn, he observed his
family weeping, and said, in a calm, clear
voice: " believe you think | will not get
WE'LL" Then hC reached out his hand 10
his vile, and there was silence.
In such an hour it Ia not proper to ask
il he was prepared to die. That tie
Searcher Of Hearts alone can answer
But il preparation can be inferred from
mans fearlessnesS OF death, then Mr.. Nor.
ton was ready 10 die. Last night DR.. Day,
an old friend and neighbor, was called In
and engaged with him in prayer. To the
question If he was prepared for the
change, Mr.. Morton replied as well as lie
could Tor his failing breath, that he hstl
tried 10 live right, which was the only
accepted preparation for death, or words
to that effect. During the day DR.. Hos
hour, his old friend and preceptOr, has
been with him, and Revs. Bartlett aud
Bayless have also been present. Mr..
Morton was reared 10 the Presbyterian
Church, but has never been member.
His proclivitieS have been rather to the
Methodist Episcopal Church, on account
OF Bishop Ames and other distinguished
divlnes with whom he has been intimate
OF late years he has nor attended church
regularly because of his lamenes1.
Some one has observed that in all his
public speeches there can be found no
reference to religion or u future state.
That know, from having heard him ex.
press himself, was from high degree Of
venerution.
He once said to me that he did not mp
prove OF sacred illusions in politics
speeches.
His charity for the dead was shown in
his beautiful tribute to Andrew johnson,
when he said: 81 would exercise for.hini
the same charity that l would ask 10
have extended to myself in the inevitable
hour"
In conversation this evening the Doctor
expressed himself very confident that the |
Senator's death resulted not from any al. |
ter action oE the paralysis OF the farm,
but from paralysis from the nervous
center itself. For the past ten days he
has received an average OF six letters
day, suggesting treatment for dyspepsia
and indigestion, showing that wrong
impression obtained as 10 the Senator's |
condition. He was not troubled with dis.
pepsia or Indigestion in any form, except
as 1t resulted from a partial paralysis OF
the pneumogastrlc nerve; hence, treat.
meDt for dyspepsia would not touch the
trouble. II was the paralysis which had
to be reached, and failure to restore the
nerve thus effected naturally resulted in
death.