Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-11-01
THE DING SENATOR.
Something Of HIS Life and Public
Services.

4e~Ne ~ holse lOr the recovery or senator
Morton. His family are grouped about his
bedside, momentarily fearing the summons
OF death. With him VIII pass away one OF
the giant intellects OF the trying times
civil war. The following is brief sketch o
the life OF the "war governor"
Oliver Il. Morton was born in Wayne
county, Indiana, August {, ls2S, AMI was
educated at the NJ ami University. H
studied and rrscticed law, and soon became
well-known man i'm his community. 10
1882 he was elected a circuit Judge for the stu
judicial district OF The state, and in 1870 was
cleo ed lieutenant governor OF Indiana. The
reXt year Governor Lane was elected 10 the
L. =. Senate, and Morton became governor.
This was the beginning OF his national rep
u'aIion, and be SCOT became known as the
War Governor of Indiana HIS bold and
determined stand, The fertility OF his re-
sources and his great courage, saved the fed
eTal government no little trouble and posi-
bic disaster. The democrats were in a ma
Jority in both houses or the Indiana legisla-
lure, and they refused To vote any money
for the equipment OF troops. Morton Dor
rowed the money from the L. \. Treasury,
and was enabled shortly after 10 pay Il
back. Last summer some Jealous news.
paper scribe, in his desire TO work Mr.. Nor
toD injury, dug this matter up and adorned
IL with the charge thai the money had never
been paid back in full. IL was an excellent
Thing for Mr.. Morton, for replying 10 IL en-
abled him To place his entire war record
before the country, and thus confuse his
enemies. AT the conclusion OF Senator Nor
n
thony took occasion TO pay glowing tribute
To the energy and courage of the youngest
war governor" the Senator from Indiana.
In 1854 be was reelected governor. Indiana
IN The me antlme having comparatively re-
covered from the insanity that had attacked
her in the early days OF the war. In lS6I he
was elected United Staies Senator, and i'm
ls12 he was again returned. His term would
have expired March 3, 1873. In the senate
he took part in every matter of importance
that has been before The country. Tue stir
ring times succeeding the war gave him
abundant opportunities for the display OF his
undoubted genius. He was "A radical of the
radicals-a firm, uncomprOm sing enemy To
Cancellation or OF granting favors to tue
common enemy. He believed what hal
been fairly won should be as fairly held, aud
that the south should, as the aSsailing party.
be the first TO offer the hand OF fellOwshi p.
So bitter and persistent was he in denouucIng
southern outrages that he was nicknamed by
the democrats 4" Bloody Shirt Norton
other of his political opponents, in alludiug
10 his infiTmities, called him Sitting Bull
Morton" he was vigorous ana able
speaker, hardly ever eloquent, but dealing in
facts, ard always handling them SO bril-
Iiantly that he captured the attention OF
every listener. His acquaintance with the
political and material development of the
country was close and exhaustive. He hal
long been recognized as one of the leaders of
the Senate, aud he was the leader most
feared by the opposition; Not long since
President Hayes said look upon Nor
ton as the balance wheel OF the Senate. HIS
place could not easily be filled" For a num-
Der OF years be was afflicted by physical
wea kness, but this did not diminish his
energy. He was an iEdefatigable worker, aud
nothing but utter prosiratiol could sub1ue
him. His Ill health was brought on origin
ally by The exertions OF long and
desperately contested campaign. Wnen II
was over, he suffered for a fortnight from
physical and mental eXhaustton-hiS mi nd
would not answer his Will. AT the end Of
this time he read the morning papers before
rising, as was his habit, and when he pro-
posed 10 get up found, 10 his utter surprise,
mat his limos were powerless. As sOOu as
this phy steal difficulty declared itself his
mind became active. The disease. Wn ch a
last settled itself in his ankles had not hith-
erio prevented him from taking a large psrt
in POLITICAL work against the atVice OF his
friends. who begged him 10 spare himself
He usually delivered his speeches ia q sitting
attitude, owing 10 has infirmity. He was or
ginally brusque, hard speaking man, no!
particularly tender OF the feelings OF others.
This fact also tended TO increase his enemies.
But the other day the Cincinnati COulDleTctQi
said that Ibis Affections have soflene1 hi,
personal manners and ways, and touched
with something OF tenderness his intercourse
with his friends, while he has personally
winning way even with his enemies His
eXertions in the last year doubtless conlrIp-
uled to hasten his end. He vas a candidate
for President before the CincinnaI conven
ton, but not very strong one. During the
campaign that followed he m ade a few
speeches, but when Congress met he beg an
hard work. In all the questions that arose
in the exciting session that extended from
ward battling for the republican cause.
He bitterly opposed the electoral commits
sion bill, leading The opposition with a vlgor
that a much stronger man could have been
proud of. On the night that the vote was
taken he WAS very much exhausted. A bout
midnight he became 80 weak That ad
JourDment had 10 be asked for, but Senator
Edmunds, who was determined that a vote
should be taken before they separated. re-
fused, and early in the morning Mr. Morton
rose to make his closing speech GU the bill.
lADOr 10
passed il; the bill was rushed through the
House, and President Grant promptly signed
it. Then Mr.. Morton was appointed One O.
| the electoral commissioners, and served with
that body until all the disputed states had
been disposed OF. When Mr.. Hayes was
inaugurated, as chairman of the com nlittee
on privileges and elect Ons, Morton had
charge OF the contested se ats IN the Southern
states; but Mr.. Biaine's bid for the leader
| ship confused his plans, and, instead OF the
project foI the Rdmlttance OF the Southern
members being carried ont, the expected
compromise was not made, and action on
kelloggs case was delayed. Mr.. MortonS
last prominent act, before starting TO Oregon
TO attend the Grover invest gation, was a
long letter on Mr.. Hayes Southern policy.
A short lime afterwards he started for Ore
gon. The Oregon trip, while srduous enough
TO have exhau d mau OF perfect physiQ de-
seemed to result only In the Senator Im-
provement. He Travelled over go miles
He took full ch arge of the Grover investiga-
tion and eXamir ed more than leo witnesses
He traversed Oregon, British Columba
WdsnlnBlO0 lcIIltOTys ana n gOO1 parf oil
California. His journey was, throug hout its
course, an ovation. 81 never enjoyed myself
more in my life, was mis- frequent remark
and the feet upon his general health may
be evidenced by the fact of his walking d. We
squares in San Francisco, and OF making
speech of some length al Salem, standing
while he spoke.
Toe new trouble came upon him grs lusl-
ly. One Sunday night, a few weeks ago, he
found himself unable TO sleep; tried TO walk
about the room, but found it too severe au
exertion; finally sank exhausted into a brief
slumber, and woke, al O'Clock on Monday
morning, TO discover that he had no COM
mand over his left arm, and that his left side
sympaihized largely with the paralysis OF
the arm. Immediately upon discovering his
condition Senator Morton insisted upon re-
turning home. His wife and his soa Oliver,
who were with him on his journey sought To
dissuade him from taking so lo1g a railway
trip in his precarious condition. bat his de-
termination was infiexible. The journey was
one Of intense suffering to himself The prl-
waite car of the supednl endent OF the Central
Pacific " as placed at the disposal OF the par
~. A final stop was made at the home al
Gov. Burbank, In Richmond, the Senators
bouse In Indianapolis having been given M
He reached there greatly exhausted, but
much better than his friends had darei -
hope. He was entitled, by descent, 70 paraly.
tic troubles. His father and his uncle die