Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-11-15
MORTON.
Sincere Tribute 10 the Memory or the Dead
Statesman

| history or our country, and prompts
| in view of the adverse criticisms of a
partisan press, to add few words OF
tribute to the memory of one whose
| heroic deeds in behalf of the General
Government merit our warmest graft
tude. 1t seems fitting at an hour like
this, when patriot has sunk to rest
that the need of praise be utteredand
the bright side of his eventful history
portrayed for public emulation The
name and fame of Senator O. p. Nor
ton nave become household words
throughout the length and breadth of
the Union, in whose defense he dedi-
Gated the best years of bis life, and
for which he gave in fact life itself.
Born in Indiana August 4, 1928, he
has illumined the historical pages of
that progressive State for nearly half
century, and dying as its Senator in
Congress at the age of 81, has left to
the entire nation priceless legacy in
the unsullied devotion and unwaver-
ing energy and patriotism bestowed
in the preservation of our national
flag, and the perpetuation of Republic
can government based upon the will
of the people, by the people and for
the people. His earliest years were
devoted to the study of the law, and
he was elected Circuit Judge in his
native State at the age of %. He
participated in the deliberations of the
Pittsburgh Convention in 1856, where
the Republican party sprang into life,
and became an earnest advocate of
the principles enunciated in the plat
form, and in fact headed the Guber.
material ticket In Indiana the same
year. After vigorous" personal cam
vass of the entire State, although
winning golden opinions from the
people, he was defeated by small
vote. In 1860 he was the Republic
can candidate for Lieut.. Governor,
and was elected most triumphantly.
Governor Lane being elected to the
United States Senate in 1861, Mr..
Morton became the Chief Executive
of the State. AT this time the torch
of treason fared. Secession had
raised its venomous head i'll the South,
and the very air seemed laden with
the seeds of revolution. sCompro-
mise measures" were openly advocat-
ed at the North, while even the Gen
eral-in chief of our national army ia
vored "letting the hayward sisters
depart in peace" rather than involve
the country in relentless war.
At this juncture Morton's voice
was heard. like the clear, piercing
notes of the bugle, calling upon the
patriots to unite in defense Of the
Union, and declaring that the right
to secede did not exist, and that the
Southern States must remain in the
Union, and not be allowed to depart
in peace, or otherwise. His words
were bravely, nobly and fittingly
spoken, and the loyal North responded
Gas the waves come
When nayies are stranded"
Morton was then but hirty-seven-
the youngest Governor but one in the
United States, possessed of indomita-
BILE energy and determination, and
complete master of the science of or
ganiZation, and its co-worker, execu-
tive ability. Under President Lin
coins call for volunteers, Indiana's
quota was six regiments, and these
were raised within one week and sent
forward to the front. His zeal and
determination at this time challenged
the unbounded admiration of the
North, and won for our hero the title
of War Governor" which he fondly
cherished to the hour of his death.
In the dark and trying hour of the
Rebellion, when the result seemed
trembling in the balance, Morton, by
his mastery efforts, won the lasting
friendship of Lincoln, who, as he ex-
pressed it, loved to "lean upon his
great arm for support and sympathy"
The successful overthrow of the
Knights of the Golden Circle" and
the " Sons of Liberty" together with
the punishment meted ont to the ring
leaders in those vile organizations,
are familiar to the whole country, and
need not be recounted here.
He was reelected Governor in 1854
by more than 10000 majority, and
was so vigilant and attentive to the
varied cares of State that his health
suddenly gave way, and he sought re-
Taxation in brief trip to Europe,
from whence, after few months
absence, he returned, and was ere
long elected to the United States Sem
ate. His first speech in that body
was made in January, 1868, and in
the expressive language of General
Grant, that speech gives us O Re-
publican victory next fall" His Ia
bors in behalf of the fifteenth
amendment to the constitution, and
the brilliant coup d. etat by which he
secured its ratification by Indiana
his warm defense of Grant with refer
ence to the "San Domingo" matter.
and his mastery speech relative to
the French arms, are wildly inn
pressed upon memory. He declined
the mission to England rendered him
by President Grant, feeling that his
services were needed in the Senate,
where he remained until death.
His action during the last Presiden-
tiaI campaign, and especially with
reference to the Louisiana investiga-
ton, are but recent events, and famil-
lar to all. While tenacious of Ma
tional life, and risking lite itself in de-
tense of the Union, yet with the sur.
render of Lee at Appomattox, every
vestige of revenge in retaliation for
the terrible suffering entailed by the
war fled from Morton's heart, and no
public man could claim warmer
friends in the South as well as in the
North. In many respects the lives of
s. A. Douglas and 0. P. Morton were
similar. Each was imbued with tho Sc
sterling qualities which tend to de-
velop the sturdy patriot, and had life
been spared the "Little Giant" he
and Morton would have battled
bravely together side by side. Doug
las died as the days of the Rebellion
dawned, but his prophetic words that
a.; thic oontast tharn oan hn hut two