The Leavenworth weekly times., 1877-11-08
,,,r,rovsry,-oIs 1.oRToN.

Death OF SENATOR I.oRToN-
rFror, t,,e Daily O. Fridly, November 2nd-l
A panS OF SORROW viii be caused IN tAe
heart Of every IOge. Of his country IN the
United States through the announcement
made by the telegraph this morning, that
Senator Morton. OF Ind lana, died at his
residence in indianapolis, at ; O'Clock yes
teriay afternoon, and the loss viii he none
the less keenly lel, because Of the fact that
his death has been looked forward TO for
several weeks past As an event likely TO ac-
cur at any hour Thus ends the liie OF one
whose public career covered the most event
ful and important epoch in American his
tory. and whose name will go down to future
generations as one of the brightest, ablesi
and purest OF American statesmen.
Oliver Perry Morton was a native OF his
own Indiana. and was born in Wayne
county, August 4ih, 1923, being therefore
at the time OF his death, a little over hity
four years old. lie came of an English
family, his ancestors having imnIlsrated to
this country Just alter the close Of the Kew
olutionary war. This descent from Engilsh
stock may account for those strong traits
which were prominent in Mr.. Morton char
acter. and which are supposed to be more COM
mon among the English than other nation
alities---such for instance rs his unconqeuEa'
bic will, his tenacity of purpose, and
his readiness 4; all times TO nc,
cept a contest whenever circumstances
required ii, wi.hout regard TO odds or obsta
cles. His early years were passed amid
narrow opportunities, but he early devel,
oped natural fondness for stud sand de
sire TO make the best Of the meagre adyan-
tages afforded him. At the age Of fifteen
he was apprenticed to a halter, and followed
this business for four years, during which
period all his spare time was spent in study;
the knowledge thus acquired, begot thirst
for more learning, and be quit his trade in
January. IS, and entered the Miami Uui-
versity, at Oxford, Ohio. At the aee oi
twenty-five he left college and be-
gan the study of law in the
Office of Hon. John s. Newman, at Center
vile, Indiana. In 1852, Mr.. Morton, at the
age of 80, was elected Circuit Judge by the
Legislature. The position OF Judge, how
ever, had little attraction Tor him, and
though he filled it to the entire satisfaction
ofthe profession and the public, he resigned
at the end Of year. Being naturally OF a
controversial east of mind, he preferred the
bar to the bench, and professional combat TO
judicial service. From 1888 TO lSG0, he de-
voted himself assiduousIy to the practice of
his profession, with the exception of some
brief digressions into politics, and was on one
side or the other Of every important case
tried in Wayne or the neighboiing counties.
Mr.. Morton began life as Democrat.
The early traditions of that party exercised
a peculiar power over the minds Of ambi-
tious young men. He was reared to be-
lieve IN Democratic doctrines, and when he
became voter, in 1914, slavery was still re-
garded as a sacred institution, upon the pro-
lection Of which depended the perpetuity
of the Union. The public mind was satur-
ated with the idea that slavery was the
twin brother OF the Constitution, and that
the preservation Of the one required the
protection OF the ether But when the re-
speal of the Missouri Compromise in 1854
revealed the purpose Of the South to
make slavery National and freedom
sectional, Mr.. Morton left the
Democracy, and ever after acted with the
party OF liberty and progress. Having
made public ayowal Of his opposition to
slavery and his withdrawal from the De-
mocracy, he soon became known as one Of
the most earnest advocates Of new party,
TO embody the growing sentiment against
the aggressiOns of the slave power. IIewas
one of the three delegates sent from Indiana
to the Pittsburgh convention in 1856, from
which the Republican party dates its orr
gin This convention opened the way for
the one held at Philadelphia later in the
same year, at which John c. Fremont
was nominated for the Presidency. In the
same year he WIS nominated by the Repub-
lcans Of Indiana, as their first candidate
for Governor. he accepted the nomlna-
ton with the full consciousness that there
was no hope OF success, and entering into
the canvass with his usual energy, made
brillian; campaign, making a deep and
lasting impression upon The minds of the
people by the yigor of his attacks, the force
of his logic and the evident earnestness Of
his convictions and all who listened to
him at that time knew that he was a rising
man, and destined to ultimate success.
after four years devoted to his business
his party again demanded his services. and |
he was nominated for Lieutenant Governor,
on ticket headed by Henry S Lane for |
Governor. Again, as in sc he threw his |
whole energy into the canvass. This time |
he was no stranger TO the people His ser
vices to the new party had been matter of |
common remark for four years and where
ever he went be was greeted with enthusi-
asm. In this campaign he accomplished a |
amount of work. and the election /
resulted in Il complete Republican victory.
The state ticket was elected by majority |
Of ten thousand, and the state. for the first
lime had a Republican Legislature, which.
after its assembling elected
Mr.. Lane 10 the United States Senate. and
Nr. Morton became Governor of Indiana
N which position he soon acquired ma
ional reputation.
AT the time OF his assuming Office as the
Governor of the State, Lincoln had been
'lected but not inaugurated, the South was
Wild with the fury OF secession. the Nation
Il Government was in the hands of imbe-
'ility and treason, and the loyal elements
II the country stood looking on at the gath
ring storm, not knowing what TO do. and
Waiting for a leader. Then ii was that his
'reat speech, before monster Republican
mass meeting in indianapolis electrified the
oyal people OF the nation, and pointed him
'ut as the man the country had been wait
ng for-a leader able to comprehend the
'reai issues involved, far-sight-
d enough TO trace them 10 their
legitimate results, and bold enough to as
ert the right and duty of the government ,
o protect itself against secession and trea-
on. That speech went to the popular
lea rt like a bullet 10 the mark and fron