St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-11-09

On the outside to-day we give biief
account of the last hours and death of
Senator Morton, one of the great "war
governors" of 1861. Below we give
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE AND PUBLIC SER
VICES.
Oliver Perry Morton was born in
Wayne county, Ind, Aug. 4, 1923. His
grandfather was one of three brothers
who came from England century ago.
Their name was Throckmorton in the
reign of Elizabeth. On leaving New
Jersey for the West, the Senator's father
dropped the first syllable of his surname,
and the son adhered to the change.
When the latter was three years old he
lost his mother, and was placed under
the care of his grandparents in Ohio.
After attending district school, he
was put to the hatters' trade with his
brother. But he soon showed a pas
sion for reading and study, and finally
prepared himself for college, and enter
ed Miami University in 1S43. Leaving
college at the age of %, he entered upon
the study of law, and after his admission
to the Bar, began practice in his native
county. He had streng and learned
competitors, but soon proved himself as
strong as any of them. His career at
the Bar was very successful.
In 1852, Mr.. Morton was elected cir
cult judge. He was democrat, until
the repeal of the Missouri compromise
in 1853, when he abandoned his old
political associates at once, and ever
after was inflexible in his devotion to
the interests of freedom. In 1856-the
Fremont year-when Mr.. Morton was
but 80 years of age, he was nominated
for governor, but was not elected. In
1860, he was nominated for lieutenant
governor and on the election of Gov
ernOr Lane to the United States Senate,
soon after, Mr.. Morton became governor.
He soon became known as the "great
war governor the difficulties of his
position during the rebellion were i'm
mense, bnt he was always equal to the
emergency. He stimulated volunteer
ing to such an extent that no cOnscrip-
ton severely affected Indiana. When
his partisan opponents got control of
the legislature and refused to apply the
money needed for war purposes he rails
ed it by inducing the national govern
ment to enforce his views of his legal
right to do so; a decision which at
length was universally acquiesced in,
and made him master of the situation.
In January, 1867, Gov. Morton was
elected U. S. Senator, and continued to
hold his seat till the time of his death.
Although his constitution had been
shattered by his severe labors during
the war, yet the difficulty was wholly
physical in character, and his mind con-
tinued active and strong throughout his
senatorial career. He at once took high
rank as DICTATOR; and his influence
was very potent in carrying through the
reconstruction measures and the Con-
titutiOnal amendments. He was for a
time strongly imbned with some of the
financial heresies so prevalent in the
West, but later he threw his influence
on the side of resumption. His Jealous
course in the exciting presidential con-
test last winter, will be we'll remember
ed. He had introduced a scheme for
reform of the electoral system-prOvid-
ing a tribunal to adjust and decide all
contested presidential elections.
Although Senator Morton did not pos
sess the gifts which are generally asso-
ciated with popularity, yet he became
a great favorite with those who knew
him best and with the extremists of his
party. He was very radical In his
views, and a strong partisan yet he
had the sagacity to perceive that a
change of policy was necessary in refer
ence to Southern affairs. Accordingly,
he gave in his adhesion to the Southern
policy of President Hayes, which he
pronounced inevitable; and short
time before his death he reiterated his
endorsement of the presidents policy
In strong article published in the In
diapapolis Journal. His death may be
regarded as serious loss to the admins
tration, of which he would baYe been a
powerful supporter, as well as TO the
country which he has served with such
distinguished ability and patriotism.