The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-11-01

NO mAteflAl cnanRe IN senator Morton
condition since yesterday. He realet
we'll during the forenoon and retaine,
more food than he has done for seyera
days, but he is evidently growing weaker
DR.. Thompson seens confident that hi
digestive organs have not been atiecte,
by paralysis, and faint belief IL bull
upon this that he may yet grow stronger
Now and then little swine Of milk
stays upon the stomach, and this adds 4
the hope. Tit Is almost hoping agains
hope, and until some more visible chang
occurs than Ia manifest at present, 81
death may be looked for at any moment
A few dayShsye wrought great change
in his appearance as well as in his coIdi
tion. Only the bright eye and WebsteriaI
brow are natural. His face, 90 round an,
full on his return from Oregon, Is pain
fully thin, his LETT hand Il shrunken, ant
his body wasted and shriyeIed. Hi
whole appearance indicates extrem,
weakness and helplessneSs. He still hal
the use Of his right arm, and with as
sistance can raise his head sufficiently L
swallow his medicine and food. But tc
turn upon his side, or 10 raise himself II
bed, or TO change the position Of biz
legs, or to move his left arm, he L
as poWerless as he will be when the
heart ceases 10 pulsate. His voice, too
has grown husky and weak, and thC
Phlegm collecting in his throatl can nc
longer be raised. Day by day the pow,
erful frame has been giving away, Sapped
by starvation even Of lis latent strength
until II is no longer cogniEable as thC
body that hai supported these many year
one OF the foremost minds in the nation
yet he Is fully conscious; and, from pres,
ent Indications, 10 likely to remains so ur
TO his last moments. he recognizes hiI
friends as they enter the room, and inva
riably extends his hand to greet them
But he seldom speaks, and has ceased
asking for "Lhe news" Since Thursday
last, the papers have mot been read tc
him, and he no longer evinces interest il
what may be passing at Washington OF
elsewhere. he understands that these
are the symptoms Of rapidly failing
strength, and although his family
very naturally forbear to express
their fears in his hearing, he is fully
aware Of his approaching dissolution. i
man who has studied men and read their
thoughts in their faces cannot now be de.
ceiyed by any words Of concealment.
Have you given me upr he asked Of au
attendant this afternoon. @By no means, =
was the quick reply. n think you have, =
he answered, "and perhaps II Is we'll thai
| should CO." Senator Morton has alwayE
had horror OF being dependent upon
other people, and as expressed in these
dispatches this morning, he would prefer
to die now rather than live on as para.
lytic. Beyond such statements as the
above, he has given no expression to any
feelings he may have touching his near.
ness to death. Some weeks ago he made
his will, thinking then that the chances
Of recovery were against him, but what
he did was done in business like man.
ner. It is evident, however, that he has
no fear OF death, and it is not unlikely
that when il comes he will welcome 1t AZ
a relieffrom pain and exhaustion.
Senator Morton is not connected with
any church, nor is he" protesting Chris.
tian," as this phase ia usually understood
by orthodox Christians. But.those who
know him intimately know that he has
great respect for the teachings ofthe New
Testament, and that he has ever been q
friend and supporter Of churches. Dur.
ing the war he recognized the power OF
their influence, and on more than one oc.
casion during the dark days Of 1868 he
conferred with the clergymen OF this city,
requesting their earnest support. "He
recognized the efficiency OF our prayers =
said one Of them the other day, Gand
often acknowledged that it was source Of
great encouragement and strength that
hehad the sympathy Of Christian people. !"
The Governors mother was Presby.
teriaD, q woman OF mild and beneyo.
lent disposition, a correct understanding,
and undertaking probity. His fathers
family were Methodists. The Governor
has never expressed any especial prefer.
enee for either, and since his sickness in
1855, he has been unable to attend church
at all. "The seats are too uncom.
Portable" he often remarks, %vnd
it is too annoying as we'll
as inconvenient 10 take ones chair with
him." But the great principles which lie
at the base Of the Christian faith he has
always accepted. In his boyhood and
young manhood his grandfather was very
careful OF his religious training, placing
in his hands such books as would impress
their teachings iavorably upon a mind
that was even then reaching out and in
quiring for reason for the faith that was
inhtm. In later years, and especially
since his frSt attack Of paralysis, Dr.,
Thompson has had frequent conversa-
tions with him upon the subject Of relig.
ion, and he has found him clear in his
conceptions Of the truth as formulated in
the Gospels. During the progress Of the
Oregon Senatorial investigation, he sur
prised as well as edited those who hap
pened to be inhis company, by show
ing an uncommon familiarity with the
different religions OF the world, ancient
and modern. After weighing their merits
and dement's he spoke OF the Christian
faith as the fruit Of all religions
which men were now. pluckiug and
eating, because II satisfied 4 natural
craving after true and reasonable belief
in an unseen Power who ruled the uni
verse. Mrs. Morton Is q member Of the
Christian (Disciples) Church, and a
woman Of uncommonly good judgement
and strong Christian character. She
thoroughly understands her husband, and
has been to him quiet but very positive
influence for good. She bears her sorrow
now in way that commands the admira-
tion Of all:Who are thrown into her com.
pany. She has never entirely given up
hope, and to-day she thinks she can de.
tect little change for the better. II Is
now more than eighty days since she has
known what il is to have a whole nights
rest; still she keeps on, trying one rem
edy, then another, never complaining,
never betraying anxiety. and never fail
ing to make her presence a continued
blessing to her husband. His eyes follow
her as she steps quietly shout the room;
he takes her hand in his "a she comes
near the bed, aud when for some cause
she is absent longer than ulual, her
whereabouts must be known to him.
"In all these years Of sickness" he once
said to the writer, "she has never failed
me once"
The Senator is very patient in his sui.
tering, but increasing weakness brings