Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-01-24
OLIVER p. MORTON.
Ia Ealogies Pronounced Upon His Life and
Services
In the United States Senate Chamber, JAN
nary IL, 1878.
Extracted from Congressional Record.
Senator Mcdonald.

eight minutes my late colleague, Oliver p. Nor
ten. departed this life.
The Senate, at the time. took note of his death
md manifested its respect for him by the ap-
pointmcnt Of . committee to he present at bis
burial
The resolutions which I submit to-day for the
consideration of the Senate are designed to be
placed uPon the journals of Congress, there 10
remain for all time G record monument to his
memory.
- become his eulogist l feel that 1 am not
suited TO the task.
We can all say that by his death n "great
name has been stricken from the roll of the Sem
ste" Few. IL any, filled so large space in the
public mind during the eventual period in our
influence Of time Will have to cast its mantle
ever these events and the prominent part be
took in them before a political opponent. and
especially q citizen of his own State. can 50 far
free his mind from the influences engendered by
the political strifes to ne inst much less 10 be
able 20 indulge in the pardonabie license which
sanctions the exaggeration OF virtues and high
quality, and hides, "a il with veil, all defects
Less than one year ago. when the Senate had
under consideration the resolutions Of the House
sf.kepresentatives of respect TO the memory Of
It's late Speaker. Michael c. Kerr, Senator Nor
Con was borne from the Supreme Court room.
where he was engaged as member OF the elect
oral commission, to this chamber to take part
IN the proceedings. On that occasion, speaking
e Mr. Kerr, ne said:
1--WE live in a State somewhat distinguished
Of late years for the bitterness OF its political
eouteste. While he and i were ON different sides.
yet our personal relations were always good, and
] now take pleasure in bearing testimony to his
memory
These words and this sentiment can and do
fully apply To him.
Oliver p. Morton was n native of the State Of
Indiana, aud was born in the county of
NNnxn an ha r.w 0f Apr
brief period in the common schools Of bis ma
tive State. four years apprenticeship ut the hat
ter's trade. ansl two short years at Oxford Col
lege, in the State of Ohio, male up the sam Of
his preparation to enter upon the business Of
hfe- Having chosen the profession of law. he
devoted himself TO its study, and came to the
bar in 1917. Had he continued i'm the practice
Of his profession il IL not TO be doubtcd that
with the energy and ability he has displayed in
ether fields, he would have become q leading
member in IT, While he was more or less con-
pected with the political controversies of the
times it was not until 1856 that lac NAV be said
TO have entered actively into political life, when
he became the candidate Of what was known ms
Before that time, and mp to 1854, he had been
identified politically with the ID nocratic party
but upon the passage of the Kansas Nebraska
oct, by which the Missouri compromise line was
repealed he detached himself from that party
and joined in the movement which resulted In the
Of the Republican party. But it was not until
1871 that he became generally known TO the
country. In October. 1850, he was elected
Lieutenant Governor of his State ON the ticket
with Governor Henry s Lane, and upon the
election Of Governor Lane to the Senate, I'm
january following. he became acting Governor,
and continued to be chief magistrate of his ma
tive State until January, 1867, when he was
elected q Senator from the State TO succeed SEN
stor Lane in that body. His course aud cou-
n y,I,o H., ,..-.l
war are so well known to the country and have
been so much the subject Of comment as to
make il unnecessary for inc to do more than re-
fer to them. The energy with which he sup
ported and upheld the power Of the Federal
government In its efforts to suppress the rebel
lion won for him the name aud title of the 'War
Governor and gave him permanent place i'm
the front ran. Of the public men Of the country.
Naturally eonbative and aggressive, intense
" in earnest in his undertakings, and intolerant
NOT strange that while he held together his
friends and followers with hooks Of steel he
caused many whose patriotism and love of coun-
try were rs sincere and unquestioned his own
And the political situation I'm Indiana was well
expressed by him when he said, ON the occasion
have already referred to:
ave live in State somewhat distinguished
Of late years for the bitterness of its political
contests"
During the early part Of Governor Morton's
political career he was as distinguished for his
physical strength a. for his mental ability an.
energy; but in the fall Of 1865, almost with
sut warning. he was stricken down by par
tia, paralysis, from the disabilities of which he
never recovered and which gradually but surely
carried him to his grave When he entered this
chamber TO take his scat ~ q Senator he was
enabled TO do 30 Gully by the aid and assistance
% others, and although unscbooled in parlia-
ueutary law and without experience in the
-><h<<i. and iuos of do h<.d; n,
laborinx under disabilities that would have IN
duced most men to seek for quiet in retirement
almost FROM the first day be entered this cham
her he became the political leader of his party
that there were not other members Of it who
were his equals in intellect aud his superiors in
LEARNING vet there were none who possessed his
untiring energy. his slcepless industry. and ms
indomitable will His loss of physical vigor
sae,ned 10 have added concentrated power "a
activity to his mental energies. that it appear
ed rs If the mind was acting for both mind AND
body; and il IL most probably true that this In
crease Of mental activity aud constant occupa
ton rather added tn his life by drawing the
mind away from dwelling upon the helpless con
ditiou Of his body and the incurable malady that
lad seized upon it.
shall not undertake to follow Oliver p. Nor
ton through his senatorial career. lie became
4 member of this body after the rebellion hsa
government pun down, but before the meshot
or dealing with the people of the Southern States
or the policies that should govern ia the re
establishment of the Federal authority over tn.
States lately i'm rebellion had been decided upon
or adopted The two modes of what was term
Cd s.restoration' of the Union on the one hand
or q "reconstrucfion' of IL the other, wer,
then being actively canvassed in the nationa
councils and before the eountry.
Although i'm the inception ut these questions /
was understood that Governor Norton favores
vhat was known ~ tho restoration policy, ye
upon becoming a Isemher of this body. for rea
sons no doubt satisfactory to himself, he becam
the champion of the reconstruction policy, ans
continued to he the advocate of that policy, ant
the logical results of il, during the remainde
Of his life. He also took leading part j. nj
the discussions and debates that arose in TIL
body from time to time, as u fully shown by tn
records its proceedings But his lab0rs dur
ing the last session of the last Congress furnish
ed the most striking illustration Of his sleeples
energy. As chairman of the Committee OF
Privileges and Elections il became his duty h
direct and control the investigation ordered b,
the Senate into the elections in several of th'
Southern States and respecting the Oregon
Il vofe Hia dQfcr1utueS1 opnositiou IA