Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-01-24
FE OF OLIVER p MORT . N:
mdA hd
a S @

original source of investigation, and thoroughly
informed himself upon every matter on which
he was required to act. No member OF this
body gave more uniformly intelligent vote
and this was true Of small matters well as of
great His comprehension grasped every sub
ject of our deliberations Nothing was too
formidable for him TO undertake; nothing was so
minute as TO escape his observation. Feebler
than any of his associates in physical health, he
was surpassed by none of them ia the amount
OF labor which he accomplished. He did not
recognize in his infirmities a reason for avoiding
any duty imposed upon him, or that he imposed
upon himself. The mind dominated the body
and compelled its erfeebed and exhausted func-
tons to perform the full service of q vigorous
organization.
Deeply impressed with the truth Of his con-
victons, he supported them with an earnes;ness
born of sincerity, with a fullness of informa-
ton due TO his marvellous habit of industry, and
with power that sprung from large natural
ability disciplined by severe training; but he
supported them only in fair aad manly debate.
He never indulgcd in trickery; he seemed 10
dsdain even the trickery OF rhetoric. The solid
logic of his arguments was encountered by little
ornament, and his array OF facts depended for
their effect, apart from their inherent force,
upon the clearness Of bis statement and tie
strength of his presentation.
Simple in his manner. frugal in his habits, he
maintained through life devoted to the public
the dignity of an official position upon the emol-
ument which the law assigned to it.
But the supreme hour arrived, and
he obeyed the inevitable summons, as all who
went before him had done. rs all who come
after him must do. and with the affecting words,
IL am worn ont" he Yielded up a life which he
had identified with the history of his country by
wise counsels, by brave leadership, by solid
achievements. lie died in the prime and vigor
of his intellectual strength and in the midst Of
L. - Kaf nat hat "a
short Que whose work, if distributed over the
allotted period of human existence, would have
crowned the three years and ten with an
honorable and an enduring record.
Mr.. wadleigh, of New Hampshire.
As much any other Senator, he led the de-
bates and guided the action Of this body The
last ten years of his life were one constant and
hopeless struggle with the incurable disease
from whose grasp there was no escape. and
which day by day steadily approached the cita-
del of life. He knew that his days were num-
bcrcd and were few; yet he looked firmly in the
face OF the relentless, tortuTing. conquering en-
envy and kept on his way. lie shirked no labor,
however nriuous; he left no duty unperformed.
Ills devotion 10 duty was heroic. His journey
TO the Pacific coast in the last months of his life
was marked by prodigies of hercuiean labor.
Ease comfort, nay, even life itself seemed OF
little consequence to him when compared with
the inPerious duty to which he seemed to have
bound himself of preserving the results Of the
civil war 10 the people of the United States for
ever. Worn cut by ceasciess labor in the per-
formance of public duties, in the armor OF battle
he calmly met the stroke of death.
In robust manliness the intellect of Senator
Morton uncxcelled. His speeches were
marked by logical force. clear perception. and a
strength of statement which rescinbled dean on-
| stration. Thongh destitute Of rhetoric and bare
of ornament, their massive force almost senccd
doubt and compelled conviction. Even bis ex-
| temporaneous efforts had the symmetry Of
| labored productions.
Like most really great men the deceased Sem
ator was profoundly sincere and earnest He
| despised the petty trickery of politics. In
capable of treachery he was slow To suspect IT
| IN Others Confident in his strength, be scorncd
| the arts of weakness He had, too, the gener-
osity and magnaninity which are inseparable
| from true greatness. No party conflicts tiDged
his personal relations with bitterness. Nor can
! believe that lac WAS not a lover of peace. But
| he desired peace based upon justice. and there
fore enduring forever. Ho could not accept n
| peace which be believed was based upon injustice
and wrong. Against wrong and injustice of al
kinds, and upon whomsoever exercised. be
fought with indomitable courage and unbendins
will. In his tomb lies the boldcst champion OF
the oppressed, the sternest foe OF oppression.
| Ills sympathies were bounded by no lines OF
creed nor condition nor race, but were broad as
humanity. In the last days If his life he sought
Ia cover with the Ggis oil his great name the dc
| spised and hated Chinese immigrants OF the Pa
ciic slope. lie was equally regardless of popu-
lsrity IN his advocacy of the claim of women 10
| political rights.
His integrity WIS untarnshed. Every attack
upon it left IL brighter than before Plain, simple,
aud frugal in his habits. after long and Illus
trious public life he died in comparative poverty.
| He had an unecmpromising hatred of political
bribery and corruption. whether in friend or
| foe Those Of Us who heard can never forget
.l...~.
political friend who was believed to have gained
an election by bribery.
No quality was more conspicuous in the char
acter OF Senator Morton than his lofty patriot
ism Ardcntiy loving his country, he sought to
| make il q temple of liberty, 10 which might
csmc the oppressed aud downtrodden of ali
| races. where universal education should diffuse
| it's blessings, i'm which might dwell In security
and peace free, happy. and united people.
| To that cause be devoted himself; To it be
gave the strength of his intellect and the warmth
OF his heart and in IL he faltered till there
came to his bedside the summons Of all conquer
1 ing Death. Linked 10 that cause, his fame will
| endure till history shall have perished and it
rccoris shall DO wrapped in the darkness Of
endless night
Mr.. Mitchell, OF Oregon.
Mr.. President. it was my fortune to serve
with Governor Morton on the Committee o.
| risileges aud Elections from the time tool
my seat in the Senate until his death, q period
Of OYER four and halt years During thi,
period the amount of work performed by him
as chairman Of the committee was prodgious
The various contests for seats In this body, the
great presidential controversy Of the last year
| Involving Investigations by that committee into
the elections in several States, were well calcu
lated to tax the physical endurance Of the most
vigorous constiiutionfand rufile the disposition
of the most patient mind. Yet through all
these years of exciting interest, Of almost
superhuman work upon the part Of the chair.
man of that committee, i never once knew him
| to be late TO committee meeting, never saw
him in the least disturbed in temper; on the con-
trlry. always patient, afiable, companionable;
| always meeting his colaborers with "a smile Of
welcome, always parted with words of kind
hess. There it was, Mr.. President learned to
love him and appreciate his noble soul; there
estimated the high qualities of his heart-those
of his mind were known throughout the world:
.l.a,.a I la.ar.,..d hon. liz.