Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-01-24
Mr.. Burnside, Of Rhode Island.

Our walks in life led us apart until the war OF
the rebellion, during portion of which we were
intimately associated. he as Governor of the
great State of Indiana and as q military COM
mander Of the department of the Ohio. The
friendship that had existed from boyhood was
strengthened by the kind. strong, efficient coun-
sci and cooperation which he gave me during
my service in that department After the ter.
mnation of this ASSOCIATION naturally watched
his career with increased interest. 1t was
with great personal satisfaction that i found
him the recognized leader Of the Republican
patty upon this floor when joined him here.
In all the walks of life Morton has proved him.
self great man.
The high position which he attained was in no
sense due TO accident. No fortui.ous circum-
stances brought him into prominence. lie did
not spring from the humble walks OF life and
rise through great difficulties 10 eminence; nor
Il d he separate himself by self-denal from a
lite Of ease and luxury with view to taking
upon himself the labOrs and responsibilities of
public man, which latter course is often harder
tn pursue than the former. Nor did he como
from that class who are educated for the learned
professions from which the stepping stone to
public distinction is comparatively easy when
the asprants are possessed of intelligence. in
tegritv and industry; but he sprang from that
great conservative class which is composed of
men engaged in agricultural aud mechan-
ical pursuits, whose dispositions. as a
rule. are TO continue In the course upon
which they enter until their works arc crowned
with moderate success or ended in failure
What gave him his greatest strength
IA a debatcr was his great desire and facility
for learning and presenting the facts of a case.
He was rarely found wrong in his statements,
and was always ready to appeal to the records
ard TO abide the results Another prominent
characteristic was his fairness ANY fact
claimed by his opponent and well established
by the record he always conceded. There was
hut little repetition in his speeches. After he
had once presented his facts or theories dis
tinctly they were dropped until some one OF his
opponents made IL necessary to refer tn them
again. He never wearied his political friends
by 100 much speech. aad always occupied his
opponents He rarely ii ever, indulgesi
| in personalities or in frivolities.
He was lover of law and order, and was
averse % being led into an arbitrary exercise of
authority by the emergencies OF the war. 1 re-
member while was in command OF the depart
ment of the Ohio, which department embraced
the State of Indiana that had occasion to issue
n general order With q view To reaching persons
who l thought were INDUCING in reasonable
| speeches. Under this order some prominent
citizens were arrested, and among them a prom
ineut citizen of Ohio. and one of the State Sena-
tors of the State of Indiana. Morton urgently
! argued with me against the wisdom and Justice
| of the arrest of these citizens, and demanded
| the release of the State Senator notvithstand-
| ing the fact that he was one of his most bitter
| political opponents. He had ambition but never
allowed il 10 blind him to what he conceived to
be the best interests Of the country. lie was u
prominent aspirant for the nomination by his par
~ at the last presidential election. and was doubt
less sorely disappointed at his failure 30 receive
the nomination. but when he wrote his letter OF
advice to lis fcllow-ctizens ms 10 the duty OF
the hour all were assured that this failure had
engendered in him no il-wil toward his party
or to the distinguished gentleman who received
| the nomination. but quite the reverse; he was
ready and anxious to give him his full support
and encouragement.
His unbounded affection for his family was
one Of his striking characteristics. His es,ima-
| BILE wife was his almost constant companion
when he was not engaged in his public duties.
| His devotion 10 his friends marked in the
extreme which accounts for the great affection
| in which lie was held by all those who were in.
| timately associated with him.
| Morton was great man. His judgment was
good. his power Of research was great his integ
rity was high, his patriotism was lofty, his love
| OF iami v and friends unlimited, his courage in
donitable. No feeble words OF mine can ex
press the great loss which this body, his native
State, aad our country have sustained by his
1 death