Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-01-13

| ~ mdy Hpt Ue generally remembered thai
before the republican party was formed, in
| speeches and resolutions he gave voice and
form to the great issue between freedom and
slavery which was so notedly discussed in
this Nation in and out of Congress, and
which was ultimately settled by the arbitra.
meDt of arms. Reared in humble life. by
his own efforts going from the common school
to the college, by dint of untring effort be-
coming eminent in the legal profess ion, hav-
ing served in the popular legislative branch
IN this State, and afterwards, Mr.. President,
gracing the honorable seat you now occupy,
becoming, three years in succession, Governor
OF Name, having served fourteen years in
the Senate Of the United States, being Min
lister Of Finance under the great war presi-
| dent, and later in the management
of the revenues in an important dis
trict,-he was not only equal to all, but was
eminent in each. He was the statesman and
not the politician. To-day we tearfully COM
memorate his virtues and his deeds.
will say in closing that millions oEce in
bondage, now freemen, who '.jocund drive
| their team afield, :" bless the names of Lot NJ.
| Morrill, and his associates in effecting the
| greatest revolution in modern times; and
millions yet to be will learn their names and
do homage to their memory to the latest day.
Mr.. Rust Of Waldo said:
l am happy to second the very ap pro-
pirate resolutions offered by the Senator from
Cumberland. We come not, perhaps, to con-
dole, for Mr.. Morrill's death was not untimely,
nor before he had done his life work. There
| is no time when we can so correctly
estimate man, and especially public man,
as when he has put off his armor and wrapped
the habiliments of the grave about him.
OF Mr.. Morrilfs private life as a citizen
and as a neighoOr, know but little. But as
public man 1 knew him intimately,
and l always gave him my earnest
| suppOrt.-supporting him in the legis-
lature in 1869 when the representatives of
! the republican party were compelled to choose
| between him and another distinguished states
man, both of whom stood equal in the regards
of the party of the State.
| In the revolution of our State politics in
| 1854, when thousands of us who had been
democrats, but opposed to the extension of
slavery, united with a portion of the whig
party to form the republican party, Mr..
Morrill,, who was also opposed to the extern
| sion of slavery, was not with us. He was
naturally conservative and somewhat a doc
trinare. and the legal and constitutional
poets of the slavery question caused him to
| hesitate. But the extreme avOwals OF
| the Southern statesmen, and especially
the Dred Scott decision which de-
clared that the African slave race
had, under our constitution. no rights which
the white race were bound to respect. con-
WINGED him that the slave power had set up a
claim not warranted by the constitution. and
that it was aspiring to complete domination
in this country; and he hesitated no longer,
but severed his connection with the demo
cratic party, which upheld the repeal of the
Missouri Compromise and Joined the republi
| can party.
In 1857 he was nominated bv the republi-
can party as its candidate for Governor. In
the campaign which followed, he addressed
| the people with great effect. His speeches
did much to establish the republican party
upon the bed rock of principle. His
sharp analytical mind. his clear per-
ceptons and his calm, statesmanlike.
convincing manner drew his hearers to him.
| He possessed the rare faculty of aptness to
teach men, and the man was dull of appre-
| hension who returned to his home after hear
| ing him without being impressed with new
views.
In the United States Senate he showed the
| highest qualities of statesman. Entering
| that body in 1861, when the government was
beset on every hand with difficulties, he did
| much to extrcate it. He was among the first
| to see and recognize the great fact that the
| status of the Nation was war, and not a mere
rebellion to be suppressed by an armed posse
| comitatus. In a speech of great research,
| he showed that the same laws applied that
| would apply if we were at war with foreign
| nation.
The government soon after adopted the
| principles expounded by him, and the nation
was lifted out of the slough of despond. The
war was in its second year. Our armies had
taken many rebel prisoners, while the con-
| federate armies had taken many union pris-
oners, who were languishing and starving iE
rebel prisons and under the theory which
! the government had been carrying on the
war there could be no exchanges, and under
that same policy slaves who had come over
to our lines were sent back to their rebel
| masters.
During his whole career in the Senate his
course was marked by high sense of duty.
He would not have dabbled in Credit Mobilier
stock any more than he would have ac-
cepted any direct bribe, and he would not allow
any thief or peculator to pass uncondemned
if he had the power to prevent it. An exam
pie was the case of Patterson. He had been
charged with theft and embezzlemcnt. Sena-
tor Morrill, was chairman of the Investigating
committee. Patterson hoped to escape
through party sympathy. but in that he was
greatly mistaken. He found in the chair
man a stern and upright judge who turned
him over among the malefactors-
He lived to see the great objects for which
the republican party was formed accom-
plished, and more than accomplished. Since
then new issues have arisen, and those who
| then saw alike do not now all see alike upon
those new issues. The fact is not to be de-
plored. 1t is sign of progress. 1t shows
tina, men are growing more independent in
their opinions and are becoming less the
slaves of party, and that no party can expect
| long to rule that does not seek the greatest
good of the greatest number.
Mr. Weeks of Kennebec said:
Mr.. President: As Kennebec county was
Mr.. Morrill's birthplace, and this capital city
his home for nearly forty years. it may be
proper that should add word to what has
| been so well said.
| The constituency whom in part have the
| honor to represent, have been his associates.
his intimate friends and neighbors, and to
/ them this affection comes with the force OF
personal bereavement. Their political train
inc has been under his immediate influence.
| They have admired him as man, loved him
as friend, and honored him as statesman.
| do not forget that within these walls. which
have resounded so often to his eioquence, he
took that noble stand for free speech and free
territory which brought down upon him the
censure of former political associates, but
1 .f Avver ntaU nod