The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-01-11
LOT M. MORRILL,.
His Death at Augusta Yesterday.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE AND PUBLIC
SERVICES.

AUGUSTA, Jan. 10.-Hon. Lot M. Morrill,
died this morning at 10 o'clock. He suffered
very little last night. His last moments were
without pa.n or struggle. The members of his
family and the attending physician were pres
ent during the last moments. The dying man
recognized his family, and with his last breath
attempted to bid them farewell, but with the
word on his lips his spirit passed into the un-
seen world.
The funeral services over the remains of the
late Lot. NJ. Morrill, will take place Saturday,
at IL a. M, at his late residence. The bells
of the city churches were tolled this afternoon
as mark of respect to the deceased. Tomor-
row his death will be announced in the Legis-
lature. The arrangements for the funeral are
not yet completed
Lot Myrick Morrill,, son of Peaslee and
Nancy Morrill,, was born in Belgrade, Kenne-
bee County, in March, 1911. His parents
were among the early settlers of that town,
moving from South Berwick. Mrs. Morrill,
was married at the age of fourteen, and be-
came the mother of fourteen children.
Their son Lot, after the usual preparatory
studies, pursued dur ing the intervals of farm
work, entered Waterville College, but the
limited means of his father did not permit him
to complete his college course. On leaving
Waterville he devoted himself to legal stud
les, commencing practice in Readfeld
Postmaster General Howe occupied an ad-
joining Office, and warm friendship sprapg
up between the young lawyers, which after
twenty years was revived in the United States
Senate, and was never interrupted. After few
years Mr.. Morrill, removed to Augusta, becom-
ing partner of Senator Bradbury, and the
practice of the firm soon extended over middle
and eastern Maine. He had been brought MP
In the Democratic party, of whose principles
his father was staunch advocate, and in 1852
was the candidate of that party for representa-
tive to the Legislature from Augusta, but was
defeated by his Whig competitor. The next year
however, he was renominated and elected At
the expiration of Senator Bradbury's term, in
1859, the late Mr. Justice Clifford and Mr. Morrill,
were put forward by the two wings of that par
ty as candidates for the Senatorial succession
But the two branches of the Legislature could
not agree, and the next year Senator Fessen
den was elected by a combination of Wings
and Anson P Morrill, Democrats.
In 1855, Mr.. Morrill, was elected Senator
from Kennebec, and was chosen President of
the Senate at its organization in 1856 That
was the year of Governor Wells's administra-
tion, some of whose measures Mr. Morrill, did
not approve; among them were the repeal of
the prohibitory law and the removal of Judge
Davis from the Supreme bench by address.
In this connection it may be remarked that
MIR. Morrill, was lifelong and temperate sup
porter OF the prohibitory principle, both in the
ory and practice.
The next year, having Withdrawn from the
Democratic party, he was nominated and elect
ed governor by the Republicans, serving three
terms. Upon his retirement from the chief
magstracy of Maine, in January, 1861, he was
chosen by the Legislature TO fill the vacancy
occasioned by the resignation of Senator Ham,
lin, Vice President elect, aud in 1868 he was
reelected for full terra.
In January, 1869, after eight years of Sena-
torial service, Senator Morrill, was defeated by
Ex-Vice President Hamlin in the Republican
Legislative caucus by blank vote That con-
test is still fresh in the public memory: it
produced a profound impression and far
reaching results.
Upon the enactment of the circuit court bill
the next summer, Mr.. Morrill, was rendered by
President Grant the appointment of Justice Of
the Circuit Court of the United States for
the first Circuit, comprising all the New Eng
land States, except Vermont and Connecticut
While he had that appointment under consid-
GRAFTON, the death of Senator Fessenden oc-
pointed by Governor Chamberlain to fill the
vacancy, the Legislature at its next ses-
sion electing him for the remainder of Senator
Fessenden's term. The late Hon. George f.
Shepley was appointed Circuit Judge, and the
Legislature of 1871 reelected Senator Morrill,
for full term of six years. With brief in
terval in 1869, Mr.. Morrills senatorial life
extended from January 1861, to July,
1876 period of fifteen years, embracing the
most critical epoch of the national history
In all the great questions of the war ard re-
construction, Senator Morrill, took an active
part. not only in debate but in the more labo-
rious duties of the committee room.
His courage and patriotism were of the pur,,st
type, and never faltered during the darkest
hours of tie rebellion. His views, although
moderate and reasonable, inclined toward the
radical rather than the conservative wing of
the party. He supported the emancipation
proclamation and the policy of President Lin
coin, the constitutional amendments extirpat-
ing slavery, and securing impartial suffrage,
the disability of rebel leaders, and the en-
franchisement of the freedmen; the Ku Klux
acts, the resumption of specie payments and
the funding of the national debt. He opposed
the reconstruction policy of President John
son, the passage of the initiation bill, an the
reconciliation of silver.
Very soon after his entrance into the Senate,
by speech of remarkable power, he advocated
and carried the expulsion of Senator Bright of
Indiana, for reasonable correspondence with
Jefferson Davis, measure which at first failed
to command the support of several lead
ing Republicans, among them the late
Senator Fessenden. In 1868 he was aga in
constrained to differ with his colleague, for
Senator Morrill, favored the impeachment of
President johnson, who escaped conviction by
single vote. Probably the most painful act
OF Senator Morrill's life was the presentation of
his report upon the Credit Mobilier affair,
when, as chairman of the Senatorial commit
tee, his sense of duty compelled him to recon-
mend the expulsion of a Senator and the CEN
sure of others of the very highest rank in his
own party. AS chairman of the Indian COM
mittee, his reports, speeches and votes were
always on the side of humanity and justice to-
ward the aborigines. He was the intimate
and trusted friend of President Grant, who
twice offered him the embassy 10 the court of
st. James, on the second occasion strongly