Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-01-11

response that went out from New Eng.
land endorsing the nomination. In
1857 he was nominated for Gov
efnor of the State on the republican
ticket and elected by 1900 msjority. In
his inaugural address he took firm stand in
favor of prohibtory legislation to suppress
the liquor traffic, and decided ground agains,
slavery and its extension into the territories.
Upon this latter subject he said in his ad-
dress: while the people of Maine will cul-
"hvate spirit Of kindness and forbearance
towards every section of the common coun-
TRY, and will ever cherish sentiments of de.
"votion to the Union, they will not fail to
utter their solemn and earnest protest
"against the assumptions of the constitution
al guaranty of property in slaves, and the
"indefeAsible rights of slavery in the terrific
'ries; and will demonstrate against the sub
version of the powers Of the ''national gov
"ernment to purposes of slavery perpetual
''tion, and will resist, to the full extent of
''their constitutional powers, all attempts to
force the domestic institution of the slave
Estates into contact with free labor and free
Communities.
The sentiments uttered in that address
were steadfastly maintained. He never
wavered in support of prohibition, and siren.
uously opposed slavery until it was blotted
out by the emancipation proclamation and
the downfall of the Southern Confederacy
In 1858 and 1859 he was reelected Governor
of the State. In 1861, upon the resignation
of Hannibal Hamlin as United States Sena-
tor, to accept the position of Vice President
Mr.. Morrill, was elected to fiji the vacancy
in the Senate caused by Mr.. Hamlin's resig-
nation. 1t is an interesting fact that when
he entered the Senate to take his seat, he
there met Timothy o. Howe, his former COM
petitor IN law controversies at Readfield " ho
had just been elected by the republicans of
Wisconsin to seat in the Senate. Mr.. Howe
is the present Postmaster General in the
Cabinet Of President Arthur.
Mr.. MORRILL, IN THE SENATE.
The Senate of the United States was
place to which Mr.. Morrill, was well adapted.
His Roman face looked the senator. He was
dignified, yet affable; firm when necessary,
but always kind and considerate. He de-
lighted in the high debate of the Senate. 1t
was congenal occupation, in which he bore
distinguished part. He was more at hoSne
there as a speaker than when addressing
mixed multitudes in the excitement of political
campaigns. Sound sense and solid judgment
were the weapons he employed against an
adversary, hence his speeches were rather
heavy for popular assemblages, but powerful
the political power which he welded he en-
deavored to serve his country and constitu-
ents we'll. His political friends were not
forgotten, but he remembered likewise that
the public good must not be neglected. He
was no office broker, no adept at wire pulling,
no political boss. lie had no liking for any
of these things. He was conscientious in the
discharge of his duty, doing that which he
believed to be honest, true and right, never
doubling that this was the best way and the
only way for senator to pursue. Complaint
was sometimes heard that he gave too little
attention to political management, and so far
as the management of caucuses and conven-
tions and the manipulation of men were
concerned there was perhaps some reason for
such remark; but his idea of managing
party was to maintain its principles, to walk
fidelity in all things, and with these PROM
inert in the leaders he believed there
would be no doubt that the party would
keep its hold on popular confidence and
need no special management to render
it strong and prosperous. Managing too
little in politics, however, is very rare
while managing too much is too common and
often offensive and the cause of serious party
embroilments and disasters.
HIS COURSE AS A SENATOR.
Mr.. Morrill, entered the Senate January
IL. 1861, at the critical period when the seces-
sionists were preparing to cut loose the
Southern States from the Union. There was
trouble and divided opinion among the re-
publicans in regard to the policy to be pur-
sued. Mr.. Morrill, was among those who
believed in making no extraordinary conces-
sions to pacify the malcontents of the South.
Everything fair, honorable, manly he would
do to prevent threatened war: but never for
moment was he in favor of permitting the
South to 60 and the Union to be broken up.
From the dawn of the rebellion to its igno-
minious cloee he was the firm supporter of
every measure adopted by the government
for the vigorous prosecution of the war. He
had no hesitation in making known. from his
place in the Senate, that he was opposed to
standing By with folded hands while measures
for the disruption of the Union were going
ON in the South. He gave his voice for the
financial measures which enabled US to prose-
cute the war. He was for putting colored
troops into the field when it became feasible
and necessary, for the hottest and most de-
termined war a. the quickest, most merciful
and only sure way of putting down the
rebellion and saving the government.
As illustrating the spirit which governed
Mr.. Morrill,, many extracts may be taken from
his speeches IN the Senate. In a speech
,oea Iii so<.oIuoa1 h.