The Portland daily press., 1886-01-07
bill as "etc., etc. before it could be audi

Then came John c. Talbot with story OF
the little legislative fight between Portland
and Cape Elizabeth, in which he was called
upon to reply to an able speech by Hon.
Stanley T. Pullen who then represented
Portland.
Uncle Solon was then called and made one
of his short speeches, which was received
with hearty applause and laughter.
PRESENTATION OF THE LATE Ex-Gov NOR
RILLs PORTRAIT.
By this time it was twelve o'clock, the
hour set for the presentation of the oil por-
trait of the Hon. Lot NJ Morrill,. Ex-Sena-
tor Bradbury made the presentation speech.
He said:
MR.. BRADBURY's SPEECH.
A few of the many friends of the late Lot M.
Morrill, have procured a life like portrait OF
their distinguished associate, which they desire TO
present to the State. to be placed with the por-
traits of the other memorable men, which adoln
the walls of the capital that the features OF one
who has ably filed so many high public posi-
tions, and who was SO beloved for his private
virtues, may be preserved for those who shall
come after him.
Mr.. Morrill, was a native of Maine, an out
growth of our institutions and society," and
his life and public career reflect honor upon
the State of his birth. He was one of the men
who have left such footprints upon the sands
of time, that it is instructive to trace them and
TO note the steps by which he assembled TO the
eminence he attained.
He was born at Belgrade, in the county of
Kennebec. May 8, 1912; one of fourteen chill
dren of Peaslee Morrill,, an intelligent farmer
and magistrate III comfortable circumstancesfo for
that day.
Ten of the children lived to become men
and women, and one Of them the remarkable
Anson P. Morrill,, late governor and member OF
Congress- is still vigorous at the age OF 81.
Their mother | remember as woman OF unus-
ual native mental vigor.
Mr.. Morrill, enjoyed only the ordinary ad-
vantages of education then offered to the iNia-
lies Of farmers. He was graduate of oul m
mon schools. Teaching and toiling to CD nm
higher education he fitted for and f'.;~ cd
Wateryulc College but remained there less
than a year. His ambition was awakened to
enter the legal profession and he fastened to
do so. He read law at Readheld, was ad-
mitted to the Kennebec Bar in 1887, and COM
menced practice in that village. From his
youth up he was hard student, self-reliant.
determined to succeed. Industry, application
and perseverance, supplementing his native
power won the basis of his success. While
pursuing his practice of the law at Readheld
he had for a competitor the late Timothy o..
Howe, afterwards Senator from Wisconsin.
Both met again in the United States Senate
and both became members OF the cabinet.
On the goth of November, 1874, he married
Miss Charlotte Vance, daughter of William
Vance, Esq, who had removed from WASH
ington to Readfeld where he died in 1912.
In 1847, Mr.. Morrill, moved to Augusta and
opened an office there.
You will pardon me if | now allude to the
events that brought me into intimate relations
with Mr.. Morrill, and tend to Illustrate his
private character. In January l84S, while l
was at Washington, / received intelligence
from the late Judge Rice whom l had taken
into partnership and left in charge of
very large business, ,thathe had the opportunity
of an appointment upon the bench and would
leave the practice at the bar. | Immediately
wrote Mr.. Morrill, inviting him to go into my
office and take charge of the business. and say
ing we would form partnership upon such
terms as should be fair. He replied accepting
the offer, and such was my confidence IN hlm
that these two letters for years constituted the
only articles of agreement Of a partnership In
an extensive business. For more than score
of years we were thus enjoined, extending long
after he had changed his political relations,
and it is a pleasure to me to remember that we
never had a misunderstanding, nor an unklnd
word between us. l therefore know of what l
affirm when l bear testimony to his amicable
character his kind heart, and his integrity OF
purpose.
He loved his profession and was happy in it..
He was not so situated as to call for the exer-
else of all his energy and power. lie steadily
and rapidly advanced to prominence, and soon
the highest honors of his profession came
within his grasp. He was a very effective and
successful advocate. His obvious candor and
fairness lent force to his eloquent appeals to
the Judgment of the court or jury. In speaking
he had remarkable command of the most
appropriate language, and his style was more
felicitous than in his written productions He
seemed to need the excitement Of speaking to
bring his faculties into the most effective work
ing condition. Had he remained at the bar
and devoted himself exclusively to the law, |
think he would have made one of the most
distinguished and eloquent advocates that
New England has produced. But he was
tempted away and drawn into the vortex of
political life.
In 1852 he was nominated with Reuel
Witham for Representative to the Legislature.
by the Democrats of Augusta, and was de-
feated. He was again nominated by the same
party in 1853 and elected. While a member
of the House he met with the late Senator
Fessenden. Both were young and ambitious
and at once became the champions OF their re-
spective parties in the House. An occasion
arose in an important political debate to test
their powers. They engaged in the conflict with
intense ardor | have seldom witnessed, IN
the halls of Congress or elsewhere, debate
conducted with more ability and power. They
were very evenly matched. Both showed
what they could be, and gave promise of their
future career, In 1866, Mr.. Morrill, was elect
ed to the State Senate by the Democrats of the
Kennebec Senatorial district and served ip
1856.
Upon the nomination of Mr.. Buchanan to
the Presidency, he resigned the craftsmanship
of the Democratic State committee, and yield
ed to the influence that separated him from the
party with which he had been so long associ-
ated In 1857 he received the nomination of
the Republican party for governor and was
elected by large majority. He was re-elect-
ed in 1858, and again in 1869. In 1861, upon
the resignation of Senator Hamlin to accept
the office of Vice President, he was elected
United States Senator to fill the vacancy
caused by Mr.. Hamlin's resignation. He en-
tered the Senate in 1861. In 1868 he was
elected Senator for the full term. In 1869 he
was candidate for reelection, but was de-
feateQ. upon Lne uedlH Ol oeLdtOI EesseAueu
in September 1869, he was appointed by
Governor Chamberlain to fill the vacancy. In
1871 he was again reelected Senator for the
whole term.
His services in that body were exceptionally
arduous. The business of Congress is ma
tured by the committees, and by them, and not
by mere speech makers, the principal labor is
performed. For several sessions he was chair
man of the committee on appropriations. The
herculean labors of that position requiring
him as chairman to be prepared to explain
every item of the immense appropriations IN
the various bills to be acted on at every ses-
sion. visibly impaired his health which had
been somewhat affected in 1869. In this con-
dition it was with great reluctance, and only
upon the most urgent solicitation of
President Grant that he consented to
accept the office of Secretary of the
Treasury, and resign his seat in
the Senate. In a letter to him dated July D,
1876, the President says: Il have not yet been
able to solve the question of the secretaryship
of the treasury in any way leaving you out.
l ask you to come to my office this a. m.
and qualify He yielded to the pressure and
took upon himself the responsibilities and labor
of this office, which he held until the close of
Grants administration.
In the council of the cabinet he had the un-
4 t1-, srl1w,4 nrNlh a