The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-07-05
LEVI p, MORTON.

| Levi Parsons Morton, the Republican
candidate for Vice President, was born
at ShOreham, VT, on May 16, 1924. His
father was the Rev. Daniel o. Morton, a
Congregational minister, of small means,
and lineal descendant of George Nor
ton, who came to this country from En-
gland in the Ship Ann in 1928.
He was given common school educa-
tion, began his business career as clerk
in a Concord On. H) dry goods store, and
rapidly rose in position. In 1850 he was
made a member of the firm Of Beebe,
Morgan g Co., merchants of Boston, and
in 1854 he moved to New York, where he
established the firm of Morton s. Grin
volved at the beginning of the war, and
compounded with it's creditors at fifty
cents on the dollar. Mr.. Morton went to
work again and in few years, though
not in any sense legally bound to do SO,
paid his old creditors their claims in full
with interest. In 1868 he founded the
banking house of Morton, Bliss & Co., in
New York, with that of Morton, Rose &
Co., in London, as correspondents. These
two banking houses were largely instru-
mental in making resumption of specie
payment in the United States possible,
and in enabling the Government to fund
the U. S. debt. The syndicate formed for
this purpose was headed by Morton, Bliss
& Co., and then followed the names of
Drexel, Morgan & Co., Barring Brothers
& Co., J. S. Morgan & Co., Jay Cooke &
Co., n. M. Rothschild g. Sons and Jay
Cooke, McCulloch & Co. The credit of
the Government was low at the time,
but the firms named above successfully
fioated a large issue of fve-per-cent. bonds,
thus decreasing the rate of interest on
the mass of bonds. 1t has been estima-
ted that the various banking firms by
their action at this time saved the Gov
ernment Ss7O,00O,OOO. The firm of Morton,
Bliss & Co. has since been one of the most
CONSPICUOUS in Wall street.
Mr.. Morton entered into political life
in 1876, the Republicans Of the Eleventh
Congressional District having, much to
his surprise, nominated him as their can
didate. Though defeated, he greatly re-
duced the usual Democratic majority, and
in the same district in 1878 he was elected
to Congress, receiving a majority that eX-
ceeded the whole vote of his opponent
In Congress he took commanding posi-
tion whenever financial questions were
under discussion. His course was marked
by independence of Judgment and mod
GRAFTON. In 1880, members of the Ohio
delegation at the National Republican
Convention, after General Garfield had
been nominated for President, urged Mr..
Morton to accept the nomination for Vice
President. He declined, and General Ar
thur was nominated for the Office. Pres
ident Garfield offered Mr.. Morton the Of
flee of Secretary of the Navy, which the
latter declined. He did accept from
President Garfield, however, the appoint
ment of Minister to France. These hon
ors President Garfield desired to confer as
reward for Mr.. Morton's faithful and
effective work for himself while the con-
test for the Presidency was in progress.
He proved to be very popular Minister,
maintaining his position with dignity and
hberality that was gratifying to all
Americans who had reason to travel
abroad. His house quickly became the
one place in Paris where the leading pol
iticians of France, Royalist, Republican
and Radical, could socially meet. The
diplomacy OF the United States was much
smoothed by it. With the coming into
power of a Democratic administration
at Washington, he, of course, returned
home, and since then has held no office
In January, 1885, Mr.. Morton was can
didate for United States Senator before
the Republican caucus. Mr.. Eyarts how
ever, was nominated and elected. Mr..
Morton is a very rich man, but, unlike
many millionaires, he has made himself
extremely popular by his numerous gifts
to the deserving poor. A striking in
stance of this was in 1878 when he spent
small fortune, in conjunction with J.
G. Bennett and others, in fitting out the
ship Constellation with provisions for
the starving poor in Ireland. He is also
reported to nave been liberal contribu-
tor to Republican campaign funds.