Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-02-23
DEAN OF THE SENATE.
SENATOR MORRILL, AND HIS LONG
LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE.

He went TO Washington as "A Eepresonta-
tive in ] Sbf and became Senator In
Is 0-nis Tarin BIN OF 1850, the Re
turn TO tho American Principle of Pro-
tection-fiis Work for tho Library of
CoDgress-A Modest Home
Senator Justin S. Morrill, was ntervie wed
in Washington by George Alfred Townsend,
the well-known newspaper correspondent,
and the result Of his visit to the dean OF tho
Senate is n delightful article OF about four
columns In the New York Sun, which is re-
produced in part es follows:
The oldest, most modest, aud one OF the
most effective senators of our time has
never been interviewed, SO far as | have
seen, and therefore ] said to the secretary
of the Senate:
"Do you know whether Senator Morrill,
would take it kindly il ! were TO call on
him -
81 can ask him." said Gen. McCook;
and during the day ! was notified to call
upon the senator if ! desired and spent
near two hours with him at his modest and
model residence for a senator on the Thomas
Circle. This house was built 20 years ago
and Mr.. Clark, the architect of the Capt.
tol, designed it. Upon the right is a broad
hall leading back to tho library, which 10 on
the right of the building and rather an eN-
crescence 10 it. To the left OF the hall is
the double drawing room and behind it is
the dining room. MIR. Morrill, hes had much
to do with artists and books, and he is one
of the authors of the Library Of Congress
in aid of which he labored for years when
Congress at large was lethart,ic ON the sub
iect OF detaching what was mainly its cir
Gu ating library from the eI!hce OF the
Capitol. Hence there are some agreeable
souvenirs around the Senator'S house, his
bust by Preston Powers, II Guido REM,
which he bought from Larkin Meade, the
Vermont sculptor, and other matters sug-
gestiye of the strict senatorial life. This
fine and aged man mas lived without impu-
tation or trouble or cLoler
Justin Smith Morrill, is tall man, once
OF the salient, grzzled Green Mountain
make but now resembling Charles Sumner
at 80, with the same large we'll formed
nose, shock OF gray hair, blue, lighting eyes
under fairly deep brows, side whlskers and
look at times OF some English peer, like
Broughaln or Palmorston. He has neither
mental nor per, Olal alterations: sits in bis
age like the lord of winter wrapped in his
sleighman's lurs, and can listen with faith
and laugh beHmlnGly. His dignity is natural
and has rustic, republican lining. Be
hind the man OF affairs one feels the coun-
try heart. Though a storekeepor for years,
trade has lett no traces upon him but its
urbanity. lie has gone on like perennial
spring, without mistakes, acerbities or neu-
trality. Neither within nor without could
/ n "a ip
stituency changes no more than be and ite
| servlc is next to life s engagement.
lt IS not often that we lud Americans OF
public caresr who have lived az fixed lives
as hnglishmen of corresponding pursuits
al d station. Mr.. Morrill, lives IN STAFFORD,
where he was born in the first term OF
James Madison. tie was six terms in Con
| gress, commencinL with the 34tu Congress,
| and inter that IL years was elected to the
Senate without either pains or haste, in
| lact declining TO entertain the proposition
| OF gong there until he he'd served out his
/ term in the lower house When the office
seeks the man he is not very speedily turn
Ell out of il, and, therefore, Mr. Morrill, has
/ been nearly % years IN the Senate, and il
/ he should ave out his tsrm-to Iey,-0iIl
be a. years old. There is probably no man
! about this government who So nearly car
/ rIcs out the idea OF old world Eng fish hab-
! lIs, though US IS animated WIN tue bright,
young views oI MS own country Ilooapiy
heppy IN us state "ulc" IL IKE sree'
shlie ID LhB'ahI, exposed 10 very niue III
cursIoh nom stranger paFtS' ermohI ana
its senator are conteAV ana Illustrate the
success OF not oVeISlriVius' Ne might nave
n senate almost lu'l o. meh as OIL as th'-
hau cur lu"'lc man s!Ihlar training ahd q
I al,
slmi'ar constituency.
- was "iiIlhS 10 see you, SAID Ir. Nor
! rl'l as nave resa AFTER you long enough
/ TO feel thHt we are ACQUAINTED nope YOU
VIII be modest Wheh you speak to me-, Tor
90 not IKE 't"hy'
1T occurred TO me- Mr. Morrill,, that a
we nave reached term or period IN th'
course OF revenue legislation, you can tei
me something ABOUT IaaEinS the AIorrl!
tariA, when DelleVe was your work.
"N len | came to Congress- sad Mr.
| Morrill,. 1--WE were worGing under the Rob
err Walker tariff, which was next 10 NJ
tariff. IL had not worked well and d.scon
tent was pretty general. Lewis Campbell,
uncle of the late governor Of Ohio, who wa
IN that day radical WING, had made an
other tariff, generally reducing the duties
hui raising them IN some exceptional cases