Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-11-01
Senator Morrill, Honored.
A Fine Portrait of the Distinguished
Senator Presented to the vermont
Historical Society. An Address by
the Senator. Anniversary Exer-
cises. Address by Hon. II. U.
fioughton of Boston.


The anniversary exercises of the
Vermont Historical society were held
in Representatives hall "Wednesday
evening of last week before a large
and distinguished audience, which in
eluded Gov. Woodbury., Lieutenant
Governor Mansur, Speaker Stickney,
Senator Justin 5. Morrill, and many
members of the House and Senate.
Hon. Hiram Carleton, president OF
the society, presided. Prayer was
offered by Chaplain L. NJ. Haynes.
A life-size portrait of Senator Morrill,
was unveiled. and Judge Carleton
read letter from the artist, Mr.
Wood, presenting the portrait OF Mr..
Morrill, to the society. Charles Dewey
of Montpelier then offered resolution
accepting the gift and thanking Mr..
Wood. Senator Morrill, spoke III
reply at Mr.. Woods request
Senator Morrill, afterwards read a
carefully prepared paper, in which he
said: "Englishmen and other foreign
visitors say that America mas no an
tiqnes. OF course they never saw me,
and L shall assume that our historical
society is not now attempting 10 etute
this charge as "A ealumny when all we
ever claim in behalf Of the New
World is its youth and its being only
in its teens.
To be invited to sill for a portrait by
a Vermont artist of such well-earned
renown rs that Of Mr.. Wood, the
president of the New York Academy
of Design. is rare honor, and 10 have
the portrait presented to and pre-
served by the vermont Historical
society. the names of whose members,
past and present, embellish the history
of our state, addsa grace to the COM
pliment Of which could wish ! We're
more worthy. The artist and the
society, however, have assumed the
whole responsibility Of the affair.
Doubtless the artist might have made
a better picture if he had been more
fastidious rs to the original and had
chosen a better subject Yet, being an
honest likeness, you certainly will not
hold me responsible for my looks, but
only for my actions. may be indebt-
ed for this mark Of attention to some
supposed public services as judged by
partial friend, or to the audacity of
the Vermont legislature of 1890 in
longer retaining an octogenarian in
the public service.
However il may be, do not feel
called upon 10 explain the puzzle.
Remembered forty years ago by any
prior record of ofiicc-holding except
that of tything man, with which my
excellent townsmen were prone TO
honor their fellow citizens when mar
ried a little late in life, il was necessa-
~ at the start of my official life TO
''screw my courage up to the sticking
point" even TO mediate going at a
bound into the halls Of congress. But
one Of my predecessors, Judge lib
bard, encouraged me by saving that
mot all of those who didn't invent
gunpowder were to be found outside
of congress- Having been elected,
| determined, SO far as within my
power, to be useful and, at least, that
no charge of Incidence should ever
stick to my name.
Attempting no rivalry in the field
of recent colleague. the Scion of the
Senate in legal learning, faithful labor
was the limit of my ambition. 1t
should be added that little isever done
in congress without earnest wrestling.
and nothing, without inflexible work.
Good measures are often embarrassed
by the amendments of friends as well
as by briers thrown in their tracks by
opponents.
If refer to one or two incidents of
the past, it will not be imputed to
vanity when one point appears to
have been a mistake of mine and the
other question perhaps not yet deter
mined. Whether my constituents
made mistake or not, after some
years of service, weary and worn with
day and night labor ON the
committee of ways and means, with
drew my name as a candidate for re-
election. With this purpose and no
other, ! Went 10 the district conven-
ton, where a committee, headed by
Charles X. Field, with Hugh Henry
and Tom Powers, corraled me, and
the chairman addressed me after this
fashion: BY all the gods of the hills
and valleys, when we took you il was
of some Importance to you, now it is
of some Importance to us. They de-
manded, not that | should accept of
nomination, but if elected that
should not decline to serve. The con-
ventiOn CURLY concluded that declina-
tions in time of war were not in order.
To my regret at the time, as well as to
that of two or three other gentlemen
quite willing to relieve me from my
task, my service was further prOtracted.
To have left the service then would
have taken from the great privilege
and advantage of long personal
acquaintance with many of the states
men and military and naval men bv
whom the greatest heroic contest in
human history was successfully ended.