St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-04-24
A Tribute to Senator rlorrin.

venerable and venerated senate
from Vermont. He attained his S6tl
birthday on the 18th inst, and ha
retained his mental vigor anc
strength to remarkable degree; a.
well as possessing sufficient physica
vitality to attend TO all Of his officia
duties. He first represented his state
in the 34th congress, during the
administration of Franklin Pierce OF
New Hampshire. Linn Boyd of Ken.
lucky was then speaker of the house,
followed by Gen. Banks of Massachu-
sets, in 1856. Jefferson Davis was
the secretary of war. Mr.. Morrill,
was elected by the republicans as
representative to the 34th congress
and continued to the 39th. Finding
him so faithful and loyal to state
and country he was chosen to eli
Judge Poland's unexpired term in
the senate in 1867, and has been
regularly reelected in all subsequent
times, and his present term expires in
1897. Although a small and rather
slight man physically, he is marked
and well-known figure in the senate
and is usually pointed out to all
strangers as THE Father of Con-
gress," on account of having expert.
enced the longest service of anyone
in that body. Although he has a
slight stoop in the neck, his eyes are
as keen and bright as ever. By
many he is considered to have a
strong resemblance to the late
Charles Sumner of Massachusetts,.
Mrs. Morrill, has been asked more
than once where she obtained such a
fine cast of Senator Sumner as the
once that you see in their parlor-an
excellent one made of Senator
Morrill, years ago.
1t is remarkable fact that everv
president of the United States has
been either lawyer or a soldier, /
principally lawyers; but Mr.. Morrill,
is true representative of the people,
having enjoyed common school and
academic educational advantages,
and by his sound judgment, conserv-
alive ideas and loyalty has com.
manded the respect of his associates.
He is the author of the Morrill, tariff
that passed the house May 18th,
1860, and the senate Feb. Goth,
1861, by a vote of 25 to IA. He is
at present serving on four commit
tees: Civil service and retrenchment,
finance, public buildings and grounds
and chairman of the select committee
on additional accommodations for
the library OF congress.
Mr.. Morrill, is deservedly entitled
to much credit for his service on the
asst committee. The present number
ot volumes, including the law books,
tept in room under that of the
United States supreme court, num-
oers 725,000, besides more than
22O, 600 pamphlets, which are piled
up on the floors of the rooms in all
directions. A new building seemed a
positive necessity for the rapidly
'ccumulating treasure. Senator
Morrill, has been one to urge the i'm
'erative needs of an appropriation
or the construction of building for
his purpose. The library fund has
'een about $11 900 per year on an
verage for some time, and also
eceives all copyright books of the S
United States, also the gift of DR.. {
,oner's private library in 1882, of {
1000 volumes. The library is [
nder' the charge of the well-known F
brarian, A. r. Spoford, a New +
England gentleman, whose remarka.
lie retentive memory makes him an
valuable official. 1t is to be hoped
hat Mr.. Morrill, and the whole
ountry will sometime in 1896 see
his beautiful new library building
ow In process of erection completed.
IS dimensions are 464 by 1872 feet,
nth four great courts, covering in T
II three and half acres OF land.
nth a dome one hundred and ninety
We feet, whose gilded summit can be
zen in all directions. The Italian
style of architecture
ives it substantial and imposing
ppearance. Its interior is enriched
18th African, Italian and American
arbles. One alcove or room is all
ned with Vermont marble. 1t will
building of which the nation A
ay well be proud. Mr.. Green of
lalden, Mass, is the architect and
'perntendent.
Senator Morrill, has been partici-
ant in the government during the
ADMINISTRATION OF Presidents Pierce
Lincoln, Grant, Hayes,
arheld, Cleveland, Harrison, Cleve. m
nd. Some of these have served a N
cond term. This time spans some h
the most important and thrilling e
RODS OF United States history, in. w
iding the civil war from 1861 to
D. requiring strong faith and cour-
e In the people and their resources tt