St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-01-11
SENATOR 1ORRILL.
His Brief autobiography.

For many years Mr. Morrill, modestly
and steadily refused to- furnish anything
more than the bare facts Of his birth
and congressional service to interview,
ers in search Of matter for personal
history of his life. About three years
ago, however, he was persuaded by
Washington newspaper man to give him
the following sketch: , =,
II started in business for myself, said
Senator Morrill, with capital Of
$50. saved from my salary as clerk in
the different mercantile establishments
in which had worked in STAFFORD and
ia Portland. My opportunity came
when a merchant of STAFFORD died, leav-
ing his accounts rather mixed, and the
heirs were looking for some young man
who could take charge and close up the
business. After settling the estate !
made the heirs an offer for the business,
and with Judge Harris, an old friend, as
a partner, who furnished most OF the
capital, we began operations. Business
was good with me, and | established
branch stores, and was fairly prosper
Gus. In 1S4S | came to the conclusion
that had enough money and that 1t
was time for me to retire from active lie.
bought farm outside Of S rafford and
lived there for seven years. | was mar
ried at the age of forty. In 1854, when
was A years old, some of my friends
came to me to say that / might go to
Congress if | desired. | replied that il
my county was solid for me | would
enter the canvass, but otherwise / would
not, as | did not want any struggle.
The leaders, at meeting held at the
court house, agreed to stand by me, and
| went into the convention and was
nominated with practical unanimity. l
was a candidate on the regular wing
ticket, but there was rival candidate,
who as a "freesoiler," took away many
votes from me and | squeezed through
by a narrow margin of one hundred
votes. Two years later | was nomina'
ted without opposition and secured a
majority of nine thousand at the polls.
Since that day, ! am happy to say, l
have never been without the practically
solid support of my district and my
state.
CATER | had served six years in the
House l thought ought TO decline fur
Their honors. The people OF my district
were kind enough to sya that must re-
main in the House, and the first thing
the convention did was to pass resolu-
ton declaring that destinations would
not be received, and so | remained in
Congress. The resignation OF the mem
bers who joined the South at the out
break of the war left the ways and
means committee with many vacancies,
and | was the ranking republican.
Speaker Grow told me that as his state
was greatly interested in the tariff 1t
would be highly grati6ed if Thaddeus
Stevens, then in the prime of his career
very great man indeed, could have the
Craftsmanship. | readily assented.
was made, however, chairman OF the
sub committee in charge OF the tariff
bill, with Winter Davis OF Maryland and
William A. Howard OF Michigan as my
colleagues. | had good deal of aid
too, from Mr.. Stevens, and also IRON
George H. Pendleton of Ohio, who
though democrat, gave me some most
valuable advice in the preparation o
such legal measures as the income tag
law and the tax on requests and legacles
| recall that he said to me, after he hat
worked with me over the legal points o
one of these bills There, Morrill,,
have helped you get the bill into shape
Now | shall take pleasure in voting
against it, ..
Continuing his narrative, Mr.. Morril
said: "ln 1866 Senator Collamer died
and the governor of Vermont wished t.
appoint me in his place. | declined, as
preferred to stand for election in the reg
ular way. Judge Luke P. Poland OF tn
state supreme bench was accordingly ap
pointed, and between us there was I
little skirmish the next year for the cleo
ton. He retired before the ballotng
however, and the seat was given to me
From that day have never had seriou
opposition. 1t is very pleasing to lool
back and feel that have never asked m
state for reelection. When the time ha
come for the remaining Of representa-
tive or senator l have left the peopl
free to choose and it is fact that neve
have written line to ask voter or
legislator for his suffrage. have neve
spent money to bring about my election.