Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-01-13
Senator Morrill,.
His short And Modest sketch of His
own Life.


For many years Mr.. Morrill, modestly
and steadily refused to furnish anything
more than the bare facts of his birth and
congressional service, to interviewers in
search OF matter for personal history of
his life. About three years ago, however,
he was persuaded by Washington news
paper man to give him the following
sketch:
~ started in business for myself with
capital of $50, saved from my salary as
clerk in the different mercantile establish
ments in which had worked in STAFFORD
and inPortland. My opportunity came when
a merchant in STAFFORD died, leaving his
accounts rather mixed, and the heirs were
looking tor 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 prosperous. In 1913 | came TO the
conclusion that | had enough money and
that it was time for me to retire from
active life. bought "a farm outside of
STAFFORD and lived there for seven years.
| was married at the age Of 40. 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 if
my county was solid for me | would en-
ter the canvass, but otherwise | would not,
as | did not want any struggle. The
leaders, at a meeting held at the court
house, agreed to stand by me, and | went
into the convention and was nominated
with practical unanimity. | was a eandi-
date on the regular Wing ticket, but there
was rival candidate, who as free
7 soiler,' took away many votes from me
and | squeezed through by the narrow
margin of 100 votes. Two years later
was nominated without opposition and Sc
cured majority of 5000 at the polls.
Since that day, am happy 20 say, have
never been without the practically solid
support of my district and my state
AFTER | had served six years in the
House | thought | ought to decline fur
Their honors. The people of my district
were kind enough to say that | must re-
main in the House, and the first thing
the convention did was to pass resolu-
tion declaring that destinations would not
be received, and so | remained in Congress
| The resignation of thu members who
! Joined the South at the outbreak of the
war left the ways and means committee
with many vacancies, and | was the rank
| ing Republican. Speaker Grow told me
that as his state was greatly interested in
the tariff it would be highly gratifed if
| Thaddeus Stevens, then in the prime of
| his career, very great man indeed, could
have the craftsmanship. | readily assent
ed. | was made, however, chairman of
the subcommittee in charge of the tariff
| bill, with Winter Davis of Maryland and
| William A. Howard of Michigan as my
colleagues. l ha good deal of aid, too, from
| Mr.. Stevens, and also from George H..
! p, ndleton of Ohio, who, though a Demo-
crat, gave me some most valuable advice
| in the preparation of such legal measures
as the income tax law and the tax on be-
quests and legacies. | recall that he said
to me, after he had worked with me over
the legal points of one of these bills !:
There, Morrill,, | have helped you get the
bill into shape. Now | shall take plea
sure in voting against it,
Continuing his narrative, Mr.. Morrill,
said "In 1866 Senator Collamer died,
and the governor of Vermont wished to
appoint me in his place. declined, as |
preferred to stand tor election in the regu-
lar way. Judge Luke p. Poland of the
State Supreme bench was accordingly APP
pointed and between us there was little
skirmish the next year for the election.
He retired before the balloting, however,
and the seat was given to me. From that
day l have never had serious opposition.
1t is very pleasing to look back and feel
that have never asked my state for a re-
election. When the time has come for the
remaining of representative or senator
l have left the people free to choose and it
is fact that never have written line to
ask voter or legislator for his suffrage.
have never spent money to bring about
my election"