The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-15

The House Of Representatives spent the
afternoon Of yesterday in consideration
OF the concurrent resolution accepting the
statue Of Oliver P, Morton as a gift from
the State Of Indiana. Of which State Nr.
Morton was Governor and which he rep
resented in the Senate Of the Unit Z
States Mr. McCleary. Chairman Of the
House Committee on the Library pre-
scented a favorable report on the rcsolu-
tion.
The first speaker was Mr steele Of
Indiana He said In part:
In 1864 soon after the completion of
the present hall Of the House OF Repre-
Geutstiyes. a law was enacted bv Cougre S.
which contained the following provision
And th- President is authorized ta iu,it, 40
the States to provide and furnish statues, iu
marble ur bronze. not exceeding tw, In uuuhUr
for each state, of deceased persons who have been
citizens thereof and iiustrigus for their historic
reuBun ur for distinguished civil or military ser
vices. such each State may deem t0 hc worthy
ct this national communication. and whom fur
Ii-hed the same shall hc placed iu tHc old Hall
of tie House ui Representative iu the Capitol u'
the Emitted States. which Is set apart. or muck
thereof ~ may b. Necessary, a. q National >tstu-
az Rail for the purpose herein indicated.
In compliance with this resolution we
are about to accept, as a gift from the
state Of Indiana, a statue Of her illustrious
son. Oliver p. Morton. Oliver p. Morton
was born in the village 0f Salisbury then
the county seat OF Wayne County Ind, on
August T. 1923. He was of humble parent
age. his father being a shoemaker. His
mother died when he was but fourteen
years OF age He was then sent to live with
his grandparents and aunts. and was af-
forded an opportunity to attend school one
year. Il is not recorded that he was con-
sidered brighter than his fellow students.
but he was already distinguished by per-
sistence. At the age OF fifteen he under
took to learn the hatters' trade, which he
no doubt intended should be his life pur-
suit
Al this work he remained for four
years. During this period he spent much
time in reading. and employing every
means possible to acquire information.
Quitting his trade be entered Miami Uni
versity. al oxford. Ohio Here be indus
triously improved his opportunities. not
studying. apparently, toward any particular
end but always more anxious TO acquire
knowledge than to display IT, This was
throughout his life one Of his characters
ties He was a favorite member Of his
college society at Miami University. and
cihou wen among MS fellows.
MOrtOn's Early Life.
For want Of means he was compelled &c
Telinquish his college work. Returning TO
Centeryille, Ind. he entered the Office of
Hon. john L. Newman, one OF the we'll
known lawyers OF the State at that time.
and began the study OF law. This was in
lSi5. In May Of that year he married Miss
Lucinda NJ. Burbank That this alliance
was to his great advantage. throughout his
career. there can be no doubt. In lS41 he
was admitted TO the bar Of Wayne County.
which included in its membership some OF
the most prominent attorneys Of Indiana.
d is mol surprising. therefore, that he did
not Immediately leap into prominence.
He s0cn became known. however as
one OF The profound lawyers Of the circuit
i'm which b. resided. As an evidence Of the
esteem IN which he was held. it may be-
mentioned that in 1852. at the age OF tuen-
Iy-nine years. he was appointed by the
Governor Of the State TO a vacancy on the
circuit bench. This honorable position he
hiled with credit TO himself and 20 the en-
tire satisfaction Of members Of the bar A.
the expiration of one years service he de-
clined an election to the bench the duties
Lot being to his liking In spite OF the
reputation he had achieved, he was not toe
proud upon leaving the bench 20 enter
law school for the purpose OF completing
an education Interrupted by the poverty Of
his carrier years.
In telling Of the political aspirations Of
Governor Morton Mr. Steele said:
Governor Morton was among the first
men OF prominence in the Union, il u0-
the first. TO declare the position Of the
Republican party upon the question of Sc
cession, with which the result of the cleo
uon Of 1850 brought the country face 10
ia~e. At a great ratification meeting held
ln Indianapolis on November p. 1869 he
declared IN a memorable speech that If
The issue now before us was disunion or
war. he was for war and that he believed
shis was the position of the Republican
party Grant the right Of secession he
declared. and the Union is dissolved ]
will rot stop to quote further from This
great speech. Il is enough 70 say th5t il
was widely printed and that il aroused
the patriotic feeling Of loyal people al
over the North. and brought Morton al
once into national prominence as q Ia
iriot and a statesman
The Crisis ForeScen
Tie clearly foresaw the crisis. which
was approaching. and warned the people
Of Indiana and the country Of its coming
After the Inauguration Of M Lincoln De
lost 10 time In visiting the President and
holding a conference with htm. Governor /
Morton was not surprised when on April