The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-15
INDIANA'S GIFT ACCEPTED
The Statue of Oliver L. Morton Re
csived by the House.
EuIogistic Addresses by Hepresen-
tatiycs From the Hoosier state
The War Governors Life and
Character observation-disclosures of
steele, Mters, and Grosvcnor.

The House of Representatives spent the
afternoon of yesterday in consideration
OF the concurrent resolution accepting the
statue of Oliver p. Morton as gift from
the State of Indiana. of which State Nr.
Morton was Governor and which he rep
resented in the Senate of the Unit,
States. Mr.. McCleary. Chairman of the
House Committee on the Library, pre-
sented a favorable report on the resolu-
tiun.
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-
eentatives, law was enacted by Congress
which contained the following provision
And the President is authorized TO invite all
the States TO provide and furnish statues, in
marble or bronze. not exceeding two IN number
tur each state, OF deceased persons who have been
citizens thereof and iiustrious for their historic
rcnoWn for distinguished civil or military
vices. such each State may deem TO he wcrthy
at this national conmUnorstiOn. and when fur
ri,hed the same shall be placed in the Old Hall
of the House Of Representatives in the Capitol OF
the United States. which Is set apart, or so much
thereof may be necessary, a National >tatu-
sTy Rail for the purpose herein Indicated
In compliance with this resolution We
are about to accept, as a gift from the
State of Indiana. statue of her illustrious
son. Oliver p. Morton. Oliver p. Morton
was born in the village OF 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. II is not recorded that he was con-
sdered 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
AT 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. he entered Miami Uni
versity at oxford, Ohio. Here he indus
tricusly 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 Oh his
college society at Miami University, and
stood well among his fellows.
MOrt0n's Early Life.
For want of means he was compelled to
Telinqush 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.
ard began the study of law. This was in
JSi5. In May of that year he married Miss
Lucinda VI. Burbank That this alliance
was to his great advantage, throughout his
81.
was admitted TO the bar Of Wayne County.
which included in its membership some OF
the most prominent attorneys of Indiana.
il is not surprising. therefore, that he did
not Immediately leap into prominence
He socn became known, however az
one OF The profound lawyers of the circuit
in which be resided. As an evidence OF the
esteem in which he was held, it may be
mentioned that in 1852, at the age Of twen-
iy-nine years. he was appointed by the
Governor of the State to vacancy on the
circuit bench. This honorable position he
hlled with credit TO himself and to the en-
tire satisfaction of members Of the bar. At
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, 10 enter
law school for the purpose of completing
an education interrupted by the poverty of
his earlier 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, if rot
the first, to declare the position of the
Republican party upon the Qlestion of Sc
cession, with which the result of the cleo
tion OF 1860 brought the country face 10
face. At great ratification meeting. held
IN Indianapolis on November %, 1860 he
declared in a memorable speech that If
the issue now before us was disunion or
this was the position of the Republican
party. Grant the right of secession, he
declared, and the Union is dissolved !
will not stop to quote further from this
great speech. II is enough to say that it
was widely printed, and that il aroused
the patriotic feeling of loyal people all
over the North, and brought Morton at
once into national prominence as q Ia
triot and statesman.
The Crisis Foreseen.
He clearly foresaw the crisis. which
was approaching. and warned the people
of Indiana and the country of its coming.
After the Inauguration of Nr. Lincoln he
lost no time in visiting the President and
holding a conference with him. Governor
Morton was not surprised when on April