Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-19
STATE HOUSE.
Sketch Of Life Of Late Hon.
Lot M. Morrill,.
Distinguished as a Lawyer, Legislator
and Statesman Of Rare Ability.
Torrens' System of Land Transfers
May Come Before Legislature.

Maine men which adorn the walls of
the State House rotunda none attract
more general attention than the mag
| nificent painting of the late Hon. Lot
NJ. Morrill,, formerly legislator, presi-
dent of the Maine Senate, United
States senator, secretary of the United
States treasury and collector of the
port of Portland. The portrait is a
| splendid likeness of the dead states
man. Ii was painted by that talented
artist, A. H. Bicknell of Boston, who
was "A native of Turner, in this State,
and is an exact counterpart OF the ia
nous painting of Mr.. Morrill, now
hanging in the treasury department at
Washington and said to be the finest
work of the kind there. This magnifi-
cent gift was donated to the State by
Col. f. Nj. Drew Lewiston, Justice w.
p. Whitehouse, Hon. J. w. Bradbury,
Hon. j. w. Chase, Capt. Charles T.
Nash, Augusta; Gen. Il. Il. Murray,
Calais, Maj. III. A. Shorey, Bridgton,
Maj. a. .. Morgan and many others.
II was presented with imposing cere-
monies during the Legislative reunion
Jan. 6, 1885, the address of presentation
being made iii Representatives hall by
the late Mr.. Bradbury, and the speech
of acceptance was delivered by Hon.
Frederick Robe, then governor of the
State.
Lot NJ. Morrill, was born in the town
10, 1889. He was the son of Peaslee
MorriIl, an intelligent farmer and mag
istrate, and was one of IA children, 10
4
one of his brothers, the late Hon. An
son +. Morrill,, became a member of
Congress and governor of Maine. Mr..
Morrill, only enjoyed the ordinary ad-
vantages of education afforded to the
children of farmers in a rural commu-
nifty. He was a graduate of the COM
mon schools. He worked on the farm.
taught school and fitted and entered
Waterville college, where he remained
less than year. His ambition was to
become a lawyer and he devoted all his
wonderful energies to this end. He
read law at Readfield, was admitted to
the kennebec bar in 1887, and began
practice in that village. From his
youth up he was hard student, self
reliant and determined to succeed.
While pursuing his practice of the law
at ReadfieId he had for a competitor
The late Timothy o. Howe, afterwards
senator from Wisconsin. Both met
again in the United States Senate ana
both became members of the cabinet.
On NOV. 30, 1874, he married MISS
Charlotte Vance, daughter OF Will
liam Vance, Esq, and she still resides
in Augusta where Mr.. Morrill, moved IN
1S47 and began practice here, being as
ISOLATED for more than score OF
wears with the late ex-senator James
w. bradbury.
Tn 1852 he was nominated with Rcuel
Williams by the Democrats of Au-
rusta for member of the Legislature
and defeated but the next year he was
elected. While q member of the House
he met the late Senator VIM. Pit
Fessenden. and both were the chain-
pions of their respective parties. LII
1S55 Mr.. Morrill, was elected 70 the
state Senate by The Democrats OF heh-
nabec county, and became president Oh
that body in the session of 1881.
Unon the nomination of James bu-
chanan 10 the Presidency by the Demo-
Gratis of the country, Mr.. Morrill, re-
signed he chairmanship of the Demo-
,.ratic State committee, and finally ieit
that marty. In 1857 he received the
nomination OF the Republican party
eo, Governor and was elected by large
ioritv He was reelected III 1898
and again in 1859 In 1901 upon 'i''
RESIGNATION of Senator Hamlin to ac-
cent the Office Of vice-pfesiueii. ne
elecred United States senator to HI the
vacancy caused by MIR. Hamllii
tirement He entered the oeiid,e -
January. 1861. In 1863 he was eie'
ed senator for the full term VI
Years. In 1869 he was q canuiui'e -
reelection. but was defeated py MI
Ha,oIin. Upon the death of senator
Eeeeenoen in September, 1859. ne WIS
,n,oipted nv Gov. Chamberlain 10 III
tbc vacancy. and in 1871 he was again
elected senator for full term.
H. Tnlv 1876. he entered the CABINET
- president Grant as secretary OF the
..,,,r,, 4. nosition he held until the
- ~ bis administration in 1914 III
H. councils of the cabinet he had the
~. -, o,,,idence of the President.
and he discharged the arduous ou'ie'
of ,ne financial department OF iie so
| orp,nent with fidelity and ablilty.
additional evidence ofPresident Grant ,
confidence and esteem he more tnai
| once offered Mr.. Morrill, the ho',oi az ~
| nosition of minister to EngiaIiu'
| tS7- Mr. Morrill, was appointed 'oiie
tor ,r the port of Portland. which VI
! fee he held until his DEATH
copv of the Massachusetts act, en-
bodving the principles of the Lorre sr
system for recording trahsies o;s,a,ure
crtv was introduced in the Leg'sia, ,..
Of 1898 and came down to the ias.
Y u lsI ana it was decided that
iagis,at,on was inexpedient 1t is un.
derstood that the matter will come me, up up
again this winter, when us p'o a',r;no
hone to be more successiui III
its favorable consideration.
That tire proposed system is success .ss
i, Wassachusetts is evidenced py III.
following statement by pro"''"e''