The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-24

My father was delegate from Mar rengo county to the historic State Democratic Convention of January, 1860. which sat in the hall of the House of Representatives. As the cus- tom then was, on his return trip ne left the boat, on the Alabama. at Prairie Bluff where his saddle horse met him for the thirty miles home over prairie roads, in their bottomless win ter condition.
 The late Gen. Charles A. Poellnitz and several other delegates making the party, arrived at home long after nightfall, all heavily bespattered with lime mud.
 Hardly had the gentlemen removed their "leggings" and changed their boots before the conversation over the events at Montgomery passed into dis cussion of the remarkable young ora tor the convention had discovered. Who is he?" the home people asked, eagerly. His name Is Morgan. He is lawyer about thirty-five years of age from Cahawba; small man, ex- tremely modest was the answer. Ex- planation came further, that he was a stranger to the delegates when he rose s to defend report made by himself against the claims of Messrs. John Forsyth, A. B. Meek and Percy Walk CT to seats from Mobile. The three skilled and veteran politicians interrupt ed the orator frequently. His repartee was instantaneous and most effective. His musical voice gentle but firm man ner and the startling vigor of his words drew everybody's close attention. When he sat down he had made place for himself forever in the annals of Ala bama. The floor burst forth in ap- plause which echoes today around the ' world
 As q Breckinridge EIector.
 Yancey and Morgan, electors for the State-at-large. on the Breckinridge ticket, canvassed industriously. They were opposed by the Douglas Demo- crats and by the Whig or Bell and Ev- gerett ticket. Morgan attained to ex- traordinary reputation in a short time He and District Elector Thomas J. Judge spoke on the same occasion to a splendid audience at Demopolis. l well remember Morgan's appearance, and part of his argument. I had never seen him before. He was Of slight figure and very quiet in com Spany. Among other things he said the Lincoln party had for its main pur- pose, money making. It sought acqut- sition of power to tax the South by 6 high protective tariff. The pretense that the slavery question was the real issue, was also for the purpose, he said, of concealing the tariff question. At the climax of this train of thought. he threw his right hand out, exclaim- ing with animation: "Gentlemen, they love your negroes some but they love your pocket books more"
 It happened that I drove fifteen miles with MT. Morgan after the day closed, and had opportunity to observe him at a private house for day or two following He was then distin- guisihed by silence in general company and a manner approaching timidity.
 He became a warm personal friend of my family from the time here men tioned for many years. visited them often and so I came to know him as well as any man ever knows another.
 This man was himself and not an- other He was the rarest combination of energy and gentleness, Of courage and forbearance, of greatness and un- selfishness. He never rose to his op-, portunities in war or in peace because he preferred the rugged paths of duty to those broad avenues of fame with which conscience often has too httle to do.
 His Unselfishness.
 Colonel Gaines of an Alabama regi- ment, of Wheeler's cavalry, relates that in the midst of very hungry march, General Morgan offered him one of two biscuits he held in his hand. The col oneI declined, as there was not enough for two. 'T always divide" insisted tbe General. Another illustrative incl dent of the same description: The 51st Alabama was at full gallop to reach a position. General Morgan rode alongside a private in the ranks, hold ing two biscuits in his hands. "itno out uttering a word, he passed one ocross his horses neck to the hand Of the private and dashed away to the head of the column.
 was present when lis copy or Rrewer's Alabama, just from the press, was delivered to him in his parlor De- fore breakfast. In turning the pages he paused to glance over the sketch nS himself. In moment noticing tbat the company watched him, he hIushed and turned the leaf. Coming to the sketch of General Rodes, ne beld out the volume, exclaimlng: That was the best soldier l ever Knew; the best"
 Morgan's first election to the office was as delegate from Dallas to the Se- cession Convention. l was spectator in the gallery of the convention, slt- ting in the Hall of the House Of Repre- sentatives, in company with MT Law a distinguished citizen of South Caro-
 
 nIt the question. "Who Is the dele gate over there? like his countenance above anyone on the floor" The an. aver was, "Mr. Morgan from Dallas"
 As n Soldier.
 About the middle of the spring or 1881. the Cahaba Rifles, Captain c. c. Pegues of the law firm of Pettus, Pegues & Dawson of Cahaba. were or dered to Pensacola. Thereafter Capt. Robert E. Rodes of the Warrior Gnards was elected Colonel; Capt. Allan q Jones of the Greensboro Guards was elected Lieutenant Colonel, and Private John T. Morgan of the Cahaba Rifles. Major of the 9th Alabama Infantry. Major Morgan bought copy or liar and read 1t while on duty whenever he found himself at loss.
 - do not recall the name of great lawyer who became great Confeder- ate soldier. Toombs belonged 10 the