The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-19
ELOQUENT EuL0GItS
 UPON DEAD SENATORS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1)


 tyranny of a European monarchy Those years have produced most of our national literature they have seen our greatest national tragedies; they have brought the marVels of the arts and sciences, which contribute so much now to the comforts and pleasures of our daily life. truly marvellous eight decades in all things that go to make a great people, and John T. Morgan lived through them all, and through them was always an able leader, always abreast with and often ahead of the times
 But Little Data.
 We have but little data or reminiscence touching the early life of Senator Mor gan. His parents moved from Tennes- see to Talladega county, Alabama when he was years of age, and in a country neighborhood ne spent his years of youth, and there attended the country school, where were laid the foundations of that intellectual training which in it's fullness and maturity was destined 10 be the ad- miration and wonder of the world. It is doubtless true that subsequent love of justice, and his profound knowledge of and love for the things of nature re- ceived their first nurture and impetus flom the primitive and unpolluted en- vironments of his childhood It is rec orded that many of his playmates were cn1lureD, their language, customs and traditions, which in legislative deliberation made him a wonderful champion of the rights of the red men, were instilled into his heart and mind by his youthful associations The educational advantages offered at that time to poor country boys in Ala bama were pitifully meager, but, in addi- ton to his natural mental sprightliness, the future senator was blessed with q mother who with patient admonition daily encouraged him in the acquisition of knowledge and wisdom MT. President, it is but another illustrious instance of the godliness, sacrifice, steadfastness and patriotism of an American mother, wrought into the fabric of a splendid manhoods service to a grateful republic. At quite an early age young Morgan decided to adopt the law as profession, and having diligently applied himself to his studies in the office of William r. Clinton at Talladega, he was admitted to the bar in his twenty-first year, and entered upon his distinguished career IS an advocate and counsellor He located at Selma, but soon removed to Cahaba, and here he received the first real recog milton of his brilliant powers of analysis, logic and delivery, which were to carry him onward to the very front rank of the legal fraternity.
 In 1860 Senator Morgan was named as one of the electors at large on the Breck- inridge-Lane ticket in Alabama. The years immediately preceding that con- test were most memorable in the history of American politics from a standpoint of contention and controversy. The great unsettled problem of slavery was being discussed upon every stump and at every freside. The passion and differing senti- ments of the people of the country at large were stirred as in seething vol cano. The impending struggle, despite the earnest efforts of those who sought a peaceful settlement of the controversy, was inevitable. Senator Morgan upon the great issues involved in that memorable campaign was firm and resolute in his advocacy of the cause which was after wards so gloriously sustained by Con- federate arms. His campaign of the state only served to augment his reputation and standing as public debater worthy of the sword of the most deXtrous ad- versary. The ticket upon which Senator Morgan was an elector carried the state of Alabama and he was subsequently elected as a delegate from Dallas county to the secession convention
 Military Service.
 His first military service was on the staff of Major General Clemmens who had had command of the state forces at Fort Morgan, where he was on duty until tne iort Was lleihslelleu lo the Noh- federate government. He entered as a private in the Cahaba Rifles, which was afterwards mustered into the Fifth Ala bama infantry, and upon the organization of the regiment he was elected major. This was the command of which Robert E. Rodes was colonel. When this regi- ment was reorganized he resigned his command as lieutenant-colonel and re- turned to Alabama for the purpose of recruiting regiment of partisan rangers. This work he accomplished mainly by his own efforts and equipped it without