The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-05-05
MORRILL, AND EDMUNDS
Hon. b. I. Fi6eld's Re n&niscences OF
TIVE Famous Vermont Senators
How yermonter Surprised Charles


How u yermonter Surprised Charlie:
Sumner,
ut was altogether unique" said
Hon. p. +. F'ifield, referring TO the
memorial service on the occasion oil
the centennial anniversary of thu
birth of Justin S. Morrill, which
occurred in this city on April
14th. ut is entirely fitting,
however. Senator Morrills long
career and distinguished services
warranted a formal observance of the
centenary of his birth, and Montpel-
Ter was the proper place Tor holding
it. 1t was at the request of the family
that Senator Morrill's funeral was
held here and any such public obser-
vance should be at the capital of the
State which he serves"
Mr.. F'lfelds father was director
with Senator Morrill, of the old Or
ange County Bank, many years ago,
and Mr.. Fifield himself though much
younger man, was on terms of friend
ship with the Senator, and probably
retains more personal recollections of
the author of the Morrill, tariff than
any other man in the State.
Il was thinking just. before you
came in" he said, "of Senator Morrill,
and what gave him such a hold on
the people. He was not a great man
in the sense that Edmunds was, yet
he was successful in public life, be-
loved by the people, and his name is
connected with some great achieve
ments. like the tariff law that bore
his name. the agricultural college
bill the creation of the Congressional
Library. He was, too, the author oil
an anti-Mormon or anti-polygamy bill
though that fact is not generally
known.
The great elements of his success
seem to me to have been his level
head, well balanced mind, sound judg-
ment and sincere desire to please the
people of his State. lie DID not fawn
or truckle. but he was honestly anX-
ious to keep in touch with them. Fol-
many years he came to Montpelier
during each session of the Legisla-
ture. and spent two or three days re-
newing old acquaintances and max
ing new ones, and this. whether OF
not the time was approaching for
reelection. He always made a point
too. of visiting the newspaper offices
when he was in the State, and thu:
he kept fully informed of the feeling:
of the people and never drfted out OF
their knowledge. He was man o
correct habits and had never weakened
his system by any indulgences. A
dinner he often took glass of cham
payne, or something of that sort, bu
nothing more He always enjoyed
good health and a good digestion, ant
that makes a good ceal of difference
He had a presence that had much tC
do with the kind feeling held towar,
him. His smile was winning and sci
dom left his face. His manner wa
kindness itself, and the interest h
took in the people of Vermont wa
net because they were his constitu
tents. to whom he must look for re
election, but because he felt sincr
concern in them as fellow men an
fellow citizens. He never felt himsel
above them, never held aloof fror
: them. He reminded me of the Dul
of Argyll, the Scotch nobleman il
SCOTS Heart of Midlothian, who aid
ed Jennie Deans to secure an inter
view with the Queen and gain the par
= don of her sister. / went over tha
story with him one time when he wa
visiting me, laid proper stress on tn
endeavors put forth by the aged Duk,
and then | said: Morrill,, that's you
and it was just like him.
I Morrill, gradually worked himse
, to position of Importance and Unfit
ence in the Senate, and was OF cours
+ aided by his service in the lowe
t House, while Edmunds, on taking HI
seat in the Senate. leaped into prom
inence almost at once and held an ur
: disputed position in that body as Ion
h as he remained. His intellectual az
= qurements were sufficient to enab
him to retain a commanding positio
v but it was almost an accident thi
v first raised him to prominence as
+ Senator. One of the acts of Presidel
r Lincoln that was much criticised WI
. his suspension of the habeas corp
e act and the making of arbitrary al
= rests by the commander-in-chief
= the army or his subordinates.
: case has occurred in Vermont in whic
e a bounty jumper was arbitrarily a
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g trout take the fly. The big. well f.
It lazy pond trout rises gently an
k takes in the fly like a sucker scare
4 N,., lit ,;.N, he INFO L