O. P. Morton

Mr. William Henry Smith, of Chicago, whoso long connection witli public affaire íd Ohio gave him an opportunity to know the late Senator Morton during the most eventful portion of nis life, while the war of the Bebellion was in progresa, gives the following personal reminiscences of the dead stateeman : Mr. Smith Raid he first met Oliver P. Morton in 1853. Ho was at that time eugaged in the successful practice of law in the eastern part of Indiana, principally at Bichmond and Ceutreville. He was a young man of great promise - largo, strong, and remarkable for his extraordinary vigor and force of will. His iirst connection with politics that I remémber, continued Mr. Smith, was his opposition to George W. Julián, tüo noted abolitionist, who was running for Congress. Morton didn't like him, and, with Lis l'riends, did what he could to defeat him. Sim Parker was backed by Morton and his friends, and he suceêeded in defeatiug Julián. The énmity bt tween the latter and Morton never ceaaed. Eren after the latter became tliohead of the Republican party in Indiana the old fceling of animosity between him and Julián would erop out in the party councils. One of Morton 's warm friends in those days was old Sol Meredith, a quaint combination of farmer and politician, whom I think it would be difficult to match. The main facts in his life you will find in the many articles published concerning him during the past year. Everyone remembers the thrill that swept over the country when, early iu 1861, hemado his great speech at a publio meeting, declariüg that the Union must be preserved at any cost. His was the iirst voice to utter these words publicly, and that speech did more to crystalize the Union feeling of the North into a determination that the Union must be preserved than any other public utterance of that eventful period. Agiiiu, early in April, just before Pregident Liucoln issued liis proclamation calling for 75,000 troops for three months, Morton's dispatch oB'ering, in the name of Indiana, to furnish 10,000 men to put down the rebellion created intense excitement. I think he was one of the first men to realize that the rebellion was net te be put down so easily as at fivst supposed, and he urged the necessity of the most vigorous measures. He was, from the lirR% the trusty adviser of Mr. Lincoln. The promptitude he displayeti in carrying out his designs was little short of marvelous. Ked tape never tied him down. The troops of Indiaua were, owing to his energy, among the firgt iu the field, and, through his fatherly solicitude and watchfulness for their welfare, they were better cared for than any other regimeiifs in the army. It was he who ñrst set the example of sending agents with the troops from his own State, whose duty it was to report their sanitary condition at all times. When Gov. Brough become Governor of Ohio - he was elected in 1863- he adopted tuis plan. My official acquaintance with Gov. Morton began when I became Private Secretary to Gov. Brough, and continued until I was elected Secretary of State of Ohio. This was the most trying period of the war, the dark days of 1863 4. Brough and Morton were warm personal friends, and in many respects were very similar. Both were men of great energy and will power, and from the first they worked in concert. Before Brough's election the people of Ohio looked with more confidence to Morton to protect them from threatened incursions than to Todd, our own Governor. In 1863, when Morgan's men threatened Cincinnati, Morton was appealed to for protection and he did what he could. In his efforts to discover and put down the treasonable organizations known as the Knights of the Golden Circle, Sons of Liberty, and kindred associations he worked without ceasing, and with unequaled energy and vigilance. Secret agents were constantly passing between him and Gov, 15rough, at all hours of the dav and night. The amount of work he did was marveloup. During this time I was frequently called to Indianapolis and know that not an hour of the twenty-four passed without some demand on him for advice or action. He was always a strong pnrtisan, and in this respect his leadership bore a stronger resemblance to Henry Clay than to any other American statesmen. Personally he was most agreeable and entertainiog. He made friends of all he met in the social circle, and was especially beloved in his own city. He possessed all the elements of a great leader. His energy, great abilities, strong common sense, and devotion to the Union were his most marked characteristics.