MORTON, OLIVER PERRY ( 1 823-7 7) . An American political leader, best known as the `War Governor' of Indiana. He was born in Salisbury, Wayne County, Ind., August 4, 1823, attended the Wayne County Seminary, spent two years at Miami University, studied law, and in 1847 was admitted to practice. He soon be came a prominent member of the Indiana bar, and in 1852 was elected circuit judge. Ile entered politics as a Democrat, but opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska Bill led him on May 2, 1854, to withdraw from the Democratic State conven tion; and ultimately he assisted in the fornmtion of the Republican Party, to whose first national convention he was a delegate. In 1856 the People's Party, as the Republican Party in Indiana was at first called, nominated him for Governor, but after a close contest he was defeated. Four years later he was elected Lieutenant-Governor, and• upon the Governor's election as United States Senator, Morton became Governor, January 16, 1851. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War lie threw himself with extraordinary energy and success into the work of raising troops. The election of 1862, however, resulted in the choice of a Democratic Legislature and Democratic State officers, who bitterly opposed the war, and threw obstacles in his way. His task was still further complicated by the presence in the State of a large secret society called the Knights of the Golden Circle (q.v.), which resisted the draft, encouraged de sertion, and even plotted the assassination of the Governor and the carrying of Indiana out of the Union. But Morton triumphed over all difficulties. He borrowed sufficient money on his own personal responsibility to meet the exigencies of the situation; put down the treasonable asso ciations and brought the leaders to trial; and he secured the triumph of his party and his own re election as Governor in 1864. In the opinion of such men as Chase and Stanton his services during this period were greater than those ren dered by any other of the great 'War Governors.'
Shortly after the close of the war. Morton was stricken with paralysis, and was obliged to go to Europe. On his return to the United States, be resumed his duties as Governor. In 1867 he was elected United States Senator, and was re elected in 1873. In the Senate he became a recognized leader of the Republicans, and, despite his poor health, accomplished a prod igions amount of work, serving on the committees on foreign relations, agriculture, military affairs, private land claims, and privileges and elections. At first an opponent of suffrage for the freedmen, he ultimately did much to promote the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment. He was one of President Grant's c•liief advisers, and sustained the Administration in the unsuccessful attempt to carry through the Senate the proposed treaty for the annexation of Santo Domingo. In return for this last service, the English mission was offered to him, but lie refused it. In 1873. on the death of Chief Justice Chase, he declined also to become Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. At the Re publiean national eonvention in 1876 he was a strong eandidate for the Presidential nomination, and received 124 votes on the first ballot. He subsequently served on the Elec•to•ai Commission (q.v.). At this time his infirmities were such that lie required assistance in moving about, and had to be carried from the lobby of the Senate chamber to his carriage. Ile died at Indianapolis, November 1. 1877. as the result of an attack of paralysis. Morton possessed a powerful intellect, a determined will, and high execurive ability, and was an orator of great popularity and force. An admirable biography ha, been written by \V. D. Foulke (2 vols., Indianapolis, 1899).