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in the Senate for Doctor Morton's relief, and was ably supported by Douglas, of Illinois, and Hale, of New Hampshire.
It passed the Senate by a small majority, but was defeated by the “mud-gods” of the House-defeated by men who were pilfering the national treasury in sinecures for their relatives and supporters.
In the history of our government I know of nothing more disgraceful than this,--except the exculpation of Brooks for his assault on Sumner.
Doctor Morton was a ruined man. His slender means had long since been exhausted, and he had been running in debt for the past two or three years, as Hawthorne did at the old manse.
Even his house at Wellesley was mortgaged.
His business was gone, and his health was shattered.
He felt as a man does in an earthquake.
The government could not have treated him more cruelly unless it had put him to death.
It was now, as a final resort, that he went to see President Pierce, always a kindly man, except where Kansas affairs were concerned; and Pierce advised him to bring a suit for infringement of his rights against a surgeon in the navy.
Doctor Morton found a lawyer who was willing to take the risk for a large share of the profits, and gained his case.
His house was saved, but he returned to Wellesley poorer than when he
1905. E. P. DUtton and Co. Boston,.
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