88 THE PORTRAIT GALLERY 
duced the Land-Grant college bill, providing for the setting aside 
of public lands to found agricultural, industrial and scientific 
institutions in the newly settled districts. Although this 
passed both branches of Congress it was vetoed by PRESIDENT 
BucHANAN, and it did not become a law until re-passed in 1862 
and signed by PREsipeNT Lincotn. Under the provisions of 
this law more than fifty institutions were established over the 
country with facilities for 500 or more students and instructors 
in each. A later act fathered by Mr. Morritt supplemented 
the college support. 
In the troublous times just before the War of Secession Mr. 
MoRrRILL was a most prominent figure on the floor of the house. 
He delivered the speech credited with defeating the admission 
of Kansas as a state under a pro-slavery constitution. He was 
placed in charge of all tariff, tax and revenue bills throughout 
the war and in 1861 devised the Morrizti Tariff Act that 
remained in force until replaced by the McKintey bill of the 
51st Congress. His bill was the first to change the ad valorem 
basis to that of specific duties. 
His election to the Senate occurred in 1867, as a successor to 
Luke P. Poxanp of Vermont. Here he was five times elected 
to succeed himself and served a total of over forty years in both 
houses. As chairman of the committees on finance and public 
buildings and grounds, he was a highly important figure, while 
his counsel as a member of the committees on education and 
labor, census, revolutionary claims and additional accommoda- 
tions to the Congressional Library was eagerly sought. 
He was an author of no mean repute, contributing copiously 
to the magazines and journals of the day. In 1886 a book by 
