He studied law with a local attorney while attending Yale, graduating in 1854, and attaining admission to the bar in 1856.

During his service in the Connecticut General Assembly, he was a member of the commission that settled the border dispute with New York.

During his governorship, Morris advocated for constitutional amendments in the election laws, but failed to get the appropriate legislation passed.

His popularity eroded due to the bleak financial depression that overwhelmed the state, and he did not seek reelection.

His daughter Helen married Yale University president Arthur Twining Hadley, and they had three children.