Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-05-27
GEN EsRANi HARRIS

whaa thry s7e, IAis brief sketch Of the Democrat
Be GAIA IIlse for Governor Of Tennessee however is
not faE TIE purpose os catering or compLmenting
hm hat 60 furnish the people Of the State with the
personal JnE political character and history Of the
person asking their suffrage and 10 furnish further
evidence 90 the young men Of the country that pow
grGy, nor uisfurtUues. nor circuusl ances can de-
TFess the energies OF prevent the success Of man,
who having JuC head 10 conceive, adds determine
tfou Of Will 90 carry ogt his purposes. IsHAN G.
HAERrs is a Tennessean by birth-a Tennessean by
siueariun ami Teuueesean IL sentiment and feel
ing. lie was born in Franklin county about the
year 1917, aai Is nov about forty years Of age. His
falhgr was q poor but respectable mana plain far
mer--tbe parent of large family Of children,
known rs a correct, upright man, strict and ex-
empIary member of the Methodist church, in the
discipline aud ordinances of which all Of his family
were reared and instructed His brother GEORGE
HsEEIs is we'll known as one Of the most able and
popular preachers Of the Methodist church IN the
South west, and has been presiding elder thereof
for many years His brother WILLIAM is one Of the
Judges Of the Supreme Court Of this State and sew
erI other brothers are residing in Tennessee, occu-
pyug respectable positions in their respective voca
ti0us.
Gen. HARRIS had but small opportunity to obtain
an education in early life. He was sent TO the town
Of Winchester, in his native county, and remained
at school rbere about three years, and this is the
tent Of his schooI-Iife. He quit it before he was
fourteen years Of age; he felt that his father could
ilatord 20 be further taxed with his education and
board and at this early age be left his family and
his home for the purpose Of beginning the battle Of
life. He went to Paris, in Henry county, and was
employed by a merchant at one hundred dollars per
year TO attend in the store He applied himself
closely to business and exerted every energy to be-
come a superior clerk. His attention and general
conduct pleased his employer. He continued to de-
vote himself 10 learning his business and also to in
crelsing Is stock of knowledge by reading, and be-
came SO wuI known as a good salesman and good
clerk that ia few years, his friends Of Paris aRd
vicinity voluntarily proferei him letters Of credit
90 enable him to 60 to the East and purchase
goods. He accepted their kind offers, and at the
age Of eighteen was a merchant on his own account
Tie reaiueI in the mercantile business for several
years, bat becoming tlrougLly satisfied with the
precariou-ucss thereof, and having desire TO be
lawyer lac determined to study that profession; but
being too poor TO pay his board and clothing while
he was reading law, without some employment for
which lie would receive compensation, he was com
PEELED TO stick to the store during the day. and at
night in his counting room devote his leisure hours
60 the stu5y Of the books that were kindly furnish
ed by 8 lawyer Of his town. He had made some
money as merchant and clerk but unfortunately he
converted al his funds into the bank notes of bank
Mississippi. which suspended payment shortly af-
ter Ac got 5hcir paper and proved utterly worthless.
Tais kept hila studying in the foregoing way for
nearly fouF years. and as soon as he obtained IL
eeuse 20 practice law he gave up the store and
tered the Office tie commenced in Paris and has
been 4.dle successful in his profession.
In politics lac Is and ever has been a consistent
Democrat of the Jefferson, Jackson andPolk school.
dis first efforts the stump were in 1874 advoeat-
nag the election of James X. Polk.
His party showed their appreciation of his efforts
IN that OCCASION ley electing him to the State Senate
~ 1917, to represent the counties Of Henry, Weakly
-ad Ohiou. His triumph in that race was unprece-
enteI, taking into consideration the ability, eEpe-
raenee and position Of his competitor. So much
sH di3 he shew in lebate-sueh a fund Of political
Iasaleige Iij he bring to bear upon the questions
ssue in the canvass, that the Democracy Of his
Congressional District, in the following year, unan-
rmousy zeI upon him as their Presidential elector.
Unexpected and unsolicited as this compliment was,
yet boz gaz the position assigned him. and although
ne Democratic ticket failed to be elected yet he lost
no laurels ia She conflict. On the contrary in the
next year, he was nominated by his party for Con-
gross, and was elected by a large majority. His
course in Congress was endorsed by his constituents,
and IN 1851 he was reelected by a much increased
majority. The Legislature Of 1852 so apportioned
and Distracted 5he State as to throw him into
5roug opposition district and his old constituents
were thus deprived Of MS services. He had many
friends il the Gu0egaatoral Convention Of 1858 who
desired his commission. In 1856 he was unani-
noUsly selected by She Convention as one Of the
Democratic Electors fer the State at large. This
canvass is fresh s the minds of the people The
Know Mornings ha& selected as their champion a
gentleman whose reputation as a stump orator was
TO. confined ais State, bat whose fame, from his
ability on ha asagings, his personal worth and Pc
Ideal services had become the pride of his party
throughout ans Uuion. There was some anxiety
Tel, ay .ua Democratic party as to the ability of
.Heia shama5oE 10 meet him-this, 1t is true, was
.7nanco eEcIaz5vely to those who had never heard
Gen Ha-a Cor in his old district, and at other
points ghars ne had been heard on the stump and
before ae gusg, there was universal feeling of un-
limited confidence in his ability to cope with any
one who's sae Know Eothings could bring against
hin. Ea5s d2abts however was dispeIled OF every
point as sgoa as hewas seen or heard and from one
end oil -8s Stale 60 the other the masses congratu-
lated eeA 03herth they had such an able standard
bearer fgoEably no man ever gave more genera !
satisfaction 80 his party in this position than did
Gea. Harris At the Convention that met in April
las3 3o nominate Democratic candidate for Cover
less cen. Harris name was the only one brought |
esGoTe chs Convention, and, as remarked By dis
uguished gentleman in that body, The delegates
mad only met to confirm, by his nomination, what |
lie people Of che State had long since determined
fu private life he Is chiyalFic, magnauimous and I
Rarm-hearted. His wisdom Is spacious ready and
comprehensive. The striking point in his manner |
s garuesiuess. He has rule save that developed
hy exercise, and based onRaiiye gift IL Els speech
rs he exers she fun force Of his mind and talents 70
TIE question before him. lie directs all his thoughts
a taat purpose and ezerts unusual industry In ae-
curing the knowledge necessary to give his opin-
ions lefg sue weight lie does not labor to deco
rate or aatelish--sg raysh applause, but he olats
no mode % s5gdg and reflection which may enable /
him TO force conviction. he gives the subject he !
intends discuss all the consideration they deserve