The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1865-07-27
SECRETARY HARLAN.

We find in the July number Of the Phreno!ogi-
cal Journal an excellent wood cut Of SECRETARY
HARLAN, with his Psychological character and
biography. As many of our readers are not &C.
uuainted with bis earlier history, and a. We con.
slider him noble and rising man, we give the
biography:
Mr.. James Harlan was born in Illinois,
August 25th, 1920. At the age Of three
years his parents removed with him to
Indiana, vhers he was employed, during
his minority, with his father in sgricul-'
tural pursuits. In the year ls41 he en-
tered tho Preparatory Department Of
Ashbury University, then under the
presidency of tho present Bishop Simp-
son. Upon meager means obtained by
teaching At intervals, he managed to
graduate at that institution with honor
in 1S45, and it has since conferred upon
him the well-merited degrees Of A. NJ.
and L. L. d.
In the winter of 1915, being elected
to the Professorship of Languages in
Iowa City College, he removed to that
city. Here, although among strangers,
be won for himself an enviable reputation
for industry, ability, and an answering
integrity which has only broadened and
deepened 10 the public mind until to. day.
In lS47 be was elected BY the people
Superintendent of Public Instruction of
the new State of his adoption. This was
no ordinary compliment to a young man
Who had resided in the State less than
two years when the election occurred, es-
pecislly when taken in connection with
the fact that his opponent was the Hon.
Charles Mason, who graduated at the
head Of his class at the Military Academy
at West Point-had served as chief JUS
tice of the Federal Court. of tho Terrific
ry during the entire period Of its exist
ence, was conceded by all parties to be a
gentleman of ability and unbemished
reputation, and who, as q candidate, was
the choice Of the party which had, up to
this election, been uniformly triumphant
in tho State and Territory, and continued
SO until the Kansas. Nebraska issue, ex.
cept when Mr.. Harlan was candidate.
In 1S4s, Mr.. Harlan was superseded
by Hon. Thomas H. Benton, Jr., the
officials insisting that he was elected by
. majority Of seventeen votes. The
count. however, is now universally con
ccded to have been fraudulent, though
not participated 10, of course, by Mr..
Benton, for whom Mr.. Harlan personally
has always entertained high regard. In
this year he was admitted to the bar, ane
commenced tho practice of law in Iow'
City. In this profession, while he re
maired in it, he was eminently success
ful; but bis friends were unwilling to
leave him at the bar, however agreeable
to him, or however brilliant his prospects
for = distinguished career in the profess
sion.
In 1s49, tho people, eager to trust and
honor tho young man who in every pub
lie position had proved himself SO worthy
Of their confidence, nominated him fo'
Governor; but, not being of constitution
al age for that Office, he was compelled t
dis,ppoint them by declining the proffsr
cd honor.
Continuing the practice Of law unit
. 1883, he was then, by the annual confer
I ence of the NJ. Z. Church, elected Pre'
ident of the Mount Pleasant CoAegiat
Institute, which during tho followiu
winter was reorganized under an amend
ed charter, and he retained in the presi
dcncy. His industry and energy, wit
his varied learning and strong sense
compelled the same success here that IA
attended all his undertakings thus fa'
and which We may we'll say has neve
yet deserted him. But here again til
people were unwilling to leave him j
the field of labor to which their conf
. dense and admiration had SO shortl
$ before assigned him; scarcely two yea'
e was he permitted to serve at the head
the University until, by tho Legislature
he was elected United States Senator fl
the term commencing March 4th, 1885,
Upon this election, which so far fro
n being sought by him, fell upon him eve
r without his knowledge, hs resigned tt
presidency of the University, and VI
elected Professor of Political Econou
j. and International Law, which position
t. still holds. This election occurred Ja'
9th, 1855, and he was admitted to b
seat Dec. Sd following.
'e His first formal speech in the Sena
was made March 9th, 1856, on the a
- mission of Kansas, and was regard'
\ then, aud must be held by the stude'
| of history hereafter, as one of the able
\ arguments on the right and finally su
] cessful side of that great contest. SUE
man "a Rntler Of 8. C.. Cass. Bepiami
Touccy, and Douglas soon learned to :
spect the sturdy logic of the young d
c. batter from the West. His speech up'
the occasion of presenting tho memoir
st of James H. Lane, praying the accel
ance of the memorial Of the members
, tho Kansas Territorial Legislature t
- the admission Of their territory into t
Union as a State was such scorching
r oppositions seldom get.