The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1875-10-09
The Centennial Governor of Mary
land

Hon. J. Morrison Harris is a native Of Balti-
more city and has resided there all his life with
the exception Of two years residence in the city
Of New York completing commercial education
in the counting house Of his brother. He was
educated at Lafayette College, in Pennsylvania,
and was obliged to leave prior to graduation on
account Of an affection of the eyes, which for a
long time threatened seriously the loss of sight
He left New York and took a clerkship in one Of
the Baltimore banks. While filling this position
with great credit to himself and with satisfaction
to those thrown in contact with him, he, in con-
Junction with Charles Bradenbaugh, founded and
formed the Mercantile Library Association, which
to-day is dispensing its usefulness to the people
of the Monumental City.
Being persuaded by friend to study law, he
entered law Office and was duly admitted to the
bar Shortly thereafter his health failed and he
took trip to Europe to recruit his vigor. In
Italy, France and Germany he cultivated the
aesthetic tastes for which his mind had been pre-
viously trained. On his return, after years alb
ssncs, he employed his leisure moments in the
zines, which rendered him at once popular by
their beauty, eloquence and taste. His style and
ability as public speaker soon attracted political
attention. He was put upon the Wing electoral
ticket in the Taylor campaign, in 1s4s, giving
great influence by his eloquence in carrying the
State. He was elected by the American party to
the thirtyfsurth, the thirty-ffth and thiry-sixth
Congresses. In 1857 he defeated Hon. VIM.
Pinkney Whyte, who contested his seat in the
thirty-ifth Congress. The contestant was heard
through his case and the Congress, which was
Democratic by a majority Of eighteen, awarded
the seat to Mr.. Harris by majority of nine.
As member of Congress he filled important
places on the committee on the District of Column
bia and the committee on Naval affairs. As
member of the latter committee he succeeded in
obtaining the passage of bill fer the increase Of
the pay of the Navy over the report of the major
ity of the committee against it. He obtained an
appropriation Of one hundred and Fifty thousand
dollars for the improvement of the harbor of Bal
timore, which President Buchanan vetoed, andMe
passage Of which he secured over this Ueto! He
arranged the claims of the State of Maryland
against the United States and secured an appro-
priation of two hundred thousand dollars for the
erection of the U. S. Court House in Baltimore
city.
he was an active, ardent, jealous worker in all
the duties that devolVed upon him as member
of the American Congress, giving constant at
tentien to the work of committees and devoting
himself to the welfare of the whole country.
In 1861 he took ground against secession but
was ardently conservative. He retired from pub
lie life and devoted himself to the practice of his
profession until the present time. In 1870 he
took great interest in inducing the merchants and
others of Baltimore to subscribe for the erection
of the stately edifce at the corner Of Charles and
Saratoga streets, the Young Mems Christian As
ISOLATION building.
he is a christian gentlemen, a pure man, elo-
quent in speech, able in council, afable, courte-
Gus and winning in manners and sincerely devo-
ted to the highest interest of the people of his ma
tive State. We have an abiding confidence that
the citizens of Maryland will watt him and his
associates to magnificent triumph in November.