National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-03-25
A NEW COLoRED REPRESENTATIVE IN
CONGRESS-.

Jeremiah Haralsson, of Selma, Dallas
county, Ala, was born in Muscogee county,
Ga, April 1, 1916, of slave parents, the prop
erty Of one John Walker. Walker died in
tcstatc, and his slaves were sold at auction.
Jere and his mother were purchased by John
Thompson, Of Georgia, who also died and LEFT
his slaves to be disposed of by lot. Jere and
his mother were drawn by John Haralsson,
ard carried by him TO Alabama in 1859, rs
slaves, and 20 remained.
In April, 1865, Jere became free by the close
Of the rebellion. At this time he could neither
read nor write. Immediately after his enamel
patton he set himself TO study, and by unceas-
irg industry and perseverance soon acquired 4
fur common school education. After the acts
Of reconstruction Of the Thirty. ninth Con-
gross, and the Acknowledgement of the colored
men Of the Southern States, he assumed an
active, Independent political attitude In the
State OF Alabama.
In lSGS he took an advanced part In the
Presidential canvass. IN 1870 lie presided over
tie Republican convention In the First Con-
grcssIonnl district which nominated Hon. Ben
jnmIn s. Turner, the first colored Congress-
man frcm Alabama. In 1870 HARRISON was
NlfNlGu ~ lHN lONNI IlOutt VI lllo htItTul AS
rtmhly from Dallas county for the term Of
two years over the regular Republican candI-
date, and also Gen. John T. Mangum, an ex-
Confederate, md the nominee OF tho Dem
oCratiC party, beating both by a majority OF
four q ousand votes The course pursued by
him during HE term In the House won for him
golden opinions from the prcss, and from mem.
lcrs Of both political parties az an able legis.
lRtor.
10 1871 he was elected justice OF tho peace
IN md for Dallas county, without opposition,
but II being without bis consent he declined 10
accept the office.
In january, is7i, at q convention Of eolored
men Of the State Of Alabama, no was elected
president Of the alabama Labor Union" for
one year, and was reelected IN isT9 and 1873
without opposition. lie was also elected IN
1919 delegate-at-large for Alabama 10 the
National ColoHd Mems convention" which
convened in the city Of New Orleans. In that
convention be distinguished himself as an able
DICTATOR in advocating the passage Of the eele-
brRted resolutions urging the colored voters Of
the country to support General Grant for the
Presidency instead Of Horace Greeley. In that
speech he said "Mr. President There are but
two great political parties in this country; one
the Republican and the other the Democratic.
All roads leading from Grant lead into the
Democratic party. ] am for Grant DOW, and
will forever be, because he is q colder and
statesman, and q friend to the colored men,"
In 1872 he was nominated by reclamation
for State Senator from the Twenty -first Sena-
torial district of Alabama by the Republican
Senatorial convention in that district, and was
elected for the term of four years by a majority
Of 900 votes over General E. W. Pettus, an
ex-Confederate.
In 1874 he was nominated as the regular
Republican candidate for Congress from the
First Congressional district, and was elected to
the Forty fourth Congress by q majority of
2,59s votes over T. G. Bromberg, the Demo-
cratic candidate. Upon this election he re-
signed his seat in the State Senate on the 4th
of March, and will take his seat in Congress in
December next.