Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-08-23

1
choice, after most bitter contest for the
| nomination, which was alike distasteful
| to Mr.. Kerr and contrary to his we'll
known desire. Indeed, so bitter did
| that preliminary canvass become that
ne frequently declared to his friends that
rather than again engage iu q similar
contest among his partisan friends he
| would retire from public life. He wRs
| elected by the usual majority OF his
| party in the district, and upon taking
| his seat in the foTty-second congress he
was placed upon the committee on ways
and means. During the two following,
IS in the preceding two years, he was
frequently hesrd upon the floor OF con.
| gress in the advocacy OF sound and
statesmanli se views upon the snbj9c
Of the currency and taxation, and in op-
position to every species Of monopoly.
His speeches upon these subjects are
among the most able VIII ch have ever
been delivered ia the national leglsla-
tuTe, and served to pace him in the fore
most rank Cf Amerjcl an statesmen. In
1872, Mr.. Kerr refused TO enter the can
vass for nomination in his district, and
was succeeded by Hon. Simeon K.
Wolfe. Bat at the meeting OF the State
convention, which assembled in June Of
that year, he consented to accept the
nomination for congressman-at large,
but was defeated by Hon. @. S. Orth by
q msjority of one hundred and twenty
six votes in the entire vote of the State.
Two years afterward, in the winter and
spring Of 1874, he was appealed to by
many gentlemen in var 'ous parts OF his
district TO permit the use of his name as
as a candidate for nomination for the
fifth time in his old district. This re.
quest was held by him for several
months before giving definite answer,
as he then first realiZsd that the disease
which eventually proved fatal was max,
ing inro2ds on his constitution. How
ever, he conceived it to be his duty,
finally, to acc pit the call of his friend,
ard upon the meeting Of the con-
vention Of his party at Sey.
mour he was unanimously nominated,
all his competitors having with
drawn. This proved the most ex-
citing canvass in which he ever en-
gagged, and one which disgusted him
more than any that had preceded 1t.
The greenback element Of the party was
dissatisfied with his financial views, as
indicated by his policy in congress and
in the admirable address made before
him. The Republican panty made no
nomination, but the soft money men
placed in nomination General James A.
Cravens, q Democratic eX-member Of
congress from his district, and an ex-
ceedingly popular gentleman. M Kerr
entered this canvass with doubts as to
his physical strength bearing up under
the Iabors which he knew were inevits-
BILE. But the iDdomitable will and power
which had characterized bis entire life
eosbled him to bravely labor to the ehd
of the canvass. He was elected by a
ms )rity OF 1909 in total vote OF 26 573
He was conscious, as were many OF his
friends, that his election at this time
was due in large measure to Repuhli-
can voters men who refused to see
q dsinguis he'd gentleman sacrificed
merely to gtatiiy their political predi-
lactions. The labors of that canvass
left him physically Frustrated, and
his disease getting the upper hand,
he at once set about tue restora-
ton of his health, visiting Colora-
do, South Carolina, aud other points,
until the opening of congress in
1875. Shcr;Iy before the period for the
meeting of congress ne returned to his
home and made his preparations to
leave for Washington. While attend
ing to these matters he was prostrated
upon his bad and confined to his house.
When the time came for his journey he
set cut with every prospect of speedy re-
covery. While visiting for his health
at his home he was constantly in re,
ceipt Of letters from all sections Of the
country demanding that he suffer his
name to be used as a candidate for
speaker. In reply, he uniformly stated
that il such use would in any degree pro-
duce disharmony in the ranks of the
Democracy he would not accept. He
was not averse to a friendly contest for
the place with his political friends, but
he expressed the strongest conviction
that personal wraDgle for the office at
the opening OF the session of congress
would destroy the effective power OF the
Democracy and render it useless for the
accomplishment of beneficial results,
which he believed could be secured by
harmony and faithful performance of
the fact that his election to the
place would be extremely gratify-
ing to himself, personally, but
that it would amount to a crime
if to do so brought discoTd among his
partisan friends. With the result OF that
contest the country is familiar. His
election was hailed by all sections of
the country as an suguTy for good, and
the formation Of the committees Of the
house has been pronounced by those be' t
qualified to judge as most admirable. o.
the many ap: Ointments of that body, it
is doubtful If Mr.. Kerr Influenced the se-
lection of others than his own private
secretaries. He was pressed in many
quarters, but he conceived it his duty
not to interfere in the matter. After his
election as speaker it soon bscame ap-
parent that his physical powers were
rapidly exhausted, and that without re-
lief he must soon become a victim to
the power of the disease. He sought
that relief from the best medical advisers
at command with varying success. He
d d not seem to have great faith in the
remedical agencies prescribed, and only
followed the advice given to prolong liie
for the sake Of others. Shortly before
going 10 the Alum springs he
wrote OF his condition in despond--
ing spirit. After visiting the
spIings for a time it seemed that he had
at last found the remedy applicable to.
his condition, defined by his physicians
phehiSis intestindleS, or consumption OF
the bowels. But these hopes were falla-
cious, and soon the destroyer made
manifest its power, and exhausted ma
ture gave way, and from day to day he
sank beneath its sway, calmly, bravely
and patiently, not, however, without
intense pain and suffering, but finally
quietly passing to the great beyond on
saturday, August Is, 1876, at half.past
seven O'clock in the evening, in the
fortY.ninth yesr Of his sge.