The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-08-23
Hon. NJ. e.. Kerr.

Hon. NJ. &. Kerr.
AS we write, the wires are flashing over
thu country the mournful intelligence OF
the death of the Hon. Michael @. Kerr,
speaker of the House OF Representatives
of the United States. He died at the Rock
bridge Alum Springs, Virginia, at 7:aO last
evening. For several months his health
bad been precsrious, his symptoms often
assuming such an alarming type as to give
his family and friends the grsvest appre-
| tensions. his official duties were ire
quently interrupted by his declining
nesltb, and finally it became necessary for
him to abandon Washington and seek in
relaxation and medical treatment for
restoration of his wasted energies
and rapidly declining strength. Unfor-
tunalely for the country the time was
too long postponed. Death had marked
him for its victim. The prayers of
friends, the skill of physicians, and the
demands of his country were alike IN
svailiDg, and as the dispatch announced a.
1880 last evening he quietly yielded up his
spirit. A great soil took its departure,
and the country mourns the death OF an
other good mana statesman, who fully
comprehended the supreme neecs OF his
country, a politician of consummste
ability, patriot who had the
love and esteem of pure men o;
all parties gentleman in the
largest and brosdest ssnss of the
term. whose unvsrying csndor and
whose stslwsrt Integrity were never ques-
toned and whose fidelity to the interests
of his constituents was universally &C.
knowledged. Mr.. Kerr was a native OF
Pennsylvania and was born near Titus
vile, Crawford county, in that state, on
the 18th day OF March, 1927, and was. there
fore, at the time of his death, in the 50.h
year of his age. He was, says biographer,
chiefly self educated, but studied at seve-
raj academies. In early lite he taught
school. He studied law at the University
OF Louisville, and after brief residence in
Kentucky, made his permanent home
at New Albany in this state where his
many virtues endesred him to the people
who, later in liie sought opportunities to
place lin in positions of honor and trust
and here let it be said that they were
never disappointed in their confidence.
Official responsibilities only seemed to
develop and bring into greater con-
spicaousness his manifold excellen-
cies of head and heart, and to
establish the confidence OF the peo-
pie more firmly in the incorrupti-
bility of his character. In 1856 Mr.. Kerr
was elected for two years to the State Leg
islature where he acquitted himself with
marked ability, giving evidence OF
talents which subsequently were to
earn National reputation upon
broader theater. In 1862 Mr.. Kerr was
elected rep ortef to the Supreme Court of
this state, and his five volumes Of published
reports attest his legal ability, comparing
favorsbly with the best that had appeared
before or have since been published. In
1864, Mr.. Kerr was elected Representa-
tive to the thirty-ninth Congress, wherehe
made an enviaole record, giving promise
OF legislative ability OF the highest order.
He was re elected to the fortieth Congress,
isnd during this term largely increased his
Reputation as fsr-seeing statesman. The
opinions OF few men were more highly
priced in council. His moderation was not
more conspicuous than his frmness
and withsl there was I'm what he said
suck manifest honesty OF conviction as to
exercise ao influence rarely secured by
any man In the halls OF our national legis-
lature. In 1874 Mr.. Kerr was again elected
to Congress-, and no sooner was the an
uouncement made than he was mentioned
In connection with the speskership of the
House, in way that gave the most posi-
tive assurances that he was the choice, not
only of the members of the dominant
party in that body, but OF the country, and
when the votes were east he WAS triumph
sntly elected. No Office was ever more
worthily bestowed. Is was an as
sursncs of the highest character
that the Democratic party had
resolved upon reform in ssrnest-shst
honesty ia the administration should be
secured; that public officers should be
held to the severest accountability, and
that II possible an era OF resrenchment and
reform should be insug These out
givings of the Democrats party, of which
Mr.. Kerr had become conspicuous rep
were, in so Ear as he could aid