Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-08-23
Lying in STATE in a Special Car-De-
parture for New AIbany-Ap-
propriate and Timely Proc.
lamation by Pres
ident Grant.
Biographical Sketch-Career OF One OF
the AbleSt of the Public Men of
Indiana "A Statesman and
Pure Christian Gen.
tleman.
THE REMAINS ARRIVED AT WAS HING

THE REMAINS ARRIVED AT WAS HING
TON.
WASHINGTON, August 22.-The re-.
mains Of the late Speaker Kerr arrived
Alum Springs, at fifteen minutes past
six, accompanied by Mrs Kerr and her
con, Representatives Milton Ssyler, 8.
3. Cox and 81. Casey Young, and Mr..
Adams, clerk Of the house. The body
is encased In a cssket covered with a
black cloth; the mountings are Of heavy
plate, and there are six heavy plated
massive handles on the sides; the cover
ia of plate.glass, and extends the whole
length of the casket; an extra cover Of
black cloth with silver-plate mountiugs
fits over the glass; the interior is lined
with white silk and satin.
DEPARTED FOR NEW ALBANY.
Upon the arrival of the party in
Washington, Sergeant-at-ArmsT Thomp-
son took charge Of the remains of Mr..
Kerr and had them removed to special
car. A detail of six men of the capitol
police were placed on gu4rd. The outer
cover of the casket was removed, and
ths body laid Ia state until half past
ten O'clock this morning. During the
morning a number OF Mr.. Kerr's friends
and others visited the depot to view
bis remains. At half.past eleven o'clock
the casket was closed, and twenty min
utes thereafter the funeral party, with
the remains, left for New Albany, In-
diana, by way Of Harrisburg and In
dianapolis. Representatives Sayler and
Cox did not accompany the party.
PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESIDENT
LONG BRANCH, August 22.-The fol
lowing has just been received from the
President: at Is with extreme pain that
the President announces to the people
of the y nited States the death OF the
speaker of the house of representatives,
Ho1. Michael G. Kerr, Of Iudiana. A
man OF great intellectual endo wments,
large culture, great prooity and earnest
ness in his devotion to the public inter
ests has passed from the position of
power and usefulness to which he had
been recently called. The body over
which he had been selected to preside
not being In session to render lis tribute
Of affection and respect to the memory
OF the deceased, the President invites
the people OF the United States to s
solemn recognition Of the public aud
private worth and the services Of pure
and eminent character. u. S GRANT.
"JOHN L. CADWALLADER,
'Actlng Secretary of State.
"WAsHINGToN, August 81, 1876"
Biographical.
Michael G. Kerr, says the Louisville
Courier. Journal, was native of Titus
vile, Pennsylvania, where he was born
on the fifteenth Of March, 1927. His
parents were people in moderate circum-
stances, and of that old, sturdy Penn
sylvania stock whose children may be
found scattered in every section of the
country, giving life and vitality to every
department of human enterprise. He
was chiefly self educated, but studied at
the Erie academy, where he was gradu-
ated at the age OF eighteen. During his
attendance at the academy Mr.. Kerr
became attached to Miss Coover, q
school-teacher in Erie, and Immediately
after bis graduation married her. At
bis requ sst the marriage wfs kept q
secret until his return from the west,
where he remained twoyeRr5. By teach
ing school, Mr.. Kerr earned the means
to defray his expenses at the Louisville
university, where he received The degree
of bachelor of laws in 1851. In 1852 he
removed to New Albany, Indiana, and
began the practice Of law in connection
with the late Judge Thomas L. Smith.
He early developed those traits of char
acter which have since made him an
enduring name among his countrymen.
His copartnersnip with Judge Smith
continued for several years, during
which time he was elected the attorney
OF the city of his adoption, and, in the
performance OF the duties intTusted to
him, he most arduously devoted himself,
and attracted public attention to his
abilities. At the end of one years SER
vice he was elected prosecuting attorney
for the ecu oty Of Floyd, serving in that
capacity but a single year, when, in
1856, he was nominated as a candidate
for the legislature by the Democratic
convention to represent his county in the
general assembly, and in the October
following he was elected by two hun
dred and thirty.two mejority. It was
during this year that. attention was first
attracted to his powers as a stump ora
tor, and he was frequently called upon
to appear before public assemblies, and
on all these occasions he displayed his
wonderfully persuasive and convincing
powers as speaker, always addressing
himself to the reason Of his hesrers, and
never to their passions. The personal
magnetic Influence possessed by Mr..
Kerr was rarely equaled, and he had, in
a most remaIksb degree, the faculty
Of calling around him the very best men
In the country, and his ceunsels
were always received with con-
fidence. In 1852 he was elected re-
porter of the supreme court Of Indiana,
and while occupying the position he
prepared five volumes Of reports, all of
which have received the most favorable
consideration, and they are regarded as
the best OF the entire series issued from
that court. The effectiveness Of Mr..
Kerr on the hustings pointed to him as
the leader Of his party in the second con-
gressional district, and on the twelfth of
August, 1854, the Democratic district
congressional convention at jefferson
Vile nominated him as the candidate Of
the party to represent the district In the
thirty ninth congress, and at the Octcs
Der election follow he was elected by
q large majority. His competitors for
the nomination before the convention
were Colonel Cyrus L. Dunhsm and
Hon. Simeon K. Wolfe, two well-known
and popular leaders Of the party. Mr..
Kerr Immediately entered on the can.
vsss, and for a period OF sixty days vis
tied all sections of the district, arousing
the enthusiasm of his parts ln friends
and earning new laurels among the peo-
pie. He was assailed by his opponents
with unusual virulence. but these nei-
ther turned him aside from an honora-
BILE discussion OF the issues before the
country, nor TO engage in a personal war
with his opponent. Upon taxing his
seat in congress, he was assigned to two
committees Of the house-privste land
claims and on accounts - Striving
with faithfulness in the interests
of the public. Again, in 1856, he was
returned from his district as a member
of the fortieth congress, aud served on
L. al do