The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-08-15

many OF the commercial martS OF Europe.
Its advertising patronage was enormous,
and It's influence, as political engine in
/ the Democratic party, was all-powerful.
Probably no newspe per in a back-woods
/ hamlet, far removed from the great
thoroughfares of travel and commerce,
ever achieved such success. In the in
terest OF his paper, Adams attended all
/ the courts of the piney woods counties
with the regularity of the Judge and Dis
| trict Attorney. He rose rapidly to for
tune and fame, and now his Regions of
| eastern friends determined to send hlm
to Congress. But like his great proto-
| type, this remarkable journalist was des
| tined never to reach the goal Of his am
bition. He died just before the outbreak
of the war, in the meridian Of life, great
| " lamented.
THE BALLOT.
For these three candidates the Cenven-
ton proceeded to ballot. The result
was nearly an equal vote for each. Ad-
ans being one or two ahead, and during
the first day there was no change. On
the morning of the second day speeches
were in order, and, after Judge &. T.
Smith had briefly announced himself as
candidate for Justice of the High
| Court of Errors and Appeals, General
Stanton walked forward leisurely AMI
took the stand. He presented mag
nifcent appearance on the rostrum =
his manner graceful, his dress becom
ingly elegant, and on his white delicate
hand glittered a costly diamond. At first
embarrassed, he soon recovered his self
possession, and made beautiful flowery
speech, pleasing alike to patriot, polltl-
| clan and poet. 1t was such speech as
the young alone can make, and the young
| alone appreciate.
In answer to loud calls Cassidy arose,
and as he hObbled forwardon his hickory
cane to the stand, many a voice whls-
pered, |'there goes Prentiss." As he
turned to the applauding audience, all
felt that there stood before them man
of brains, capable, if allowed now to en-
ter the national arena, of building up an
exalted reputation for solid craftsmanship.
| He was then in the prime Of vigorous
manhood Time had touched him gently.
| His abundant curling hair was black as
let, his unwrinkled face ruddy as that OF
a mountaineer, and his dark ox-eyes shone
brighter than the gems of his proud oppo-
nent. He spoke for half an hour with
great force, and wound up his address
with an anecdote that brought down the
house in uproarious applause.
Adams was then vociterously called
for La person he was short, tat and IN
CALMLY. As he waddled awkwardly tC
the stand, carrying his ebony cane, with
its enormous gold head, the gift of devo
ted friends, an observer could hardly re
alize that he was one of the high priests
in the Democratic Sanherdrim. He wal
a poor speaker, had husky voice, ant
to make it distinctly audible, seemed tt
require a constant strain. His Powe
was in the pen. The Clarion was greater
than Adams. He spoke for the East
said that part Of the district had neve
had member of Congress, although
gave all the Democratic majorities, anC
he demanded the nomination as RICH
Justly due the unconquerable Democrat
of that neglected section.
The balloting was resumed, and con
tinued without the slightest change al
that dav, and till the afternoon of tn
next. Every delegate stood to hi
friend true as steel, apparently as I'M
2 movable as adamant. But they wer
all in fact becoming weary with tn
monotonous and protitless conflict. A
e this iuncture,J. B. Chrisman rose and &C
dressed the Convention III a stirring an
eloquent strain, closing by nominating
2 JUDGE WILEY 2. HARRIS,
! of Monticello. This created intense e2
. element Immediately II. f. johnson
h of Simpson, took the floor, and endorse
Y the suggestion in short, terse speecl
n and moved that the nomination be mac
q by acclamation With one voice, tn
10 Convention proclaimed Judge Harris ii
q nominee and the contest was over.
e committee proceeded to the modest littl
% cottage of Judge Harris, on the bluff {
a Pearl river, to notify him of his goo
,r fortune. They found him among h
q books. He was greatly surprised, al
f at first positively declined the profere
a honor He said he had no wish to emit
politics, and that he could accept no Off,
~ outside of his profession. The cOmmittt
20 pressed the matter earnestly, stating TIL
a his acceptance was absolutely necessal
h to the harmony of the party. Finally
. consented to appear before the Conve
h ton after supper. At the appOintt
y. time he appeared and made an appropl
. ate speech, interlarded with character
1r tic wit. He accepted the nomination vii
or thanks and the Convention adjourned.
1e Judge Harris was elected without o
position He took but little part in Il
debates of Congress. He, howeve
made one great effort during the memo
h. able discussion of Mr. Douglass Kansa
tn Nebraska bill. 1t was probably Il
rt ablest of all the innumerable speech
ul made in that great debate. He had
nd listeners a large and brilliant audienc
n The beauty and fashion of Washingt
We filed the galleries. Many Senators Ii
e. their seats and came over to the Hou:
he and among them Gen. Cass, of Michiga
In the acknowledged leader of the Sena
d. He pronounced the speech the abb,
Is, argument that had been made in oppo
lat ton to the bill. Judge Harris declin
pt- a re election to Congress and went volt
ne tarily back to the labors of the protest.
of to which his whole life has been devote
he He was born in Pike county, in Il
&c. State, near the old town of Holmesvil
he He graduated at Transylvania Universe
ed In November, 184T, L. A. Willis, VIII
holding the Circuit Court of HancC
ed county, was stricken with yellow few
r. and soon after died at the residence
rs. Col. Leonard kimball, near the mot
or. of Hobolochitto. There were many
AIS and eminent lawyers in the District "
he we're willing to fill the vacancy. +
an. Gov. Brown, with his-usqal sagacitY,
ost lected W. P. Harris, recently admit
It to the Der, for the important positi
nat Accustomed to older Judges, many P
ara sons at first doubted the propriety of
appointment. He was quite young, &
indeed appeared much younger than
really was. The first court he be