The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-06-27


with which he held his own in all
college contests and his early promise
of future success. The young mans
earliest inclination was for the law.
On quitting college he commenced the
study of law in Cincinnati with Hon.
Il. S. Storer and in 1854 came to
indianapolis to begin the practice. AT
that time he was just twenty-one years
old, solid-looking, square-shouldered
young man, with an uncommonly large,
well-poised head, a rather serious look
ing face and quiet, dignifed manners
that indicated reserve force. He had
reason to look little serious. He was
now married man, among strangers,
with nothing but his personal efforts to
depend upon and his professional posi-
ton yet to make. He inherited moth
ing from his father but his education.
He was poor and unknown, and as yet
he lacked opportunity to show what
was in him. That was not long in
coming and his success in several i'm
portant cases made him a rising and
very busy lawyer. He is now re-
garded as one of the foremost lawyers
in the state.
1t was inevitable that the young law
yer should drift into politics. The
republican party was just forming and
he was attracted to its ranks. Harrison
was good talker and he became
known as one of the best republican
speakers in the state. In the memoir
able Lincoln campaign of 1860 Harrison
had an oratorical encounter with Hen
bricks, in which the latter acknowledged
that he met his match. The same year
he was elected reporter of the state
supreme court. Then came the war.
Harrison became active in the Union
cause and in 1862 raised company in
which he was commissioned as second
lieutenant. From this position he was
promoted to captain and then to the
Regiment. His military service was
mainly performed in Kentucky and
Tennessee. For gallant service in the
battles of Resaca and Peach Tree
Creek he was commissioned brigadier-
general. Harrison served with credit
until the end of the war and then re-
sumed his law practice.
General Harrison's political career,
interrupted by the war, was destined
thereafter to be an active one. During
his absence in the field the democratic
supreme court declared the office of SUI
preme court reporter vacant and elected
another person to fill it. In 1864 Cen
eral Harrison secured leave of absence
from the army, made brilliant can
vass of his state and was elected to the
position from which he had been
ousted. In 1868 he declined a re-
election as reporter and resumed the
practice of law. In 1876 he became a
candidate for governor under peculiar
circumstances. He canvassed the en-
tire state, addressed immense audiences,
was everywhere received with the ut
most enthusiasm, but he was not elected.
1t was the year of Tilden and Hendricks.
But, though unsuccessful in one sense,
the campaign greatly extended Cen
eral Harrison's acquaintance, en-
larged his popularity and won him
recognition as the coming man of his
party. He polled nearly two thousand
votes more than the general average of
his ticket, and after the October election
he was in great demand as speaker in
the campaigns in other states in the
East, where he strengthened the good
impression already formed of him.
Again, in 1880, he took leading part
in the campaign, and the republicans
carrying the legislature, he was elected
to the United States senate. During
his senatorial term General Harrison
won national reputation as one of the
ablest leaders, strongest lawyers and
most forcible debaters in that body.
He grew rapidly in public esteem. His
Dakota report and speeches, his speech
on civil service reform as applied in
Indiana and his work as a member of
the foreign relations committee were
perhaps the most conspicuous features
of his senatorial service. AS member
of the foreign relations committee he
assisted in the consideration and amend
ment and united in the unanimous re-
port of the Chinese restriction bill,
introduced by Senator Fair of Nevada.
On the contract labor bill Senator Har-
rison made speech in the senate
favoring the prevention of the whole
sale emigration of contracted labor,
being careful, however, to reserve the
freest possible voluntary emigration of
those who desired to become American
! al La al h. a.