Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1895-04-11

that he had been guilty of no crime and
that he could not apd would not "break
bread" with the man who had approved
such an Ubiquitous verdict, even though
ne bad abrogated the punishment
During Mr.. Harris confinement in the
Old Capitol, he was treated with the ut
most kindness by Colonel Wood, comman-
dant of the prison. and was ever grateful
to him for courtesies extended. In speak
ing of his experiences there Mr.. Harris
said: "Colonel Wood often allowed him
TO walk about the city with a policeman,
and sometimes allowed him to go alone
On one occasion Mrs. Harris came TO visit
him, and when she started to leave in the
evening Mr.. Harris asked permission to &C.
company her 10 the train. Colonel Wood
said, all right and called the policeman,
but that officer could not be found. oh,
go on, anyhow, Dir. Harris said Wood,
I don't believe you would run away to
save your life Governor Vance, ofNorth
Carolina, Governor Le.cher, of Virginia,
Governor joe Brown, of Georgia, "Alle-
ghany" johnson and others were confined
in the "Old Capitol at the same time as
Mr.. Harris. 1t was brilliant party and
Gov. Vance kept it in good humor with his
jokes All were fond of Mr.. Harris and once,
when his wife came to visit him, they all
Clipped in and gave dinner in her honor.
Mr.. Harris course in the Chicago Cen
vention of 1864, which nominated Gen.
George B. Mcclellan for the Presidency,
and the episode therein where he knocked
down New York delegate who insulted
him, has been but so recently fully des-
cribed in the BEACON that It is rot neces-
sary to refer to it in lis article.
In all his long political career. Mr.. Har-
ris made no concessions to or compromises
with what he believed to be error but
maintained his position manfully, disdain-
ing to be influenced by ideas of expedien-
cy or policy, but fghting-ifneeds be--his
cause alone. THIS trait Of his character
was strikingly exemplified in the Greeley
campaign, when separating from his friends
and his party he steadfastly refused to sup
port the regular nominee and voted for
O'Connor.
Mr.. Harris owned nearly a hundred
slaves and always fondly spoke of them as
"his people" He allowed them TO do pref.
ty much as they pleased and the drain upon
his means to find for them food and raj
ment and his habit Of indorsing for friends
were the chief causes of his loss OF fortune.
Though foreseeing the outcome of the
struggle between the States, Mr.. Harris
would not heed the advice given him by
some to turn his slaves into money, saying,
he would not separate husband from wife
or mother from childrea, /" and contending
that II the government took bis property
II must in sheorest justice compensate him
for the loss. He never sold any OF his
slaves except for very serious misconduct
on their part, was very indulgent them,
and they were devotedly attached 10 him.
In St. Mary's, Mr. Harris was affection
ately spoken of as the Colonel" and the
title is said TO have been obtained al fol-
lows: When Butler was in command OF
the department embracing Norfolk he sen,
steamer to Southern Maryland to take
OFF such OF the negroes as could BIZ per.
suaded TO run away from their masters
The boat tied up to Leonardtown wharf
and operations commenced. Returning
home from visit, Mr.. Harris found that
some of "his people" were absent and wen.
TO search the boat to find If they were
there and had gone willingly. Arriving
at the wharf, he found the vessel and
boarding her was confronted by Colonel
S~ayne, of SCOTS Nine Hundred" an
Indiana regiment stationed in st. Mary's
Col Swayne ordered Mr.. Harris OF III.
boat and was informed that he Harris
twas not there by his permission and would
not leave at his orders" Mr. Harris ther
proceeded to express his contempt for Col
Swayne in plain and vigorous language
and shook his fist under the Colonel's nose
The captain of the vessel came ND ant
begged sTr. Harris net 10 precipitate figh
: on his vessel. but for the sake of peace I.