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

BENJAMIN GwINN HARRIS was borr
December 10, 1906. He was son Of Col
Joseph Harris who, for fortv-nine years
was clerk of the ST. Msry's Circuit Court
Mr.. Harris studied at ST. Mary's College
Baltimore, Yale University and at Harvard
Law School. His first appearance in pol.
itics was when quite a young man. He
was originally Wing, but always a States
Rights man and never favored protective
tariff. An ardent supporter of the U. s.
Bank, when Daniel Webster, during Ty-
ler's administration, declared the Bank
question an obsolete one, the last tie which
held him to the Wing party was suniered
and he joined the Democracy, soon rising
to prominence in its councils.
MIR. Harsis was ever sturdy advocate
of political and religious liberation, and
during his term in the House of Delegates
made vigorous speeches against the reli-
gious Intolerance of the Know Nothings.
As soon as he was admitted to the bar Mr.
Harris took prominent place among the
lawyers of Southern Maryland, and soon
obtained nearly all the legal business in
st. Mary's, and was employed in almost
every important case tried in this Circuit.
He married his cousin, Miss Martha Har-
ris, and until the fiflieth anniversary OF
their wedding-da when death claimed
his devoted wife, they lived happy in each
others love.
He represented the Fifth Maryland Dis,
trict, then composed of the counties of ST.
Mary's, Calvert, Charles, Prince Georges,
Anne Arundel, Montgomery and Howard,
in The National House OF Representatives
from 1868 to 1867, and while a member Of
that body boldly and fearlessly denounced
the government for waging an unconstitu-
tional war upon the seeding States. Mr..
Harris was a firm believer in the right OF
the States to secede, and in Congress al
ways voted against appropriating money
or supplies 10 the Federal armies invading
the South. In one of his speeches in the
House he used the expression, "God grant
that you may never subjugate the South,
and for IL Elihu B. Washburne, of Illinois,
moved TO expel him. The vote on the res
olution Of expulsion stood IS 10 So, and the
necessary two-thirds would have been OBJ
tanned but for the active opposition of the
late Thad Stevens, who contended against
Furnishing man for having the courage OF
his convictions and said. that Mr.. Harris
had but expressed sentiment which 9TH
er members Of the House held, but had no,
the manhood TO avow.'
Though the motion to expel failed, a res
osution of censure, offered BY Robert G.
Schenck. Of Ohio, was adopted by vote
Of g to 20, the nays being James 9. Al,
len, Anconn, Bliss, Chanler, Denison, Eden
Eldridre. Law, Lie Blond. Lcng, w. I'll
Miller, Morrison, Pendleton. Priyn, Sam
uel j. Randall, Ross, Strouse, Voorhees,, G
III. White and Fernando Wood. Mr.. Har
ris was always proud of the censure say
ing, he regarded it, coming from sucf
9 body, as badge of honor"
After Gen. Lees surrender and when th,
Confederates paroled at Appomatox wer,
returning to their homes, two men calleC
at Mr.. Harris residence near Leonardtown
and giving their names as Sergeant Rich
ard Chapman and private William Read, :
said they had belonged TO Company K
sand Regiment Virginia Infantry, and askeC
for something TO eat and solicited his al,
to help them to their homes. lie procured
food for the men and gave each Of them
dollar. For this he was arrested, cast int
the. Old Capitol, tried before Militar!
Commission and adjudged guilty. DurinI
the trial he was attended by his brother
and James w. Carlisle acted a. his coun
sci. When the judgment Of the Court wa
forwarded to the President, that dignitar,
approved the finding, but granted ful
pardon.
Mr. Harris was at that time member G
Congress and President Johnson invite
him with other Congressman to the Whit
House 10 dine. The invitation was refuse
by Dir. Harris, that gentleman coniendin