Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-07-15
DEATH OF SENATOR HARRIS.

Washington, July s. Senator Isham
G.. Harris Of Tennessee, died at his
residence hero u few minutes before D !
O'Clock this afternoon. The Senator had |
beeu growing constantly weaker for
rcveral days past, the intense summer |
heat which has prevailed greatly de- |
hilitating him and no doubt fastening |
his end. There were times when he |
would rally slightly, which gave his
family homes that he would be able TO
regain strength sufficient to be removed |
from the city. bnt his vitality had he
come too much exhausted 10 Withstand |
the strain. This morning the Senator |
revived somewhat, hut only temporarily. |
During tho afternoon he sank rapidly |
ami passed away peaceablY. There we're |
present at his heTstle when death came
his SOP, Mr.. Edward Il. Harris, and
the latter's wife; Representative Ben
ton MCMillin of Tennessee; Miss Polk,
a friend from his native State. and the
members of the household where the
Senator has lived for some time. An
other son, Charles II. Harris, not realiz.
ing the end was so near, bad left the
house a short while before death came.
Another SOD, James Z. Harris, resid-
ing in Iennessue, IL expected to arrive
in the city to morrow, and a fourth
son. lsham G. Harris, Dr.. is now On
his father's ranch and stock farm, at
Abilene, Tex, and probably will meet
the funeral train when ii reaches
Memphis, where the interment will be
made.
Senator Harris was last in the Senate
chamber about 10 days ago, hut he was
unable TO stay for any length OF time,
and had to be taken home in carriage.
During the past six months the Senator
had boon able TO attend TO his duties
only at interval, having beer away from
the city ssveral time endeavoring to re.
| cuperate.
Probably no man in public life had
been identified with more of the history
Of this country than bad Senat r
Harris. He had almost completed his
| 10Th year, having been horn in Febru-
ary, 1878, and first became a member OF
Congress in 1919. His congressional
career thus began earlier than that of
any member Of either House, aEtedat.
ing Senators Morrill, and Sherman lIy
seven years and Hon. Galusha A. Grow,
now a member OF the House from Penn
sylyania, by one year. Mr.. Harris had
when he was elected to the national
House of Representatives already be.
come man Of State reputation 10 Ten.
nesHee, having the year previously
servad as Presidential elector on the
Democratic ticket and two years before
been elected member uf the Legiela-
ture of the State.
Mr.. Harris represented the Ninth
Tennessee district in Congress for the
two terms ended in 1853. when he de-
clined II denomination. lie then movad
to Memphis, where he has since resided.
Here be was engaged n the practice of
law until 1857. with the interruption
necessary to allow him TO become a
Presidential eector 10 1856. lie was
three times in succession before the
war, beginning in 1857, elected Cover.
nor of his State, aud was serving in that
capacity whom the war broke out. lie
TOOK pronounced stand for the South.
ern Confederacy and was known as one
of the Southern war Governors. The
vicissitutes Of conflict rendered fire.
quent change Of residence necessary
and he was often with the army in tho
field lie attached himself at different
times to the stalis Of Gen. Albert Sid
uey Johnston. Joseph +. Johnston,
Benuregard and Bragg. Albert Sidney
, Johnston fell from his horse into Senator
Harris arms VIXEN he received his
death wound.
, After Lee's surrender Mr.. Harris was
! one Of a small party Of political refugees
, who escaped TO Mexico. going across the
country on horseback. Parson Brown
low, who mad become the military Gov.
ernor Of Tennessee, offered a largo re-
ward in Enthusiastically worde,l
/ poater for the captureof his predecessor.
but the latter remained absent from the
country until his return was safe. lie
"A
going thence 10 England, where he re-
sided until 1857, when he returned &c
Memphis and resumed his practice Of
: the law.
Mr.. Harris was allowed to follow thu
pursuits Of the private citizsn unit
I 1877, when be was elected to the UniteC
States Senate defeating Hon. l.. l..
4 Hawkins, Republican. He has remained
n a member of the Senate ever since auC
! would have completed his Goth con
seeutive year in that body on the 4tt
of next March if he had lived to tha
date He had been four times elected
i 10 the Senate, tho last time in 1851
y and his term would not have expired
. until 1901.
. Senator Harris had received almos
b all the hoporg that the Senate Coult
!. bestow. lie was the President prt
Q tempore during the Fifty-thir,l Con
q gross, Il leading member of the com
n mlttees of finance and rules ana also o
o the Democratic advisory or staerin!
8 committee. lie had long been awarded
y by common consent the front place OF
both sidns of the chamber in parla
mentary questions, and in recent year
he had been more frequently heard il
: eXpounding those questions than in tn
y eluCidatinn Of other subjects lie wa
I possessed of Il very positive manne
y and never faileG 10 throw into hi
!. statements concerning parlinmentar
u practice the fullest force OF which b
Q was capable. His language on thes
:, and other occasions was generally sd un
= compromising that he was regarded b.
those who knew him not as man G
little feeling, That, however, this Wa
, not true, and that the contrary was true
: none are now 40 willing to testify "a hi
= opponents in the Senate. who unite i
:. attributing to him warn hrart a
~ ~ well as Just spirit and brilliant mind
AZ Senator Harris had not heen especial
"a active IN the Senate since tho passag
Of the Wilson Gornan tariff act, i
1894. He was one of the three Demo
cratic Senators Intrusteu with tn
ST aruuou5 duty OF putting the hill i
g, shape in committee and 10 him wa
g delegated the control of tbe parlit
10 mantary work Of getting the bill! throug
m the Senate. Although man of advance
years, his energies never seemed to ilag
lie was at his post of duty day an