The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1897-07-14

lner6 were present dG his Deuslu6
when death came his son, Mr.. Edward
K. Harris and the latter's wife; Repre-
sentative Benton Mcmillan Of Tennes-
see Miss Polk, friend from his native
state, and the members of the household
where the senator has lived for some
time. Another son, Charles II. Harris,
had left the house a short while before
death came. Another son, James E.
Harris, residing in Tennessee, is expect
ed to arrive in the city before night and
q fourth son, Isham G. Harris, Jr., is
now on his fathers ranch and stock
farm at Abilene. Tex, and probably
will meet the funeral train when it
reaches Memphis, where the interment
will be made. .--.--.~...
Senator Harris was last in the senate
chamber about 10 days ago, but he was
unable to stay for any length of time
and had to be taken home in a carriage.
During the last six months the senator
had been able to attend to his duties
only at intervals, having been away
from the city several times endeavoring
to recuperate.
Probably no man in public life has
been identified with more of the history
of this country than had Senator Har-
ris. He had almost completed his 10Th
year, having been born in February,
1918, and first became member of con-
gress in 1849. His congressional career
thus began earlier than that of any men,
Der of either house, antedating Senators
Morrill, and Sherman by seven years
and Hon. Galusha A. Grow, now a
member of the house from Pennsylva-
mia, by one year.
Mr.. Harris had, when he was elected
to the national house of representatives,
already become a man of state reputa-
ton in Tennessee, having the year pre-
viously served as a presidential elector
ON the Democratic ticket, and two years
before been elected q member of the
legislature of the state.
Mr.. Harris represented the Ninth
Tennessee district in congress for two
terms ending in 1858, when he declined
denomination. He then moved to
Memphis, where he has since resided.
Here he was engaged III the practice of
law until 1857 with the interruption
necessary to allow him to become a
presidential elector in 1856 He was
three times in succession before the
war, beginning in 1857, elected gov
ernor of his state, and was serving in
that capacity when the war broke out.
He took a pronounced stand for the
southern Confederacy and was known
as one of the southern war governors.
The vicissitudes of conflict rendered o
frequent change of residence necessary
and he was often with the army in the
field. He attached himself at different
times to the stats of Generals Albert
Sidney Johnston, Joseph E. Johnston,
Beaureguard and Bragg. Albert Sid
ney Johnston fell from his horse into
Senator Harris arms when he received
his death wound.
After Lees surrender Mr.. Harris was
one of a small party of political refu-
gees who escaped to Mexico, going
across the country ON horseback. Par
son Brownlow, who had become the
military governor of Tennessee, offered
a large reward in a Enthusiastically
worded poster for the capture of his
predecessor, but the latter remained alb
sent from the country until his return
was safe. He remained in Mexico for
several months, going thence 20 Eng
land, where he resided until 1867,
when he returned to Memphis and re-
sumed his practice of the law.
Mr. Harris was allowed to follow the
pursuits of the private citizen until
1877, when he was elected to the
united states SENATE uttcdlluB nun.
l.. l.. Hawkins, Republican. He has
remained lnember of the senate ever
since and would have completed his
goth consecutive year in that body on
the 18th of next March if he had lived to
that date. He had been four times
elected 20 the senate, the last time in
1896, and his term would not have ex-
pired until 1901.
Senator Harris had received almost
all the honors that the senate could be.
stow. He was the president pro tenn
pore during the Fifty-third congress, a
leading member of the committees on
finance and rules and also Of the Demo
cratic advisory OF steering committee.
He has long been awarded by common
consent the front place ON both sides Of
the chamber in parliamentary questions
and i'm recent years he had been more
frequently heard in expounding these
questions than in the calculation of
other subjects. He was possessed OF a
very positive manner and never failed
to throw into his statements concerning
parliamentary practice the fullest force
OF which he was capable. His language
ON these andsother occasions was gener-
ally so uncompromising that he was re-
gardeA by those who knew him not as a
man OF little feeling. That, however
this waz not true and that the contrary
was true none are now 30 willing to tes
tify as his opponents In the senate, who
unite in attributing to him a warn
haarf "a wall ae A. inst anilif and hl-il