The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-07-29
AN INCIDENT or THE WAN
How Governor Harris Took Cnre or
tho Tennessee School Fund.

How Governor Harris Took Cnre or
tho Tennessee School Fund.
Tho Washing ION correspondent OF
tho New York Tribune relates the fol.
lowing story In regard 30 tho conduct
ol inc late Senator lsham G. Harris in
preserving school fund OF 500, 900 In
gold curing the entire war:
one OF the most striking episodes In
tne lilo Oh Senator Harris was his
taking possession OF 800 600 IN god
belonging to tho school fund of T.n-
hessee. Nj my stories havo been told
ABOUT this incident, but the following
account was related by S .nutor Hnrriss
himself Iu 1862, whom Nashville ,vns
about to foil into the hands of the E,,d'
eral troops. tho State Bank OF Tenncs.
see had In Its vaults something more
than S700,00 In gold and silver coin,
besides valuable securities. Two pri
Vate, banks, the Union and the Plant.
money. Senator Harris, at that time
Governor OF Tennessee, was determin.
eu that this money should not fall into
the hands OF the enemy. He persuaded
the officers OF the State Bank, which
acted ~ the fiscal agent OF the State,
to remove the banks assets to a point
of safety within the Confederate lines.
The OIL ;ers OF the private banks, how
ever, wero unwilling to make the
change, and the Governors arguments
were unavailing. Ho thereupon re-
turned to his olli3e and sent each bank
o note, In which he said something
like this;
No doubt you can manage the af-
fairs OF your bank better than | can,
and do not desire to undert Ike the
conduct Of your business. However, |
desire to inform you that unless YOU
give me your assurance that within
three hours you will remove your cash
and securities to q point Of safety with
In the Confederate lines | shall be
under the necessity OF appointing a
receiver to take Immediate possession
OF your bank, and such receiver will be
accompanied by q file OF soldiers to eu-
force his orders"
Before the three hours had expired
q favorable answer was received from
the two private banks. The Governor
joined tho staff OF the commanding
general OF the Confederate army as a
volunteer aid. He obtained sufficient
guard Of soldiers to protect the ba nix
moneys, and he moved the assets from
one place to another. He formed the
habit OF going each week to the place
where tho bank was temporarily To-
Gated and personally counting the
cash. In time, he said, he became
familiar with every bag Of coin and it's
contents. One day the cashier OF the
bank appeared at headquarters with
the news that an agent OF the Confed-
crate treasury was at the place where
the bank was then located with orders
to seize the 500, 900 for the military
uses OF the Confederate Government.
Governor Harris obtained q teltgraphic
order for the agent to suspend opera
tions temporarily. He then took the
next train for Richmond, where he
called upon President Jefferson Davis.
Governor liarris told the President OF
the Confcderacy that he we'll under
stood the financial necessities OF the
Confederate Government and would
freely give all Of his own personal
property to the Government. That
$70O.0OO, however, belonged to the
school fund Of the State Of Tennessee,
and he did not propose to have one
cent of it touched il he could help it.
AS an outcome OF this vigorous stand
on the part Of Governor Harris Presi-
dent Davis directed that the State
fund should not be disturbed. Alter
the surrender Governor Harris went to
the Union general in command and
obtained safe conduct and an escort
Tor the conveyance of the money from
Griffin, Ca, back to Nashville. The
money was taken to the State Capitol |
and deposited in committee room, a |
receipt being given for the amount
The bags and keys were broken open
and the money lay in heaps on the |
floor under guard OF fl le of soldiers
until the legislative committee count
ed the cash ten days later. A remark
ab!y small shortage was found, con-
sidcring the circumstances during the
ten days the money was lying loose on
the floor.