The times., 1897-07-09

political life, until 1856, when he was
made elecior for the State at large, and
supported Buchanan aud RrecGiir dye
against Fillmore and Donaldson. He had
for his opponent on the electoral ticket
eX-Gov Neil $. Brown, and their canvass
was one of the most noted of the many
memorable political eauvasses Of that
State. Both men had great repufatnns for
oratory on the hustings. and iU is said that
both sustained their repntIttiUns well.
In 1857 he was the nominee of the
Democratic party for governor OF Tenn
essee, in opposition 10 Col Robert Hat
ton, afterward in Congress Wien Mr. Lin
coin was ina1gurated This was a. heated
canvass, too, causing much personal EN-
b:tterment One OF us incidents is char
aeteristie of Harris The two candidates
met at Fayetteville in the oanvasg and
a hot personal encounter was the result
Il was aTuicably settled, and Mr.. Hatton
being defeated for governor was elected
for Congress Mr.. Harris was elected
governor, and. in 1858, was reelected
Before his second term of office expired
the war broke out and his successor, Hon
Robert l.. Carruthers, electedin 1864 by the
Confederate troops, was never qualified
Much against his viii Governor Harris was
Compelled 20 continue in office, although
1t was his earnest desire to join the Con
federacy as a fighter But W bile this
Kept him from active command, which
would have been rendered him at any
time, he was engaged on the staff as an
aide TO the commander-iIl-ge general
At tie battle of Shiloh In 1S62, while
governor Of Tennessee, he served on the
staff Of Cen Johnston, and when that gem
eraI received his death wound he fell
from his horse into the arms of Governor
Harris Go&ern9r Harris remained with
tie armies, serving on the staffs Of Beaure-
gard and Bragg, until the last ten or
twelve mept!s of the war These he
spent with Gen. Forrest
He was with Forrest on many of his
campaigns, but notably in Padueah, XIV,
III Febru" y, 'e4- when Forrest demand
the surrender of the fort. This demand was
in Governor Harris own handwriting 1t
lis said that SO great was Governor Har-
ris' personality. that he was the only
man who could control the indomitablc,
ligh-sDiEited Forrest. He had been Forests
attorney and friend before the war
His relations with Forrest and with. the
war history CT Tennessee are full OF his
character. He undoubtedly threw Ten
Tessee to the Confederate side, and IL is
even said that this was done against the
wiz of the State itself. When the first
election We held in Tennessee, in 1861, on.
the question OF seceSsion,. Tennessee de-
cided not TO seeede. Forrest proclaimed
that he would go to Mississippi aud take
up arms with that State. Gov. Harris
heard ofthis He wrote to Forrest, ,ureirp
him to come back, and assuring him that
his native State would ioin her sister
states He made particularly earnest
appeal to Forrest, because, as ne often
afterwarl saiti, he felt that Forrest was a
man Well firted to gain reputation and to
do mco,f service
In February, 1862, when Fort Donel-
son fell ien. then Col. Forrest declined
to surrender, and fou gfit his way out with
his command When he reached Nash
I vile the legislature Of Tennessee and
Soy. Harris had adjourned To Memphis
There was much strong criticism of this
FeouIse on the part OF Gov. Harris and
institutions that IL was a eowarfiy act
His course has since been fully justified,
however.
II was reported TO the governor tim Col
Forrest ha,t jpined his enemies In this
matter This criticism of the governor
caused him lluch pain, bus all tile criticism
from ANY brher soiIrrp Was rot to re cnnt-
pared w-tb that OF Forrest He was silent
about it for months, making nc defense
After the hattie OF Shiloh. on his trip to
Memphis, Gov. Harris found Forrest one
OF the travellers on the train. On entering
the car he how, ed te various sali1tations.
but took bis seat in the opposite end OF the
car from Col Forresr The story oe their
eacourfer e an interesting one They had
tEaxeipa i,ut n short time when Col Forrest
approached the governor
GpyerBar. he said, what has Or
cnrr,d n make voi c,r'fitowarI me?"
Gov. Harris turned in his seat, and said:
Forrest, -vesf Know That was i;strp-
mentaiis, rr:tiHrg yea to returntoT Teulessee
from Mississippi and Join our army You
Inew Bhsst have beam always ready ard
willing TO advance your fortunes, not only