The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-09
Senator Harris Passes Away.
ConSnicuous Eioure in Puhlic ife

taken home in a carriage.
Probably no man in public life had been
identified with more of the history Of this
country than had Senator Harris. He had
almost completed his seventy ninth year.
having been born in February, 1885, and
first became member of congress in l649
His congressional career thus began earlier
than that of any member of either house,
ante-dating Senators Morrill, and Sherman
by seven years, and Hon. g. A. Grow, now a
one year. Mr.. Harris had, when he was
elected to the national house of representa-
uVeS already become man OF state reputa-
ton in Tennessee, having the year pre-
vtously served as presidential electOr on the
Democratic ticket, and two years before
been elected a member of the legislature Of
the state.
He was three times in succession before
the war, beginning in 1857, elected governor
of his state, and was serving in that capacity
when the war broke out. He took pro-
nounced stand for the Southern Confederaey,
and was known as one of the Southern war
governors. The vicissitudes of conflict rem
dered frequent change of residence neecs-
sary, and he was often with the army in
times to the staff of Gen. Albert Sidney
Johnston, Joseph E. Johnston, Beauregard
and Bragg. Albert Sidney Johnston fell from
his horse into Senator Harris arms when he
received his death wound.
After Lees surrender Mr.. Harris was one
OF small party of political refugees who es-
horseback, Parson Brownlow, who had be-
come the military governor of Tennessee,
offered large reward in characteristically
worded poster for the capture of his prede-
cessor, but the later remained absent from
the country until his return was safe. He
remained in Mexico for several months going
thence to England where he resided until
1867, when he returned to Memphis and
resumed the practice of law.
Mr. Harris was allowed to follow the pur-
suits of private citizen until 1877, when he
sod n fhn IIrifn {nkn A.
feating Hon. L. L. Hawkins, Republican.
He has remained member of the senate
ever since, and would have completed his
twentieth consecutive year in that body on
the 4th of next March if he had lived to that
date. He had been four times elected to the
senate the last time in 1895, and his term
would not have expired until 1901.
Senator Harris had received almost all the
honors that the senate could bestow. He
was the president pro tempore during the
F1fty-third congress, leading member of
the committees of finance and rules, and
also of the Democratic advisory or steering
committee. He has long been awarded by
common consent the front place on both sides
OF the chamber in parliamentary questions
and in recent years he had been more fire.
quently heard in expoundng these questions
than in the calculation Of other subjects.
Senator Harris had not been especially
active in the senate since the passage of the
Wilson German. tariff act in 1894 He was
one OF the three Democratic senators entrust-
ed with the arduous duty of putting the bill
IN shape In committee, and to him was del
egated the parliamentary work of getting
the bill through the senate Although then
man of advanced years, his energies never
seemed to flag. He was at his post of duty
day and night, and man in the opposition
who sought to turn legislative point against
the bill ever caught him mapping but once.
They adjourned one day earlier than he in
tended when he was temporarily absent but
he made the incident so disagreeable to
friend and foe that the experiment was not
repeated.
Senator Harris was a native of Tennessee.
His father was planter who had emigratei
to the state from North Carolina. He was
admitted to the bar in 1S41