The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1898-09-15
GOVERNOR HARRIS LETTER.
Ordered the state Archives Moved Back Il
Nashville.

Ordered the state Archives Moved Back to
Nashville.
James E. Harris, son Of the late Sen
ator Isham g. Harris, recently, in go
ing through some of the papers of the
senator, found letter which brings
out in strong light his sense of JUS
tice. The letter was written at time
that the federal forces were in complete
control of the south and in absolute
control of Tennessee, and while Sena-
tor (then Governor) Harris claimed to
still be the chief executive of the state,
he yet recognized the fact that he was
not de facto executive, even though he
might be de jure Governor, and hence
ordered the archives of the state to be
returned to the officials at Nashville.
He also directed that the officers of the
Bank of Tennessee return to the bank
ing house at Nashville the assets Of
that institution, with the statement
that these assets belonged to the peo.
pie of Tennessee, and that it was his
wish to see them get what they were
entitled to. The letter follows:
"Greneda, Miss, May s, 1S65.-Jas.
T. Dunlap, Comptroller; Joel A. Bat
tie, Treasurer, and J. E. r. Ray, Sec
retary of State of Tennessee: You will
return the archives of the state to the
capitol at Nashville at the earliest date
practicable. You will also inform the
officers of the Bank of Tennessee that
my advice to them is to return the as
sets of the bank to the banking house
at Nashville at once. The assets of this
bank are the property of the people of
Tennessee, and I earnestly desire that
they should be restored to them.
Signed, IsHAM G. HARRIS,
Governor, etc.
1t will be noticed that this letter was
dated at Grenada il May, 1866. Gov
ernor Harris was then en- route to Mexi-
co, and had been accompanied thus far
by James E. Harris and one OF his 9th
er sons. The letter, while addressed
to the three other principal officers Of
the state, does not give their then ad.
dress, hence it is evident that they
we're also on the move, and that the
Governor was keeping in communica.
ton with them through messengers
When it became necessary for Nash
vile to be evacuated, after the fall oi
Forts Henry and Donelson, Governor
Harris had the archives of the state
moved to Memphis, and later he direct
ed the officers of the Bank of Tennes
see and all its branches to take the
fluids in their possession and go will
him with the army Of the South. ThC
story of how we'll this fund was guard
ed, how every cent of it was returned
to the carpet-bag government, and how
this magnificent school fund was en-
tirely squandered by the republicans
has been often told, but this is proba
bly, the first time that the formal ordel
of the Governor for the transfer of tn,
archives and money to the newly con-
stituted authorities has ever been pub
| lished
The Governor could not see to it per
sonally that the archives and assets ol
the bank were given to the usupers,
for at that time he was fugitive b,
reason of the reward by "Parson'
Brownlow of $4,000, describing tn
Governor as a man with heavy jaw, al
inveterate chewer of tobacco end pas
grand master in the art of swearing. :
Memphis Commercial-Appeal.