Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 October 1877 — JOHN M. HARLAN. [ARTICLE]

JOHN M. HARLAN.

Biographical Sketch of the New Supreme Judge.' We find the following biographical sketch of the new Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court in the Chicago Kveniny Journal : Gen. John M. Harlan, of Louisville, Ky., is about 42 years old, and is blessed with remarkable physical and intellectual powers. His parents were natives of Kentucky, and his father (James Harlan) was the distinguished Whig politician who represented the Meroer district in Congress from 1836 to 1839. His father was also Secretary of State of Kentucky from 1840 to 1844, and from 1850 to the time of his death, in 1863, he was Attorney General of the State. Harlan county, Ky., was named after Gem Harlan’s grand-uncle, who fell in a bate tie with Indians at Blue Lick. In 1859, when only 24 years of age, Gen. Harlan ran for Congress in the Fayette District (then called the Eighth) on the Opposition ticket, and, after a hard fight, was defeated by the Democratic candidate by a majority of only 67 in a total vote of 13,797. When the war broke out he joined the Union army, and served for two years as Colonel of the Tenth Kentucky infantry. The death of his father then compelled him to tender his resignation. On returning to civil life he settled his father’s estate, and in the same year (1863) he was elected Attorney General of the State on the Union ticket, which was headed by the late Gov. Bramlette. Gen. Harlan’s majority was 52,752 in a total vote of 78,632, Gov. Bramlette’s majority was 50,917. At the close of his term he removed to Louisville and returned to the practice of law. Gen. Harlan is probably the best lawyer in Kentucky, and the ablest and most successful member of the bar in that State. Talent for oratory is with him a natural gift. His command of language is great, and his sense of humor keen; but he indulges in few rhetorical ornaments in his speeches. When only 21 years of age he canvassed Kentucky for President Fillmore, and there are Kentuckians still living who speak of his boyish eloquence in high terms. Gen. Harlan has the respect of all Kentuckians, and his vigorous canvasses have made him the leader of the Republican party in the State. In 1871 he was the Republican candidate for Governor, and polled 89,294 votes against 126,447 for the Democratic candidate. In 1875 he was again the Republican candidate, and he then increased his vote to 90,795, against 126,976 for Gov. McCreary. Gen. Harlan is about six feet high, and weighs . perhaps 225 pounds. He has good-humored, expressive blue eyes, fair complexion and hair, a large head, massive, lofty forehead, deep chest and broad shoulders. His power of self-con-trol is great, and he has an abundant geniality and tact. He is probably the most industrious, untiring lawyer in Kentucky, capable of working sixteen to eighteen hours per day. He is always in perfect health. It is said that he was never sick a day in his life.