James H. Harris (NC politician)
Encyclopedia
James Henry Harris was an African American
politician in North Carolina
.
but became free about 1848. He left the state and attended Oberlin College
in Ohio. After the outbreak of the American Civil War
, Harris was commissioned as a recruiting officer to organize black troops in Indiana
, including the 28th Regiment United States Colored Troops
.
, serving as a Raleigh
alderman, president of the State Equal Rights League, vice president of the Union League
, and chairman of the 1866 Freedmen's Convention. He was elected as a delegate to the state’s 1868 constitutional convention, as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
(1868-1870, and 1883) and of the North Carolina Senate
(1872–1874). Meanwhile, Harris developed "Oberlin," a Raleigh-area community where former slaves were able to own their first homes, and helped found the Negro branch of the North Carolina Institute for the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind, which was the first school for blind African-Americans in the nation.
He was a member of the United States Electoral College
in 1872
, voting for Ulysses S. Grant
. Harris was also a delegate to several Republican National Convention
s, including in 1884, when he was a supporter of Chester A. Arthur
's unsuccessful bid for renomination. In 1888
, he was elected as a delegate for James G. Blaine
.
Harris lost two races for the United States House of Representatives
, the first by a slim margin in 1870 to Sion H. Rogers. In the second race (1878), his place on the ballot opposing another African-American Republican, James E. O'Hara
, contributed to the victory of white Democrat William H. Kitchin
.
for a time, Harris returned to Raleigh in 1880 and started a newspaper, the North Carolina Republican.
Harris died in 1891 in Washington, D.C.
and was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Raleigh.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
politician in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
Early life and Civil War activity
Harris was born into slavery in Granville County, North CarolinaGranville County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 59,916 people in 20,628 households residing in the county. The population density was 111.6 people per square mile . There were 22,827 housing units at an average density of 42.5 per square mile...
but became free about 1848. He left the state and attended Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
in Ohio. After the outbreak of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Harris was commissioned as a recruiting officer to organize black troops in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, including the 28th Regiment United States Colored Troops
28th Regiment United States Colored Troops
The 28th Regiment United States Colored Troops, also called the 28th Regiment Indiana Infantry 1, was an African American combat unit from the state of Indiana that fought in the American Civil War.-History:...
.
Political career
After the end of the war, Harris returned to North Carolina and became a political leader, helping to found the North Carolina Republican PartyNorth Carolina Republican Party
The North Carolina Republican Party is the affiliate of the Republican Party in North Carolina. Robin Hayes was elected Chairman of the party on January 15, 2011, to serve the five months left in the unexpired term of Tom Fetzer....
, serving as a Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
alderman, president of the State Equal Rights League, vice president of the Union League
Union League
A Union League is one of a number of organizations established starting in 1862, during the American Civil War to promote loyalty to the Union and the policies of Abraham Lincoln. They were also known as Loyal Leagues. They comprised upper middle class men who supported efforts such as the United...
, and chairman of the 1866 Freedmen's Convention. He was elected as a delegate to the state’s 1868 constitutional convention, as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
North Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
(1868-1870, and 1883) and of the North Carolina Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
(1872–1874). Meanwhile, Harris developed "Oberlin," a Raleigh-area community where former slaves were able to own their first homes, and helped found the Negro branch of the North Carolina Institute for the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind, which was the first school for blind African-Americans in the nation.
He was a member of the United States Electoral College
United States Electoral College
The Electoral College consists of the electors appointed by each state who formally elect the President and Vice President of the United States. Since 1964, there have been 538 electors in each presidential election...
in 1872
United States presidential election, 1872
In the United States presidential election of 1872, incumbent President Ulysses S. Grant was easily elected to a second term in office with Senator Henry Wilson of Massachusetts as his running mate, despite a split within the Republican Party that resulted in a defection of many Liberal Republicans...
, voting for Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
. Harris was also a delegate to several Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
s, including in 1884, when he was a supporter of Chester A. Arthur
Chester A. Arthur
Chester Alan Arthur was the 21st President of the United States . Becoming President after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Arthur struggled to overcome suspicions of his beginnings as a politician from the New York City Republican machine, succeeding at that task by embracing...
's unsuccessful bid for renomination. In 1888
United States presidential election, 1888
The 1888 election for President of the United States saw Grover Cleveland of New York, the incumbent president and a Democrat, try to secure a second term against the Republican nominee Benjamin Harrison, a former U.S. Senator from Indiana...
, he was elected as a delegate for James G. Blaine
James G. Blaine
James Gillespie Blaine was a U.S. Representative, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, U.S. Senator from Maine, two-time Secretary of State...
.
Harris lost two races for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, the first by a slim margin in 1870 to Sion H. Rogers. In the second race (1878), his place on the ballot opposing another African-American Republican, James E. O'Hara
James E. O'Hara
James Edward O'Hara was an African American Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1883 to 1887, representing North Carolina during part of the Reconstruction era....
, contributed to the victory of white Democrat William H. Kitchin
William H. Kitchin
William Hodges Kitchin was a one-term U.S. Congressional representative from North Carolina. He helped tighten the color line between blacks and whites in the state...
.
Later years
After moving to Warren CountyWarren County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 19,972 people, 7,708 households, and 5,449 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 10,548 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
for a time, Harris returned to Raleigh in 1880 and started a newspaper, the North Carolina Republican.
Harris died in 1891 in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Raleigh.