, 1841-09-25

AT the early age Of nineteen, he com
mencsd the practice of his profession, ans
to use the language of another, "the active.
energies OF his mind Immediately began t.
develop themselves, and his success soor
surpassed the most sanguine expectations o
his friends; whilst the qualities Of his heart
which have since, so much endeared him tc
the most virtuous part of the community
were soon brought into more public notice.
Without fee or reward, he often espousec
the cause of the unfortunate and poor, a
galnst their rich and sometimes designing
prosecutors.
He, wts elected 10 the Legislature ,br thu
citizens Of Scott county, before he was old
enough te be constitutionalIy eligible, and
the next year reelected. Before he was
twenty-five years Of age, he was by the
citizens Of his district elected Representative
in Congress, where he Immediately acquit-
ted himself with great credit, and soon be-
came one Of that body's most distinguished
members.
In the fall OF 1911, at the meeting Of Con.
gress, such was the state Of our foreign re-
lations with Great Britain such her repeated
aggressicns upon our commerce, and the
rights and privileges of our citizens, that it
was clearly foresaw by many, that a war
with that power was almost indispensable,
to the honor Of our flag and national charac-
ter.
By this time. Johnson's name and fame
had burst the narrow limits of kenturky.
and "every portion Of the Union admired his
talents and revered his virtues, whilst he had
become almost the idol Of his district and
State.
Believing that the rights of our plundered
citizens, and the national honor demanded a
resort 10 arms, he voted for the Declaration
Of War against Great Britain, in June 1912.
The patriotic course pursued by Col.
Johnson during the war, both as a Represen-
tative in Congress and rs 4 citizen soldier in
the tented feld-his wisdom and energy in
the national legislature. and his zeal, firmness
and gallantrv in the hour of battle. not only
forms one of the brightest pages in the histo-
ry Of those gloomy and p~erilous days, but
are most indeliably engraven upon the hearts
of millions Of his grateful and admiring fel-
low citizens.
Long may he yet live 10 receive and en-
joy the heart-ful gratitude of an admiring ma
tion!.
During the session Of Congress Of 1879
10, wearIed with the tur,noils Of public life.
having served his constituents then twelve
years in Congress, honored and beloved by
the whole nation, his services in the filed ac-
knowledged by the National Legislature, and
a sword presented to him by both houses,
he determined to retire to private life, and
accordingly declined a reelection.
But that retiracy was OF short duration,
for in December Of the same year., 1919, the
Legislature OF Kentucky elected him to the
Senate of the u. s., and he took his seat in
that august body before the end of the month.
Here it was. that he made his first great
effort in support of the law abolishlng i'm
prisonment for debt--taking tine broad and
manly ground that prisons should be used
for none but culprits-that If a man was 4
murderer or a thief, that would justify his
confinement, but a people boasting of the
blessings of civil liberty, should blush TO
make lails and prison houses the legal habita-
ton Of .he innocent victims of misfortune,
the unfortunate in peruniary atiars-that for
the safety Of society. for its protection a.
gainst the vicious and deprayed, prisons
should be erected, but that no mans liberty
should be taken from him, unless he has for
feited it by crime, or his freedom would be
dangerous to society or the public veal.
Next to the immortal Jackson in the art
of Indian warfare, stands Col. Johson.-
Brave, daring and invincible in the hour Of
battle, but kind, generous and sympathetic
as a cenqueror, like Jackson he is both feared
and beloved by the red men of the forest.
They behold him, in war their deadliest
scourage, in peace their best and Grmest
friends. Knowing him to be brave, and
seeing that the truly brave are ever kind,
generous, and just, they repose unlimited
Confidence in him. As proof of this, soon
after the close OF the late wal, they petition
ed the u. S. Government for the establish
ment of a school among us. for the especial
instruction o. such Of their young men as
they might choose from time 10 time to select
and send thereto. The Government DEEM
ing that a compliance with their request,
would, to a great extent, secure their friend.
ship, and prevent many future ruptures, and
much border warfare; at once acceded TO
their proposition, upon the condition, that
lands should be coded TO defray expenses
m ot dono tho Indians IL