The North-Carolina standard., 1845-04-23
SPEECH oF.Mr. A JOHNSON,
\. OF TENNESSEE.


! In Committee of the Whole House on the state
of the Union in reply TO Mr.. Cingman, of N
Carolina, and Mr.. Brinkerhoff of Ohio and in
/ which he gives some of the reasons why he is
In favor of admitting the republic of Texas into
our federal Union.
| Mr.. A. Johnson obtainedthe floor. After some
preliminary remarks, in which he referred to the
wide range the debate had taken, and gave notice
that he should not feel obliged to confne himself
entirely tethe direct question tefore the committee,
he proceeded TO refer TO the remarks of the gen
tleman from Ohio, MIR Giddngsl The man.
ner of the gentleman was very remarkable one
He believed medical writers contended that there
was such disease as monomana under the nflu-
ence Of which :he mind that was laboring was
perfectly sound on ,aH subjects save one. 1fa
striking instance of this complaint had ever been
exhlottd TO the House, or to the country, he
thought it was in the gentleman who had just
taken his seat. He cared not what subject was
introduced into this House, if the gentleman from
Ohio got the floor, his cry was abolition aboli-
ton !
! The gentleman had made another remarkable
tdiscovery, viz: that Texas if she came into our
Union, laid down every attribute and: from that
tact, that the general government became liable for
her debts. Was the general government he would
ask, responsible for the debts of Ohio2 Some Of
the propositions before the committee were to ad
nit Texas as State and would she not then re-
tain her sovereignty, and owe and be responsible
still for her own debt2 He thought it was clear
that she would
! Another gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Brinker-
hottl had given them a very learned, unexpected,
and TO some on this foor) interesting discourse
He had apparently made a great discovery, and
found that the old hero Of the Hermitage could be
made to speak so and So The gentleman had
given them reasons why he was for, and reasons
why he was against, the annexation of Texas; but
the conclusion of the whole matter was that while
his speech was against it, he was for it. He had
Announced to them that he was great military
man; and he had said that if there was any such
an insect as hunbug, this argument that Gen
eral Jackson was made to make was humbug.
General Cass, who occupied prominent position
before the country, and who had distinguished
himself both as soldier and statesman, had said
that Texas was importan; to the country as mill
tary position. Andrew Jackson, who had distin-
guished himself in every position he had occupi-
ed, both in the cabinet and in the field, took up
the subject and showed conclusvely its impor-
tance IN a military point of view. Here were
General Jackson and General Cass on the one
side and the distinguished military gentleman from
Ohio on the other SIDE The country would
judge between them. General Jackson had been
made to sayl 1t was a SANDER on his name,
libel on his character, he cared not whence it
out of the line of debate as to attack Gen. jack
son, who stood in disinterested position before
the country, and looked only 10 its permanent in
terest, and say that General Jackson's argument
on this subject was humbug, Mr.. J. said it came
unkindly from the democratic ranks, and the gen
tlrman who could take such position he should
Judge must be an tranSitu between the democrats
and the wings; and the attraction for him must
be much The stronger in the quarter whittier he
was going
He said that there was nothing that he could
say, the hurbest Of Tennesses representatives,
that would add anything to the already large
space occupied in the public mind land affections
of the people by General Cass; his acts, both
civil and military, had become part of the his
tory of the country, and were familiar to all; his
moral and political reputation had become too
firmly established TO be now affected by inuendo
or open assaults at this late day from pretended
democrats or open enemies: The bold and deci-
sive stand taken by him in the l1te presidential
canvass; the'spirit and energy with which he en-
tered the contest, and the manner in which he con-
tribued his slime and talents to promote the great
measure Of the democratic party, and secure the
triumph and election of The man who had been
chosen the standard bearer Of the denoc prin-
clpIcs in that excited contest, had given him po-
stion and standing in the confidence and esteem
Of the great republican party of this Union that
was WeII calculated 10 excite envy, ana even JeaI-
ousy, in the bosom Of those who had been vacl-
lating and counting the chances of success or de-
feat And at that critical and momcntous iunclure
when IT was important to give the nomination
made by the Baltimore convention the proper i'm
petus and most weighy and certain direction to
meet and receive the undivided appreciation and
support of the great democratic family of this
Union, who had taken less decided but more
passive stand in the contest then just begun? The
people were not like politicians in the main, un-
grateful for past favors but wohd, in due season,
render unto him the things that were his and that
would be a verdict in bis behalf of well done
thou good and faithful servant you have been
faithful over few things, you shall be made
master of many.
Mr.. J. said it was not necessary for him to
speak of Andrew Jackson; mere recital of his
acts stamped him as one of the greatest civilians
and military chiefains the world had ever pro-
duced euogy detracted from, instead of adding
any thing to, his great name; he had performed
the important task assigned him by all-wise and in
scrutable Providence The measure Of his coun-
Itry's glory was now full; be was deeply embalm-
ed in the hearts of grateful and prosperous peo-
Pile; he was now in retirement, in lne bosom OF
his. adopted State, surrounded by Tennessee's ma
tive forest, enjoying the domestic sweets of bis
own Hermitage, there refccting upon the varied
and checkered scenes of his eyentful life, WHICH
has been devoted exclusively to the promotion; Of
his country's good How consoling the nedita-
tion in this, his very evening of life, while the
lamn iS sendino forth its longest and BRIGHTEST