The Arkansas banner., 1847-09-13
Richard Sf. Johnson.

NIT Brooks, the editor Of the Pittsburgh Gazette ' Is writing series of sketches of celebrated public men in the Uniied States. Among his papers one Is devoted to Cot. Richard M Johnson of Kentucky y a gentleman generous and brave, so thoroughly f American. that all his countryIncn are proud cl him The sketch cannot, we think, fail io lateres, our readers
 l Richard M. Johnson will bo sixty seven years oi ! age in the month of October. He was born in what | s Kentucky, and what Virginia. His father resided in what was Virginia and, h what is now l PeRusyivania. Brownsville, of Pennsylvania, was then Red Stone, of Virginia. In lTsI. just before Col Johnson was born, the father removed 10 Ken lucky. The old man was distinguished fer the times, and participated In the Preceedings of the Conventions of kentneSy, which framed and re- vised the State Constitution. Like the son, too, he also renowned for his bravery and skill, partie ularly in the fights with the Indians. He also frequently a member of the Legislature of his State.
 Col Johnson was educated for the bar, and a graduate of the University of Lexington. which he entered at the age of sixteen At the age of twenty one, he was admitted to the honors of the court- room-the severe studies of the profession of the present day moi being then required of the student. Two years after he elected 10 the Legislature. and. in two years morc when not quite twenty five years old, 10 the Congress of the United States In ls01, he took his seat in Congress, and became a great favorite with the Administration of NIT. Jef ferson who was then at its head. There was much more unity of purpose in the Government then than now, aud much less of party spirit and tional jealousy, though the WAT of lSi2 revived much of the spirit that had died away with the struggles between the elder Adams and Jefferson. When. in June, lel2. war declared, Col John- son defended it upon the floor of Congress, and by volunteering his services to fight il ont well ,o speak it out. He not for words alone, like many of our congressional heroes now-a-days, who
 4 but bitter in their denuneiatons of every man not as cianorous as themselves.
 The month following the declaration of the war, Col Johnson left for home, and al once formed a Regiment of Mounted Kentucky Riiemen. From these his associates he received the rank of eolene and with them he marched with all speed to Detroit where the American forces were stationed under the command of Hull. The surrender of the com mander had defeated his patriotic purpose, and he was, therefore too late upon the ground to render the service he desired
 In the autumn he resumed his seat in Congress
 declining to receive commission in the army of the United States. which was rendered by the Ex- executive, because he did wish to resign his seat in Congress, but at the same time volunteering to raise thousand mounted volunteers from his own State. This offer was accepted The volun- teers were raised and commissioned by the Cover nor of Kentucky, and the force made part of the gallant army of Gen. Harrison. The colonel of the regiment was Richard M. Johnson, and his brother, Col James Johnson, received the commis- sion of lieutenant colonel in the regiment The ranks were promptly filled, and in the spring of 1873. by hurried march of fifty miles in one day, he to the relief of Fort Meigs, then threatened by the enemy.
 The memorable battle of the Thams, where the Indians and the English were the combined enemy, took place the 5th of the following October. In this battle he fought with signal bravery aud receiving many nine balls upon his body, seven of which had given him severe wounds and scars of which he now bears upon his person. His horse shot from under him literally covered with bullets It was here that Tecumseh was ki- led, and the colonel claims and generally receives the honor of destroying that renowned chieftan-- Upon recovering partially from his wounds he re- ceived sword from the patriotic ladies of his noble State
 In the winter of. 'l3 and "A he was again in Congress, and after tine disreputgbe capture and more disgracefai burning of the capitol he was member of the committee who investigated the of the disaster His remedy a better organized militia; and the time he preparing plan for the invasion of Canada news of peace, negotiated at Ghent received, which put end to the
 Col. Johnson continued in Congress until lsl2, and then voluntarily retired and took seat in the Legislature of his State At the close of this year he elected to fill vacancy in the Senate, and here he remained for ten years. In 1894 he was the uncompromising friend of Mr Clay for the Presidency. but prcfeTring Gen. Jackson t0 MT. Adams, he supported him iu s27 and subsequently,, under Gen. Jackson's administration, he was again in Congress. In ls37, he elected Vice Presi- dent of the United States, with Mir. Van Buren as President
 Col. Johnson is d pie and single-hearted man, frank, generous ai.d inst, with heart in the right place ani mind far above the little tricks of mere party politics.
 He spoke and voted for paying the widow of ! l services during the war, and for which he had not made any charge against the Government. That great had served the nation in it's poverty from the love he bore his country. Designing 10 recon- mend the funding system to Congress, he meant to be above all suspicion of wrong. While alive he asked for nothing, and when dead his friends were for paying debt due from the Government to a brave, able and honest Many have been the occasions when Col Johnson bas come forward iB like manner to do act of justice to political opponent, and once l remember, to pay an honest claim of Gales X Seaton which was opposed by nearly his whole party. Col. Johnson has recently identhei himself with many of the reforms of the Jay, among others with that proposing the abolition of capital punishment. Not long since he presided at meeting for rasing volunteers against Mexico, and in aI questions of peace or war he manifests a deep interest in what belongs to the welfare of the country. His friends have not yet despaired of making him President. and believe that the very active though secret influences of his party are manifested to procure him nomination. Col Johnson, though fluent speaker, is not pleasing one There is good sense and good feeling in what he says, but nothing of what is called oratory. His body Is feeble and somewhat bent; his coantenanee denotes the good temper of mind wishing well to all men, and disposed act rightly towards all ''An honest man he is, and hates the slime That sticks on filthy deeds"
 STICK TO Ir.--Gen Taylor is certainly whig i d whis all oyer-say the whis papers Ask these papers if he IS Tn favor of a Bank, and they don knoc. Ask them ; he IS in favor of sDstribution and they danI kao.V. Ask them If he is in favor of 1 the tariff of Iss2, and they do,if kao1 Ask them il 1 he goes the wbig doctrine of buildiDg wharves around '.lnteIns" frog ponds, and they doat tso,o i Ask them if he is opposed to the war; and they don kHOe. Ask them Il be is opposed to the annexation ! of more territory. and they don't knoe. Ask tbem ! if he is in favor of the Winot provis0, and the, doar kno,c But they will swear on the comic al