Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1853-11-22
GOVERNOR JOHNSON AND THE NATIONAL IN
TEIIIGENCER

TEILtGENCEh
The National hatezigencer-that Mrs. Darlington
of the newspaper press-deyotes large amount of
its space to the Inaugural address of Gov JeHNsoN
Of this State. The garruous and purblind old dame
sets down ANDREW Johnson as the enemy Of letters!
This, however is not "a discovery for which the
HqteHlyeace' is entitled to patent. The idea
phfered from the original columns Of our neighbor
of the True Wig, whose great aptitude for seeing
through miIstones and discovering what don't ex-
st is astonishing and proverbial No less profounda
thinker than our neighbor could have hit upon tiie
idea that such man as ANDREW JoHNsON--"iio'
with the exception Of FRANKLIN, IS the brightest
illustration our country has produced OF the pursuit
of enowledee under difficulties, aud whose whole
lie has been ernphatcay that of ScholaT-is mimi
demonstrations of learning eopponentof edu-
cation in any form MCLUREhas lately discoveredt the
Northwest passage-but we think our neighbor's
discovery has fairly taken the wind out of his sails.
MCIuRE only discovered what every intelligent
man believed to exist-but our neighbor has discov-
cred a fact that no intelligent man ever dreamed of
previously, and which we fear no intelligent man
will ever give him much credit for. 1t is tale that
will do TO be told in private way ito the marines,
and such venerable danes as the National Iatelli-
qencer, but among those who know aught Of Gov.
JoHNsoNs history from the hard fortunes ofhis boy
hood to his present hour of triumph it win not pass
current.
But enough of our neighbor We have alluded
to him here simply 10 vindicae his genius against
the bare-faced plagiarism of his Washington cotem-
porary We wish merely to give him his due, and
= 1,,-l,a
history is forgetfu of his fame-a niche among the
great discovers Of the age.
The lnteHigencers structures upon Gov. JoHSsoN's
address are ably replied to by the Washington Union
We copy the Uajons article at length
DEMOCRACY AND EDUCATION
Three of the broad columns of the National In
7egeRcer on Saturday last devoted by It's edi-
tors to what they pleased TO 'the genius of
democracy as being opposed TO education" The
late inaugural address of Hon. Andrew johnson, de-
livered upon his installation governor of Tennes
see furnishes the text for this remarkable dIatribe
against democracy; and notwithstanding its great
length and breadth the editors regret that their
comments are not as full they could desire 1t is
due to Governor Johnson, whose meaning has been
grossly perverted, and to democracy whose genius
is unustly misrepresented that we should not allow
this clumsy specimen of genteel caumny TO pass I'M
noticed. The editors offhe I7teAigenGer have devo-
ted the best part of lifetime to insidious war
fare upon democracy, III which they have constantly
sought to maintain the appearance Of fairness and
candor whilst their weapons have been all the time
pointed with poison The article before us has all
the characteristics Of the peculiar tactics of that
Journal except that its misrepresentation and per-
versions are more transparent than most of the in
Penious assaults which made upon democracy
through that channel
1t is no ordinary offence against truth and Justice
20 attribute TO such man Andrew johnson
feeling of hostility to education. His early misor-
tunes in life cut him off from the benefits of mental
culture but they did not destroy either the will or
the capacity ofthe noble spirited youth to command
by his own exertons the advantages which the an
prentice system Of his boyhood had denied to him.
BY his own untiring exertons he has succeeded in
acquiring education which enables him to rank
amongst the best-ntOrmed and ableSt statesmen of
the country. At the Tires hold of his career his
strong. native mind was impressed with the value
of intellectual cultivation; and the of it on his
own part only caused him to appreciate it the more
highly. BY a perseverance which none but those
imbued by nature with noble attributes of soul could
exhibit he has long since taken his place in the front
ranks Of intellectual eminence. But Governor john
son has had constant occasion to regret the early
disadvantages against which he labored and to
cherish sincere solicitude that other young men
should be enabled TO enjoy the facilities of education
IL
with hostility to education is the rankest nius-
tice. In the very address which has provoked tie
cabonte criticism of the IateLlqeacer Governor
Johnsol gives utterance to sentiments which starnp
the charge made against him Of being hostile to
education uniOunded misrepresentation Its
true that he does not fall into the notion of giving
exclusive encouragement to academies and col
leges nor does he exclude them from general
system Of education which viii difluse its benefits to
all orders and conditions of society The following
sentiments are worthy of the high character of Gov
Johnson:
THE true policy of the government, both State
ndgeneral consists in the education and diffusion
of general information among the great mass of the
people and at the same time employing all the
means by which the toiling producing labor of the
country can be elevated to its proper position Our
children should be made thoroughly acquainted with
the genius and spirit of beautiful though COM
pick, form Of government. The constitution of the
United States and of the States, with their com
mentaries should be made one of the principal books
10 be studied and understood in all the schools of
our country, and thus a thorough knowledge of the
genius and character Of our free institutions acquired
And fit shall be the pleasure of Divine Providence
10 exempt this so far favored nation from all wars
for the next fifty years, and it be permitted to 90
on as It has been-cultvating the arts and sciences
of pesce-it viii have no superior if an eouaI
throughout the civilized or pagan world. If agri-
culture mechanics internal mproy cmeuts with all
their legitimate incidents, permitted to approxi-
mate anything like perfection, we viii be tho most
powerful and formidable people upon the face of
Gods habitaJle globe. Why not, then pursue that
line of policy which viii enable Us TO attain this
great and important end making this people the
wonder and admiration Of the enlightened nations
Ofthe earR We should adopt as a rule Tor our f1-
ture action that which was laid down bv the i'm
mortal jefferson on the 4th of March, 1901:
Equal and exact Justice to all men of whatever
State or persuasion religious political peace COM
merce, aud honest friendship with all natious-en-
tanglng alliances with none ~
In the face Of sentiments Ike these the editors Of
the EntehjgeRcer, through three broad columns ner
sist in representing Gov Johnson as the enemy of
education. The charge rests upon palpable mis-
representation of an allusiOn made by him to the
means by which many young men prejudiced in
early life against democracy. He said:
Il have not deemed it improper nor ont of place
on this occasion to make SINGLE aluson to the
young men Of our country. Many of them, while
at our academies aud colleges, and when in the
study Of their professions imperceptbly imbibe
notions preiudicia to democracy Their wealth.
and too frequently their preceptors-manv of
whom are bgeted and supercilious on account of
their literary attanments and assumed superior in
formation on most subiects-inspire their students
with false ideas Of their own SupeTiority mixed with