Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-12-01
Northumberland.
A Knowing Editor.

We copy the following article from the
Mount Vernon Gazette a newspaper prin-
ted at Mt. Vernon, Westminster County,
n. Y:
who is Andrew Johnson.
As there have been numerous inquiries, since
Saturday last 10 who the gentleman is whose
name heads this article, we will endeavor to an.
swer to the best OF our ability and the information
we are possessed Of We believe there is a bio,
grapby OF Mr.. johnson, extsnt which We have not
copy Of, or any other matter at hand throwing
any light on the subject, we shall have TO depend
entirely on memory.
To begin, ANDREW JOHNSON lie the present Gov.
ernOr of Tennessee, station which he is holding
the second term. Mr. johnson was born in Virs
gnia. His parents were poor, and he grew up
without education, and no field wherein 70 crafty
bis natural desire for something more than a mere
laborer, and placed in close proximity to a slave
power, or placed in position more degrading
than slavery ITSELF he conceived the idea of cross
ing the mountains into Tennessee; and, at the age
OF seventeen, he put budget on bis shoulder, and
on foot made the journey. At Nashville he OBJ
tanned the art, trade and mystery Of a tailor In
that city he married an amiable and talented lady,
and at this period of his life he had not acquired
any education, not even to read or write, his wife
taught him. Soon after he entered law Office,
and in few years began TO practice. From this
time he began to rise, aud held many offices in his
adopted State OF honor and emolument He was,
in 1874 or ., elected to Congress by the Demo-
cratic party, where, we think he served two terms
Mr. johnson served his constituents with marked
ability, and while in the House, he was ever found
sincere and generous friend, but an implacabe
foe. He was ready debater, bitter in his sar
casm, so much 70 that many members feared 10
excite his ire. On every and any occasion where
question came before the House which he thought
wrong, be would oppose it, whether proposed
by his party or not And it WAS Andrew John.
son who introduced the "HoMEsrEAD" bill into
Congress, and stood there amidst the eers and jibes
OF friends and foes aud advocated il until il was e.
nsly sdopted-but throtted in that aristocratie
body-the Senate.
Mr. johnson has a keen perception of right and
wrong; he seizes hold Of the right, If we may so
express it, intutively. II requires no labored ar
gument to elucdate to him the correctness of a
principle, for ere you have advanced the fourth
OF au idea, he has grasped the whole subject; aud
il principle Of justice, be ponders over it, he an.
ayZes It, and il 1t viii bear the test Of truth he a.
dopis it and adberes TO it with Roman frmness
only eQuAed by Andrew Jackson.
We have never seen Mr.. johnson; we infer
though, from all We have heard that he is a
Ran small in stature, about feet or z, and
quite slender. In order to give our readers
better idea Of Mr.. johnson, we will relate a
Il o.,
think, 1916, in the store Of Mr.. John Com
merford:
While Mr.. @. and ourself were oonversiDg,
who should step in but Mr. Briggs, then mem
Der of Congress from the Sth ward. Inciden-
tally a conversation sprung up in regard to
the Homestead" bill, and of which Mr.. Briggs
claimed TO be in favor, although Wing. Mr..
Briggs observed that he Thought the bill
would be passed much sooner if brought for
ward by more popular man than Andrew
Johnson" When asked in what Mr.. Jolnsons
unpopularity consisted, he said, 30, he is the
most unpopular man in the Housed" "Whyin
o, be is jumping up every whipstitch when q
question is before the House, cavlllTg, quib-
bling, asking questions, &c" When, however,
we had the whole truth IL turned out that An
drew was thorn 10 the side OF those who wish
ed 70 do wrong lie was very sensitive where
justice ought TO be done, or when the rights
and interests OF labor were sssailed. Mr.. Briggs,
before leaving, said that "Nr. Johnson was al
able and ready debater, spoke fuently, was Bit
ter and sarcastic, while his language was gen
tlemanly. being neither rude or gross but"
added Mr.. Briggs, she is perfect little hickory
which you cannot bend or break"
Since Mr. johnson has been Governor Of
Tennessee lie has recommended many meas
ures for the benefit Ot the working popu-
lation, which seems 10 be second nature 10
him.
We have come to the conclusion 20 advocate
bis claims 10 the Presidency 10 future, not as
partizan sheet, for We are determine ed not to
stultify ourselves or our readers by hArping on
any one question. We shall, however, send on
to Nashville for documents, which will throw
more light on the subject. 10 the meantime
we hope our readers will know who ANDREW
JOHNSON is.
ELEoTIoS FEADDs.-rhe grand jury Of New
York has found bills of ndetmenL against 90
INSPECTORS of the recent election ia that city.
La one ballot box an excess OF two hundred
ballots over the tally list were found. The
iurg find that quiet aud peaceAble citizens we're
driven from the polls, that the police used 10
means to prevent such oairagss, and that 81
inspector regularly eiec ed was driTea from his
sesr by G member OF the municipal govern