Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1856-12-04

w
lowing complimentary article to Gov. JOHNSON ta
ken from the Mt Vernon IN. " Gazette. The
Patriot in copying it manifests spirit Of hberai
ty towards political opponent worthy Of general
imitation.
1t contains several inaccuracies, concerning his
early history, immateral, however, to the maine
object and purport of the art icle, which win be
readily recognized in Tennessee, where every one
is familiar with his history 1880
"WHo Is ANDREW JOHNSON. there have been
numerous inquiries since Saturday last, as to who
the gentleman is whose name heads this article,
we will endeavor to answer to the best of our
ability and the information we are possessed Of
We believe there is q biography of Mr.. johnson,
extant, 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 is the present Gov
ernor of Tennessee station which he is holding
the second term. Mr.. johnson was born in Vir
ginia His parents were poor, and he grew up
without education, and field wherein to crafty
his natural desire for something more than mere
laborer, and placed in close proximity to slave
power, or placed in position more degrading than
slavery ITSELF be conceived the idea of crossing the
mountains into Tennessee; and, at the age of sew
enteon, he put budget on his shoulder, and on
foot made the journey. At Nashville he obtained
the art, trade and mystery of tailor. In that
CITY. he married an amable and talented lady and
as at this period of his life he had not acquired
any education, not to read and write bis wife
taught him. Soon after he entered law Office,
and iu few years began to practice. From this
time he began to rise, and held many offices in his
adopted State of honor and emolument. He was,
in 1874 or IS, elected to Congress by the demo-
on..;o xuh Wa think ba aervad 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
implacable foe He was q ready debster, bitter in
his sarcasm, so much so that many feared to excite
| his ire On every and any occasion where ques-
ton came before the House which he thought was
wrong, be would oppose it, whether proposed by
his party or not. And it was Andrew johnson
who introduced the Homestead" bill into Con-
eress and stood there amidst the eers and ibes of
friends and foes and advocated it Until it was final
" adopted-but throttled in that aristocratic body
the Senate.
Mr. johnson has keen perception of right and
wrong; he seizes bold of the right, if we may so
express it, intuitiEely. 1t requires no abored ar
gument to eIucidate to him the correctness of a
principle for you have advanced the one fourth
of an idea, he has grasped the whole subject; and
if principle of Justice, he ponders over it. he an
H.,
adopts it and adheres to it with Roman frmness
only equaIed by Andrew Jackson. s
We have never seen Mr.. johnson; we infer
| though, from all we have heard, that he is man
| small in stature, about feet vi, and quite
] slender. In order to give our readers q better
| idea of Mr.. johnson, we will relate a circum.
stance that occurred in New York, in, we think,
l946, ia the store of Mr.. John Commerford: :
While Mr. G. and ourself were conversing who
In bt1t Nj Rrin IF
Congress from the 9Th ward. Incidentally a con.
versation 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 have passed much
| sooner if brought forward by more popular man
| than Andrew Johnson" When asked in wat
| Mr. Johnsons unpopularity consisted, he said 80,
| he is the most unpopular man in the House!
| "Why?" 80, he is jumping up every whipstitch
| when question is before the House. cavelling,
| ouibblng, asking questions &C." When, howe
yer. we had the whole truth, it turned out that
| Andrew was thorn in the side of those who
| wished to do wrong. He was very sensitive
| where justice ought to be doDe or when the rights
| and interests of labor were assailed. Mr.. Briggs
before leaving, said that "Mr. johnson was an
able and ready debater, spoke fuently, was bitter,
aud sarc astic, while his language was gentlemsny
| being neither rude or gross" "But" added Mr..
Briggs, "he is perfect little hickory which you
| cannot bend or break"
Since Mr.. lhnson has been Governor of Ten
nessee he has recommended many measures for
the benefit Of the working population, which
| seems to be second nature to him.
We have come to the conclusion to advocate his
claims to the Presidency in future not as parti'
IAN sheet, for we are determined not to stultify
ourselves or our readers by harping on any one
| question. We shall, however, send on to Nash.
| vile for documents which will throw more light
| on the subject. In the meantime we hope our
| readers will know who ANDREW JOHNSON is -