Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-10-18
Reminispenoe Of the Past-Prophetic
.a Words of A. Johnson. rs/

WORDS OF a. Johnson. '."t
AS the Senators from Florida, Ala
bama, and Mississippi were about to
retire from the Senate, in one of the
anterooms connected with the Senate
Chamber, Jefferson DAVIS, after his
speech, encountered Senator Johnson
of Tennessee. Their relations were
not of a friendly character. Davis.
however, moved by the feelings ex
pressed in his address, remarked:
"Senator Johnson, l bid you fare.
we'll" ...'... ...-... .......
Johnson seemed not a little surprised
by the tone and manner of Davis, but
instantly paused before him, and said
"Sir, the proceedings of this day
overwhelms me with grief. In the
hour when the South most need faith
full representatives in Congress, she
will be almost without them"
"No, Senator; she will need no rep.
resen;atives here. She will have them
in another place." ... .....
"Can it be possible, sir, that this dra
ma of secession is to 60 on? Do you
think that the people-=the people, | say
sir, will not wake to the danger which
is impending-the danger Of war and
ruin %
Dayis smiled and did not answer fol
ar instant. Then he said:
"Senator, you represent Southern
State; What are your people likely
TO do ?"
"Stand by the Union, SIR"
"You are mistaken. Tenpessee, Vir-
ginia-all, all of the South will be for
the South and 2cith the South"
This time johnson laughed incred-
uously, and demanded:
"Do you think Eastern Tennessee
will ever consent to go out OF the
Union ?"
"Perhaps not; but it makes no diff
ference. I tell you, Senator, in the
face of the Union sentiment now ex-
hibited in the Border States, every one
of them will be obliged to do as the
Cotton States have DONE"
"Never-never!"
"Senator," said Davis very calmly,
"you do not dream how wide and deep
are the fountains Of this secession
movement. 1t is not the passion of the
moment, but the resolve Of years; it
is not directed by timid disorganizers,
but under the guidance Of statesmen.
AS we'll as it has been planned, just so
faithfully will it be executed"
"Sir, I am astonished!"
"Ahr'
"Not so much at your revelations,
sir, as at the fact that you dare utter
these words within this Capitol"
"And why not?''
"Why not, sir ?'' said Johnson, ex-
citedly, "Do conspirators generally
plot so near the arm which can crush
them ?"
Davis was now somewhat agitated.
The language and manner of johnson
was offensive, However, he wanted
no quarrel on his hands. Arriving at
this conclusion, he said:
"Senator, the term conspirdtors
which you use, applies to the citizens
of sovereign States performing the
r;ghtful part Of PATRIOTS
s'Sir, where do you stand? ?" asked
Johnson. II answer for you, ip the
Capitol building Of the nation. What
are these halls, occupied hy deliberate
bodies? What are the departments,
the courts, the archives, and all the
rest which you see in this city2 2 Why,
sir, thoy are signs Which betoken a
Government. And do you think, sir,
shat such Government, strong III the
love of millions of free and intelligent
men, is going to crnmnble and fall away
like rope IF sand:''
"Senator, 7 DO"
"And upon this you have built youy
hopes of ambition, and your dream Of
Southern Independence 20
81 have.''
johnson was MUCH excited. He
smote his bosom to quiet its painful
heaying. Presently he said
isThere are men in yonder chamber
who would tell you, sir, that you are
insane. And /, myself, consider you
stark mad; but I know, better than
they, what ruin may come from the
spread of your doctrine and trust in
your hopes. I represent a Southern
State now fearfully agitated by this
matter; and while l think she can be
kept at her moorings, yet the wild
storm is putting her In dreadful peril
What would say to you, sir, to-day
to-day, as we part, perchance forever
is this: Beware, what you do. The
welfare Of this nation, and the pros.
perity Of the Southern people is in
your keeping, perhaps as much as any
living man. Beware, sir, beware Of
America, ay, sir, of the human race"
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