Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-06-24
ANDREW JOHNSON.

Save them from bondage and despair
d God save the People
ANDREW JOHNSON. Il
The people of this country have been mad,
familiar with the position of the Union nominee
for Vice President on the great question Of de-
Tending the nations life and subduing rebell-
ion, and the Older class of leaders know soine-
thing of his political antecedents and the part
he has borne as a leading Democrat in Tennes-
see; but his earlier life, and the means by which
he has risen from the most complete obscurity
to his present enviable position, are less UNDER
stood and hence brief review of the same viii
be proper. i i'1is ~
Gov johnson is native of North Carolina,
having been born at Raleigh on the 29th De-
|cember, 1908, making him now in his 56th
year. When he was four years of age he lost
his father, who died reflects of exertions to
save afriend from drowning. AT the age Of 10
he was apprenticed to tailor in his native city,
with whom he served seven years. His mother
was unable to afford him any educational adj
vantages and he never attended school a day IN
his life. While learning his trade, however, he
resolved to make an effort to educate himself =
His anxiety to be able to read was particularly
excited by an incident which is worthy of mem
ton. A gentleman of Raleigh was in the habit
ofgoing into the tailors shop and reading while
the apprentice and jOurneymen were at work
He was an excellent reader, and his favorite
book was volume of speeches, principally of
British statesmen. johnson became interested,
and his first ambition was to equal him as a
reader and become familiar with those speech
es. He took up the alphabet without an in
structor; but by applying to the iourneymen
with whom he worked, he obtained a little as
sistance. Having acquired knowledge of the
letters, he applied for the loan ofthe book which
he had so often heard read. The owner made
him present of it, and gave him some instruc-
tiOn on the use of letters in the formation of
words. Thus his first exercises in spelling were
in that book. By perseverance he soon learned
to read and the hours which he devoted to his
education were at night after he was through
his daily labor upon the shop-board. He now
applied himself to books from 2 to hours every
night, after working from 10 to II hours at his
trade. t<s7s5c s
Having completed his apprenticeship in the
autumn of 1924 he went to Laurens Court
House, S. c., where he worked as journey
man for nearly 2 years. While there he be-
came engaged to be married, but the match was
broken off by the violent opposition of the girl's
mother and friends, the ground of objection be-
ing Mr.. Johnson youth and want Of pecunia-
ry means. In May, 1896, he returned to Ra-
leigh, where he procured journey work, and re-
manned until September.
He then set out to seek his fortune in the West
carrying with him his mother, who was depen-
dent upon him for support. He stopped at
Greenyille Tenn, and commenced work as a
journeyman. He remained there about twelve
months, married, and soon afterward went still
further westward; but falling to find suitable
place to SETTLE he returned to Greenville and
commenced business. Up to this time his edu-
cation was limited to reading, as he had never
had an opportunity of learning to write or ci-
pher; but under the instructions of his wife he
learned these and other branches. The only
time, however, he could devote to them was In
the dead of night.
The first Office which he ever held. was that Of
alderman of the village, to which he was elect
ed in 1928. He was reelected to the same po-
sition in 1929, and again in 1880. In that year
he was chosen mayor, which position he held
for three years, In 1885 he was elected to the
Legislature. rIn the session ofthat year he took
decided ground against a scheme of internal
Improvements, which he contended would not
only prove failure, but entail upon the State
burdensOme debt The measure was popular,
however, and at the next election, (lS37) be
was defeated. He became candidate again IN
1889. By this time many of the evils he had
predicted from the internal improvement policy
which he had opposed 4 years previous were
fully demonstrated. and he was elected by a
large majority. In l840he served as presiden-
tial electOr for the State at large on the Demo-
cratic ticket. He canvassed a large portion Of
| the State, meeting upon the stump several Of
the leading Wing orators. In l84l he was
elected to the State Senate. In I643 he was
elected to Congress, where, by successive elec-
tions, he served until 1853. During this peri
cd of service he was conspicuous and active in
advocating, respectively, the bill for refunding
the fine imposed upon Gen. jackson at New
Orleans in 1915, the annexation of Texas, the
tariff of 1916, the war measures of Mr.. Polk S
administration, and a Homestead Bill In 1858
he was elected Governor of Tennessee, after an
exciting canvas, in which he was opposed by
Gustayus A. Henry. He was reelected in 1855,
after another active contest, his competitor be-
ing Meredith P. Gentry. At the expiration of
his second period as Governor, in 1851 he was
elected United States Senator for full term,
ending March Sd, 1868. :. --a ts5
Gov. johnson continued to hold his seat in
the Senate after the pretended secession of Ten
nessee, and by veice and vote supported all the
measures of the government for the prosecution
of the war. a E s.i ~ sfvr-.i
When, in the spring of 1862, our army had
penetrated Tennessee to Nashville, and the
northern and central portions of the State were
wrested from rebel control the President de-
sired the services OF a wise and sagaciOus man,
of unquestioned loyalty, to act as Military Gov
ernor of that State, and he did not have long to
look Andrew johnson was at once recOgnis /,
as the man for the place. and being comm :
sionedias Brigadier General, he repaired to
Nashville, where he has for two years dischar-
ged the delicate and responsible duty of his
charge with degree of wisdom and efficiency
which has challenged general admiration. I'M
der his administration rebellion has steadily
been loosing its hold in Tennessee, and loyalty
as constantly cultivated and developed.