The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-09-05
ANDREW JoHNsoN's PATERNITY


ANDREW JoHNsoN's PATERNITY.
& eDied IN this city, on Saturday last, Jacob Johns
son. who had, for many years, occupied an humoie,
hut useful station in society He was CITY consta-
ble sexton, aud porter to the State bank In ms
last llness he was visited by the principal habi
tants of the city, bv all of who he was esteemed
for his honesty, sobriety, Industry and humane
friendly disposition. Among all to whom he was
known and esteemed, none lament him more, lex
cent perhaps his relatives) than the publisher of
this paper, for he owes his lie, particular &C.
casion to the boldness and humanity of Johnson"
The foregoing is an obituary notice Of Jacob
,Johnson-the father of President Johnson
taken from an old file of the Raleigh Star, dated
January 10th, 1912. What interesting associa-
tiops are not the reading Of the above lines cal
culated to excite! AT the time they were penned,
the present President of the United States was
less than four years old--an age so young that
the loss of his parent could not affect him at the
time, one-hundredth part as much as the read
ing of these lines are likely to do now-ffty-
three years after they were written. What
stirring scenes, what exciting events, what polit
ica commissions, has the orphan boy, then left
fatherless, since passed through! How copsoling
must be to him, now that he has reached the
highest political station in the world, the refec-
ton that this tribute Of affection and regard was
by some venal pen-not by some interested
pauderer to greatness and power-but by the
grateful heart of one who knew him well, and
who had been the recipient of his unselfsh
benefcence.
The occasion referred to in the concluding
lines of the above obituary notice, was this -
Thos. Henderson was upset in q canoe, and was
so -aear being drowned that life was nearly ex-
tinct when he was recovered. Jacob johnson
was on the bank, safe and secure But he saw
his friend drowning before his face. Thought
less of SELF he plunged in at the hazard of his
own life. He did finally succeed in saving his
friend; but both were nearly exhausted when
they reached the shore. The statement in re-
gard to Jacob johnson being "esteemed FOR his
honesty, sobriety, industry and humane friendly
disposition is concurred in by the old inhabi-
tants now living 10 this city. The grateful and
generous tribute to his worth and goodness Of
heart is more to be valued and esteemed than
"storied urn or animated bust AS such, Pres
ident johnson may so regard it, and no doubt
he does. That peculiar trait, so marked in the
father-of devotion and attachment to a proved
trlend-the son seems to have Inherited in an
eminent degree. Those who have known him
WE'LL and known him long. concur in the state
.nent that where his friendship and confidence
ences, no party violence, no whisperings OF en-
nifty, no reverses of fortune, to ALLEVIATE his
feelings.
Such a character is almost unfailingly accom-
panied with sincerity, generosity, and warmth of
heart. Their possessors may sometimes be de-
ceias1, as to who are their real friends; but
they never desert frend from impulses of
selfshness, CIR fckleness of disposition.
We well imagine what may be President
Johnson's feelings on reading this tribute to his
fathers worth-preserved in the musty files of
a journal of by-gone times. There it has re-
manned in quiet torgetfulness, for So years; till
brought to light by the greatness aud elevation !
Of the then orphan boy. Little did the author
suppose that the atherless child, with whom |
ne, DO doubt, deeply sympathized, would, in
with the limits of the christian
world. The following extract, from Mr. John
sons speech in the House Of Representatives,
IN his great favorite measure "the homestead |
oill''-deliTered April %, lS62-wil show the
ouching affection he still chersbes for the land |
IF his birth, in which repose the ashes Of his |
ather:
"Some object to this measure, as calculated |
% take away the population from the old States |
Let me ask the old Dominlcn-let me ask North |
Tot, as the Romans would cali it, my alma |
mater, get she is my mother! Although poverty
-gsunt and haggard monster-expatriated me
rom her limits, to seek home in my adopted
State, where every fibre, every teEdril of my
leart, is entwined With the interests of her peo-
'le--yet still, NORTH Carolina is my ndtiue
STATE, and IN my heart Prospect and lore her."
Strange to say, the very paper containing the |
bore obituary. is in mourning for the terrible
disaster of the burning of the Richmond Theatre
n 1872; aud the proceedings Of a meeting of
obedience on the part of the citizens Of Raleigh,
presided over by Col. VIM. Polk La the same
'aper is an obituary notice of the death of the
mother of VIM. CASTOR. Such is life 3! one gen.
ration passeth away and another succeeds
fifty three years from to-day all who are now
be busy actors on the theatre of life, will have
assed to that bourne from which there is no
eturn, and another generation will have taken
helr places-and another, and another in one
ontlnual cycle.-Roleigh Standard.
~---.
CRIME BY MAGSETIsM.--A Curious CHARGE.
The readers of Hawthorne will remember the
'nctu idea of the author in the House of Seven
fabes" whereby young Maule, the carpenter,
olds maiigr magnetic influence over the beau
fall Alice Pyucheon. A similar case in real life
as occurred in France lately, if the statement
correspondent of the London Times may be
eiiesed
San extraordinary and believe an unerece-
ened case has just been tried at the Assize
'ouH OF the Var. young man of twenty four,
AIMED CASTELAR,, presented himself at the house
respectable farmer named Hughes, and, pre-
ending to be deaf and dumb obtained supper
nd nights lodging. In the morning he per-