The mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1863-1943, 1865-04-22
The MOUNTAIN DEMOCRAT.
Andrew JShAsOn.


from the effects of exertions to save q
friend from drowning. At the age of ten
he was apprenticed to a tailor in his ma
tive city, with whom he served years.
His mother was unable to afford him any
educational advantages, and he never at.
tended school day in his life. While
learning his trade, however, he resolved
to make an effort to educate himself His
anxiety 20 be able to read was particular
g e1eiled by sniucident which is worthy
Of mention. 4 geDslemAn Of Raleigh was
in the habit Of going into the tailor's shop
aud reading while the apprentices and
iourneynen we're at work. He was ak
excellent reader, and his favorite boon
was . volume Of speeches, principally Of
British statesmen. johnson became in.
terested, and his first ambition was to
equal him as reader and become familiar
with those speeches. lie took up the
alphabet without an instructor; but hv
applying TO TIE journeymcn with whom
he worked, he obtained little assistance.
Having acquired knowledge of the lei
teas, he applied for the loan Of the book
which he had so often heard read. The
owner made him present Of it, and gave
him some instruction on the use Of letters
in the formation of words. Thus his first,
exercises III spelling were in that book. Il
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. lie now applied himself to book $
for two to three hours every night. after
working from ten to twelve hours at his
trade. Having completed bis apprentice
ship in the autumn Of 1924. lie went tnI
LaurcnS Court House, n. c., where he
worked as a journeyman for nearly two
years. While there, he become engaged
to be married, but the match was broken
off by the violent opposition Of the girls
mother and friends, the ground of ohjcc.
ton being Mr.. Johnson'S youth and want,
Of pecuniary mans. In May, 1926, hc
returned to Raleigh where he procure1
journey work; and remained until Sep
tember. lie then set out to seek his for
tune in the west, carrying with him his
mother, who was dependent on him for
support. lie stopped at GrecnvllIc, I mn. ,
and commenced work as a joHrncyman
lie remained there about twelve nonthS,
married, and Soo1 afterwards, went Atll
further westward, bat failing to find a.
suitable place to settle, he returned 10
Greenvile md commenced business. UpI
TO this time his education was lm,tcd tnI
reading, as he hl1 never had an oppOr
tunity Of learning to write or cyphcr, bn'i
under the instructions Of his wife. bel
learned these aud other branches III.
only time, however, he could devnte toI
them was in the dead of light. The first
office he ever held was that of Alderman
of the Village, to which hc was elected ~
1928. lie was re elected to the same 20
Sition in 1929, and again in 1880. In
that year he was chosen Mayor. which
position he held for three years. Tn 1875
he was elected to the Legislature H.
the session Of that year he took decided
ground against a scheme Of internal im
provcment, which he conten led would
not only prove failure, hut entail upon
the State burdens0n" l.bt. The mea.
sure was popular, however, mad Al the
next election (ls37) he was defeated. lie
became n candidate in 1882. b. tbs i'm
many Of the evils he had predicted from
the internal improvement, policy which he
hAd opposed four years previous were
Eu!lT demonstrated, and he was elected
by large majority. In 1910 he served
IS Presidential E!ectoV for the State at
barge on the Democratic ticket. He can
VaSsed large portion Of the State, meet
ing upon the stump several Of the lcadins|
Wing orators In 1871 lie was elected toI
the State Senate. In 1913 he IS elected
to Congress, WHERE, bv successive cleo
tions, he served until 1858. During The
period of service, he was cdn~piennns and:
:Aelive in advocating. respectively, the bill;
dor r9undins the fine Imposed OIL Ger.
jackson at New Orleans in 1915. the am
neyation Of Texas, the tariff Of 1916, til,
war measures Of Mr.. POlk's ADMINISTERED
ton, and homestead bill. In 1853 heI
was elected Governor Of Tennessee, after
an exciting canvass, in which he was op
posed by GuStavus A. l,nry. He wa
reelected in 1855, after active contest, hisl
competitor being Meredith p. Gently
At the expiration Of his second term as
Governor, in 1857, he was elected to thcl
Tnired States Senate for full t rm, end
ing March 3, 1868. At the National Tn
ion Convention which assembled in Balt.i
more on the 9TH Of June. 1864, he wa>..
nominated for Vice President, and e'ectedi
On the 9Th OF November last. Nov. ~.
consequence Of the a>sasInatinn st. Ab'a.;
ham Lincoln, Andrew johnson is Pres
dent of the United States
ABOUT THE PRESIDE>cY.--Thn mournfull
events of yesterday daRe caused inquiry;
as to the mode Of inauGuraling President;
LfB00lE'S successor, Vice PIcS!dcat John.
son.
Immediately upon the death Of iiarri
son, on the 4th of April, 1871, the five!
members of the Cabiuct ti.cE, in the rity,I
viz: Secretaries Webster, Ewing andi
Bell, and Attorney General CrlltendcnI
and Postmaster General Granger, official
IL notified Vice President Tyler Of the
melancholy fact. On the 9th Tyler arr
rived in Washington and was officially
waited Opop by the heads of the Depart;
ments, to recognize him as President, and
on the next day he took ard subscribed,
to the following oath, before Judge,
Cranch:
al do solemnly swear that win faithfully!
execute the office Of President IF the United
States, aud will, To the best Ut INV ability. pre-!
serve, protect and defend the Constitution Of,
the United States"
And served the remainder of the term.
In case johnson should alSn die brfnrcs
the expiration Of his term, the 9th and 10Th;
sections of the Act of May |. 1892, prS
vide that when the ctfice Of both Presi-
dent and Vice President shall become va
Cant,the President pro tenn. Of the Senate,
or if there is no President pro tea OF the;
L IL 1