The national Republican., 1867-02-02
President Lohnsan.

President Johnson.
A recent number Of the Boston Traveller
contains, in its leading editorial article, the
following paragraph; n
"Mr. johnson belonged 70 the House Of
Representatives twelve years-from 164l to
1858. He entered the Senate in 1857, but
his term Of service was cut short by the Sc.
cession Of Tennessee; though why he should
have left the Senate before 1863, IL, as he
now contends, the States that seeded, and
went into the Confederacy, never were out OF
the Union, Is for him and his admirers TO ex-
plain. Surely, il Tennessee was not out Of
the Union, there was no occasion that he
should 60 out Of the Senate. But he did 60
out Of the Senate, and he had been out OF II
three years when he succeeded Mr.. Lincoln
as President Of the United States" .r
The Traveller is in error. Mr., JoHNsoS's
term Of service in the Senate was not cut
short by the secession of Tennessee. II is
easy to "explain his withdrawal from that
body in manner that leaves no ground for
the implied charge Of inconsistency on his
part in claiming that his State was never out
Of the Union.
The ordinance Of secession was adopted in
Tennessee in June, 1861. The regular bien-
nial election took place in the following Au-
gust The contest that interviewed was fierce
and bitter beyond all that had ever preceded
Il. In that contest Mr.. JOHNSON took the
lions share. He became, by common con-
sent, the leader Of the Unionists. Giving
but little rest to either mind or body with
wonderful energy and sublime beroism, he
devoted himself to his work. At the risk Of
his life he went from point to point, raising
his voice everywhere in defence Of the cause
Of the Union, and in denunciation Of its foes.
The most powerful philippe the writer ever
heard was hurled by ANDREW JOHNSON at
secession and its authors in town garrisoned
by a regiment Of confederate troops, and in
the very faces Of the soldiery.
The result Of the conHict-a result due
more to the exertions Of Mr.. JOHNSON than
10 those Of any other man-was the defeat
Of all the candidates for the Confederate Con-
gress in the districts Of Eastern Tennessee,
and the election Of Messrs. NELsos, MAY.
NARD and BRIDGE TO the United States House
Of Representatives.
On the day Of the election Mr.. MAYNARD
who was in one Of the counties bordering on
Kentucky, escaped through the Confederate
lines, afterward went to Washington, in the
following December took his seat in Con,
gress, and held 1t until the expiration Of his
term, March 4, 1863
Mr.. JOHNSON made his way to Washington
in safety, although fred upon as he passed
through the Cumberland Gap, entered the
Senate and remained there until he resigned
his seat to accept the appointment Of Mill
tary Governor Of Tennessee position
pressed upon him by Mr.. LINCOLN and Other
leaders Of the Republican party.
Surely, it is not difficult to see that there
tras occasion that he should go out Of the
Senate" even "if Tennessee was not out Of
the Union"
Mr.. NELSON did not reach Washington.
He was arrested on the way, taken as pris.
oner to Richmond, and paroled. Mr. BRIDoRs
while trying to escape from the State, was
also arrested. He was taken back home, and
remained there until February, 1863. He
then succeeded in eluding confederate vigi,
lance, crossed the mountains into Kentucky
went to Washington, took his seat in the
House Of Representatives few days before
the expiration Of the Congress to which he had
been elected, and received pay and mileage
for the whole term.
1t is evident from the facts, therefore, not
that Mr.. JOHNSON has been perfectly con-
sistent with himself in this matter, but that
up to the 4th of March, ls63-nearly two
years after the commencement OF the war
the entire Thirty-Seventh Congress sustained
the same position with himself
| A TESNEssReAN