Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-07-02
How Andy johnson Turned the taOieS
on Gus Henry.

trorresnondence Of the Atlanta constitutional
read in your paper of recent date an !
article credited 10 the Knoxville (Iehn.l
Press and Herald, giving graphic account
of a nolitical discussion between AnaIew
Johnson and g. A. Henry, at Memphis
when these distinguished statesmen ~ete
opnosinr candidates for Governor ol .no
volunteer State, and stating the nappy lisn, ..o,
ner in which the Eagle oralIa
proud bird and would not 'feed on carrion.
I remember the discussion very wen; loi
| there was another incident connected with IL
which cannot be forgotten. was sup
norter of Mr.. Henry, and then lhoughl,
with the liberty masses, that Andy johnson
was the quntesence of baseness. But 10 .ns
discussion at Memphis. The fress anu
Herald has only told half the story. give
the other half which will plainly show now
Andy "eot'' the "Eagle Orator."
/ believe it was the late lamented and
brilliant VIM, T. Haskel--himself the
Mnoblest Roman of them all''-that pointed
ont 10 The Whig candidate in the Congress
sional Globe vote OF Johnson's against
} bill making All appropriation to send sup
] plies to the starving people of Ireland during
= one of the years OF famine In tnat oppressed
country. There were many lrishmen IN lhe
, audience, and their sympathies were natu-
q
: The Democratic party. But Henry's glori-
Q ous eloouence, as he pictured the starving
= mothers. sisters, and innocent babes at the
7 breastn in their native land, and hurled
= annthemas at johnson for the heartlessness
It of the vote he had given In Congress, re-
o fusing to send crumb of bread even to
Q induce the immortal spirit to remain in its
= tenement OF clay, left Andy lor tne momeh'
a without an Irish friend in the audience.
g Finally, 1t came Andy's time to speak
II He did 80, and at once took up the question
d Of Irish relief. He acknowledged that ht
10 had acted as charged, and boldly declared
Ii that he would give the same vote then ii h'
10 was in Congress and the question was be
i fore that body. He did not believe tina
IN Congress- had tho Constitutional right U
10. appropriate the public money In charities
IN He was strict Constructionist, ana eoul.
I'd find no authority to make any such dispo
IN siuon of public funds. These funds wer
g. collected for specific purpose; the paymen o
I'd of the actual expenses of the Governman
a. and he would have been untrue to his oinc
,h al oath IL he had voted 10 make any othe
o. disposition of them. Therefore he coul
e. not, conscentiously, vote for the approprl
q, alton in question, and he was not mea
at enough to dodge.
Ofcourse ! do not pretend TO quote
language, but simply indicate the line
argument by which he defended his unpop
lar vote. But the chncher was yet to com
After exhausting his defense OF that vote,
ID, defantly proclaimed, In substance;
m, eyes, fellow citizens, did vote as char
las ed. l would do It again. l simply q
he charged an unpleasant duty in so doing.
10. it was duty. had no more right to p
bre my hands in the public treasury and Ia
nd out money for this purpose than l had
.be put 1t into your pockets and take 1t out toi
of like purpose. Yet I sympathized deep
las with that iamished people. My heart bl
he for them. And as proof OF my sympath
her although you know me to be poor man
art here state that Andy johnson put his han
ex- into his own pockets and contributed, out
tha his own money, five hundred dollars. Ht
md much did you give, Mr.. Henry, with 70
)lu. two plantations and huadreds OF neeroess
,st, Not cent"
lon This completely turned the tables
the Henry, and at once not only restored Jon
ed son to bis original position In the anecne
God of the Irish, but il or eased 1t ten told. ma
me, OF the Wings were somewhat incredulo9
and wickedly suggested that Andy !,
a it about the five hundred dollars, 6nt u
liar knew that he would find hundred Den
Win Gratis to swear to its truth, and that he Wo
asls probably knock any speaker down tnat p
EN-, licly disputed his word.
nit This is what term the other hall OF
,ard story OF that memorable discussion.