The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1872-10-10
Harris and johnson.


American politics, when the charac-
ter and antecedents of the combat
tants are considered, But the ex-
President made the attack on the
| ex- Governor, and it embraced dis
graceful un,l false charge. Our
only regret is that the Ex-Governor
/ fell into the coarse vein Of the ex-
President, and, following the i'm
/ pulses of a natural indignation, used
language and adopted a tone at once
unbecoming an Ex-Governor and a
man of social position.
/ The story of the feud between An
drew johnson and Isham G. Harris
is a curious one and yet Withal a
characteristic episode in Tennessee
politics., for Tennessee has always
been a sort of personal battle
ground.
Away back in 1852, 1sham G.
Harris, brisk, thorough-going
young fellow, who served one of the
West Tennessee districts in Con
gress, and the year before had had
/ himself outfanked for reelection by
legislative process, was made an
elector for the State at large on the
] Buchanan and Breckenridge ticket.
He was pitte1 against Neil S. Brown.
Harris was obscure. Brown had
been Governor of the State and
Minister TO Russia, and was regar-
ded the most eloquent speaker, and
the most efficient party leader, in
Tennessee. But what could a Fill
more man do in 1856? It was a lost
cause at the start Moreover, Gov
ernor Brown trusted to his populari-
ty and defamation, whilst Harms
young and ambitiOus-equipped
himself with facts. He showed,
during the oratorical duel that fol-
lowed, surprising yigor, information
and tact. He had the argument on
Brown. He was a peripatetic mag
azine of campaign knowledge.
The State was carried for the
Democratic ticket and next year
Harris was elected Governor to sue
coed Andrew johnson, who was
promoted to the Senate Of the Uni
ted States.
There are many stories as to the
original quarrel between johnson !
and Harris. The likelihood is that
split was inevitable. Tennessee /
was not big enOugh'fOr both of them.
They were bound to become rivals.
They did become rivals. Harris !
took the Southern shoot early in the /
struggle. Johnson, older and more
cautious. Wayered. AT length the |
crash came. Harris was an open, |
avOwed, daredevil secessionist.-l
Johnson was n temporizing, cunning J
Southern Rights Democrat. Har- !
ris made a square fight in FEBRUARY, |
1861, for the South, and was square !
ly beaten. johnson did not lift a
hand either way. He did not ap- !
pear at home. He remained at
Washington cOquetting with both !
sides. There is not the least doubt J
that, if johnson had seen the small
est show for it, he would have gone !
into the Confederate movement. 1t
is easy to explain why he did not
East Tennessee was the other way. !
lie was personally at outs with each
one of the Confederate leaders. He
had quarreled violently with JEFF.
Davis, who hated and despisell him.
He was detested by his secession
colleagues in the Senate. There was
no hope for him in the South. So,
after having chung dOggedly to
Washington City, refusing all active
assistance to the brave men who
were making a game fight in Ten
nessee, he fell with the strong side
which, as far as he was concerned, !
was the only practicable side-wken
the war began.
We do not mean to charge John
son with total insincerity. There
was a struggle in his mind. I'm
happily, there is always a struggle.
He is a natural tempOrizer, who can
never be worked up to a square issue
unless his private interests and per-
sonal feelIng-his ambition and his
are directly involved. BY
habit, he was an ultra Southern
rights man; by nature, he is not 4
positivist, violently as he expresses
himself He thought of Davis,
Wigtall and Iverson, who
loatlled him. He thought
of East Tennessee, and, after much
and sore travail. lac went for the
Union; became an invader and {
prosecutor, and, finally, reached the
where he tried to fOrtify
and build up a johnson
party by compelling the personal
OF all the respectable and ]
people of the South. He /
failed, as he should have failed, and Z
has since dIsgraced himself not only
by most undigniied public con
duct as a candidate for office, but by ,
shameless and notorious private ]
indulgence as a man
Harris, on the other hand, took ,
pot-lack with the South of his 5
choice. lie is an impulsiye, warm
courageous MAJ, open and =
but withal, possessing
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