Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-08-21
THE LATE EX.PRESIDENT JOHNSON
A sketch of His Life and Public Services.

A Sketch of His Life and Public Services.
Andrew seventeenth Presi-
dent of the United States-was born in
Raleigh, N. c., December 20, 1908. His
father, Jacob Johnson, was city consta-
BILE, sexton, and porter of the State
bank At the age of ten Andrew
was apprenticed to Mr.. Selby, tailor,
in whose shop the boy was accustomed
to hear occasionally read aloud to the
workmen extracts from "The American
Speaker" He devoted all his leisure
hours to learning to read, and succeeded
thus in perusing many instructive works.
In September, 1926, he moved to Green
vile, Tennessee, with his mother, then
dependent on him for support. During
his first years residence there he mar
ried. Two years later he went into poll
tics, and organized workingman's par
ty, which subsequently elected him
alderman, and later still, in 1880, mayor,
which office he held for three years.
Meanwhile he was active in debating So
cieties, and thus qualified himself more
and more for future political successes.
|: In 1885 he offered himself rs O candi-
date for the Assembly, as Democrat,
and mainly by his own efforts was elect
ed. In 1887 he ran again, and was de-
feated, but in 1889 he was elected again,
and in 1S41 was sent to the State Senate.
In 1S43 he first took his seat in Con-
gress, and held it for ten successive years
thereafter. The principal measures he
favored were the annexation of Texas,
the war with Mexico, the tariff of '46,
the settlement by President Polk of the
Oregon boundary question, and the
Homestead law. In 1858 he was chosen
Governor of Tennessee. At one meeting
during that campaign he appeared with
pistol in his hand, laid it on the desk,
and said: "Fellow citizens, I have been
informed that part of the business to be
transacted on the present occasion is the
assassination of the individual who now
has the honor of addressing you. I beg
respectfully to propose that this be the
first business in order" After pausing
a moment, with his hand on his pistol,
he continued: Gentlemen, it appears
that I have been misinformed. | will
now proceed to address you ON the sub
iect that called us together.
In 1857 Mr., Johnson took his seat in
the United States Senate, where in the
following year he was conspicuous in
the Utah discussion, and in 1859 in his
opposition to the Pacific railroad. In
the Charleston Baltimore Democratic
convention of 1860, he was supported by
the Tennessee delegation as their nomi-
nee. In the succeeding canvass he sup
ported Breckenridge and Lane. But
when secession appeared he opposed it,
and consequently was threatened with
personal danger from his constituents.
On March 4, 1862, President Lincoln
nominated him for military governor OF
Tennessee, which Office he filled until
Just prior to his Inauguration as Vice
President, March 4, 1865.
On April IA, by the assassination OF
Mr.. Lincoln, he became the Chief Mag
istrate of the nation, in which capacity
his chief acts were the appointment Of
the military commission to try tho assas-
sins of his predecessor, and of provis
ional governments for the insurgent
, States, and the veto of the Civil Rights
| and Freedmen's Bureau bills. On Au
gust IL, 1867, he suspended MIR. Stan
ton from Office as secretary of war, ant
appointed General Grant ad interim
On February %, 1868, the House O
Representatives. passed resolution tina
the President be impeached for higl
crimes and misdemeanors (yeas, 126
nays, AT; not voting, ID. The tria
began on March %, the President APP
pearing by counsel the result is well
known he was formally acquitted, !
two, third vote being required to convict
At the Democratic convention in New
York city, in 1868, Mr.. johnson received
sixty-fye votes on the first ballot as (
= renomince for the Presidency. On thu
, successive ballotshe lost rapidly, until OIL
! the Nineteenth he received no votes. o.
December rs, 1868, he issued full par
> don to everybody who had participated
, in the rebellion, and ON March A, 1869
was succeeded by General Grant, anC
, retired to Greenville, Tenn. In 1870 h
ran again for the United States Senate
1 but lost it by two votes. In 1872 he raj
: as independent for Congressman-at -large
i and was defeated. In 1874 he was re
I. elected to the United States Senate
5 which office he filed at the timc of hi
0 death