The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-08-06
Mr., ,Johnso,,'s life and .Se,'otces.


in Carter county, Tennessee, on Saturday
last. On Wednesday, the 2Sth ult-, he was
stricken with paralysis, and renamed IN
sensible until tie time OF his death. Mr..
Johnson was II native of North Carolina, a
State which has produced some OF the most
sturdy patriots of the nation. lie was born
in Raleigh on the 29th of December. lSOS,
ana had reached the siXty-seventh year of
his age at the time of his death. Losing
his father when fUu" years OF age, hc was
left in charge of his mother, and deprived
J of the means Of obtaining an education at
the age usually set apart for that purpose
for BOYS. The necessities of the family
made work imperative upon the lad, and
at an early age he was apprenticed to
tailor in Raleigh. In this situation he re-
manned for several years, acquiring trade
and ut the same time contributing to the
! extent of his limited means for the support
I of his mother and the other members OF
the family. At that day schools were not
abundant and the time of young johnson
{ was so occupied in constant labor that he
could not avail himself of the ordinary
means of procuring an education. by the
kind assistance of friends he gained foot
hold in the temple of learning and indus
tIiously prosecuted he search for educa-
tion until he gained respectable position
in that department. " hen Il years OF age
Mn Johnson left Raleigh for LauIeus Court
Carolina. Here he remained for two years,
pursuing his occupation and studying ill
the intervals of work He was an indus
triouS, studious young man, and respected
by all who knew him. The bent of his
mind at that time was i'm the direction of
politics and history, and his reading ran in
those channels. After several changes in
his residence, Mr.. Johnson finally settled
in Greenville, East Tennessee, in 1926, where
his mother and step father also resided
Shortly after his advent in that place he
married an interesting and well educated
lady, to whom he was deeply indebted for
his after advance in learning. She was his
teacher, and his mind rapidly improved
under her lessons. IN 1928 Mr.. johnson
made his start in politics. There was an
election for alderman to be held in Green
vile. Several candidates offered themselves
for the place, among them the young tailor.
The contest was brisk and exciting, but Mr.
Johnson distanced his competitors and
gained the place. So well did the young
man, who was then but twenty years of
age, discharge the duties of the RESPONSE
bic place that he was re elected in 1929 and
again in 1880. Upon the expiration of his
third adcrmanic term Mr.. johnson was
nominated and elected Mayor of Green
vile. This Office he held for three years
without opposition. At this time the pop
ularty of Mr.. Johnson was on the in
crease, and in 1885 be was elected to the
lower branch of the State Legislature
His district was Green and Washington
counties. Being a bold, forcble speaker
lie at once attracted notice in the body of
which he was Il member and was recOG-
niZed as among the rising young men of
the State. During this session a scheme
of internal Improvements of the State was
introduced. This BIr. johnson opposed.
As a consequence lie lost his election in
I,,,tt lan .lnT1 -ah faIl nd
! Mr.. johnson was reelected in 1889. In
. 1910 he was on the Democratic electoral
: tcket for the State, and took an active
part in the canvass, and in 1871 the peo-
pie of Green and Hawkins counties sent
him to the State Senate by q most compl-
Z mentary majority His next step was to
/ Congress from the First district of Tenn
/ cssee, when he beat Colonel Aslcn, q pop
ular man, after a close contest. When
there he spoke IN favor of resolution to
return to Andrew jackson the amount of
the fine imposed upon him for refusing to
obey the mandates of judge in New Or
leans in 1915, and also supported the plan
of anucxing Texas to the United States.
, At the end of his first term Mr. Johnson
was reelected to Congress, and was prom
inent in the boundary dispute between the
! United States and Great Britain. He sus-
tanned the policy of President Polk in this
matter, and the question was settled in an
amicable manner. In 1917 Mr.. johnson
was returned for the .hird term, and re-
mained a member Of the body until 1858.
The war with Mexico received a cordial
support from Mr.. johnson. No sooner did
he leave Congress than the people of Tenn
esSee named him as proper person for
Governor, and he was chosen in 1858, and
rechosen in 1850. On the first occasion his
competitor was Gustavus A. Henry, the
second time Meredith p. Gentry. Upon
b,c fror La 'boi Of
Johnson entered the United States Senate
of which body he was member when the
rupture between the sections took place.
During the session Of 1861 he introduced a
proposition for amending the Constitution
ny doing away with the Electoral College ::
changing the tenure of the Supreme Court
Judges from life 20 a term of years, with
the requirement that onc-half of them
should always be appointed from the slave
holding States and further, making it ne
cessary that either the President or Vice
President should always be taken from the
same section of the country. After speak
ing and voting upon a variety of subjects,
Mr.. johnson was named by President Lin
coin as Provisional Governor of Tennessee,
with the rank o: Brigadier General of Vol
untccrs. He was confirmed by. the Senate
on the 9Th Of March, 1862. He at once re-
paired to Nashville and acted in his new
capacity under instructions from Washing
ton. In June, 1854, the National Union
Convention assembled at Baltimore, and
Mr.. Lincoln was renomnated for President
and Mr.. johnson as Vice President. He
was sworn into office on the 4th of March,
1865, and on the 18th of April in the same
year became President by the sudden death
of President Lincoln from the bullet of an
assassin. On the I'd of May, 1865, Presi-
deut johnson issued proclamation offer
ing large rewards for the apprehension of
jefferson Davis and number of his asso-
ciatcs III the late Confederation. On Nav
he recognized by proclamation the Pierre
pont government of Virginia and on May
% he proclaimed VIM. w. Holden Provis-
ional Governor of North Carolina follow
ing this action up by six different procla-
nations, between June 13 and July 13, by
which provisional governments were set up
in MiSSSSinlAi Genrnia rnxaS L.