Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-08-12

he was elected BY maiotity Of 5zS ovs,
Mr.. Aiken, his Whig opponent, the
votes being Azs5, and ASS f0r sesch
candidate respectively Hefetsined his
seat by successive reelection ten years,
being elected for the last time to the
House in 1851, when hin majority waa
l,69A During these ten yeaEs he sup
ported the leading Measures Of the Dem
ocratic party. He advocated the bill
refunding the iine imposed On Andrew
johnson at New Orleans IN 1915. the
annexation OF Texas, the tafi6 of 10l6,
and the war measures of Mr.. Polk's ad-
ministration. Coming from q section
of the State where slavery was deemed
of little account, he regarded the claims
of that institution with indifference, but
nevertheless acquiesced in the measures
of his party, designed toextend and fos-
ter it. He deviated from his party pol
icy in regard to the Homestead bill,
which he honestly and earnestly sup
ported. At all times he avowed him.
self one of the people, and neither
sought nor received the favor of the
aristocratic element Of the Slave pow
er.
In 1853 Mr.. johnson was nominated
for Governor of Tennessee. and after a
spirited contest with G.. II. Henry, s'the
eagle orator of the South West" he
was elected by $3.50 majority, over 60.
900 votes being polled on each side
Mr.. johnson took an active part in the
campaign, and owed his election to his
personal popularity and the support of
the laboring class, with whom he was
in hearty sympathy. Renominated in
1855, he entered the field against Mer-
edith p. Gentry, who was sustained by
the Wings, but was actually the nomi-
nee of the American or Know Nothing
party. The campaign was attended
with great popular excitement. Threats
of violence were freely made, and Mr..
Johnson's life was felt to be in danger.
On one occasion he gave these reports
credence SO far as to appear at a meet
ing with a revolver in his hand. Lay
ing it upon the table, he said that he
had been informed that his assassina-
tion was part of the business to be
transacted. If any one had come for
that purpose he challenged him to
shoot. Pausing moment with his
hand still on his pistol, he coolly OBJ
served that he must have been misin-
formed, and began his address. His
usual good fortune attended him, and
on election day he was 2,167 votes
aheAd Of his opponent. His e6uu5aia-
tration was not brilliant, but SATISFIED
the people with whom his popularity
continued unaltered.
In 1857, when his term as Governor
was approaching to its close, Mr.. John
son was elected to the United States
Senate for the six years ended March
March 3, 1868. During the early part
of his Senatorial career he was mainly
in accord with his party, but earnestly
supported the Homestead bill, to which
the Southern Democrats were opposed.
The advent of war aroused the ener-
gies of Mr.. johnson, and gave him an
opportunity for acquiring national fame
Like most patriotic Democrats he fa-
vored compromise measures, and had
even supported Breckenridge for Presi-
dent in preference to Douglas, on the
ground of expediency. But when Lin
coin was elected and the Senate reas-
sembled in December, 1860, he planted
himself firmly on the side of the Union.
Despising the reproaches of the pro-
Slavery Senators and the angry remon-
strances from his own State, he unhes-
itatingly denounced Secession, and treat
ed the interests of Slavery as subordi-
nate to those of Union. He made in
February, 1861, powerful speech of
two days, wherein he arraigned the Sc
ceding Senators as traitors, and declar-
ed that he preferred Mr.. Wade to jeff.
Davis. Assailed by Senator Lane, of
Oregon, he replied to him with great
vigor and eloquence. These speeches
electrified the patriotic and encouraged
the faint-hearted. They made the
speaker intensely popular in the North,
winning for him the esteem of all the
Unionists irrespective of party. In no
part of his career did Mr.. Johnson rem
der more service to his country than
perhaps at this critical moment. His
example stimulated the patriotism of
the people everywhere, and gave the per-
secuted Unionists in the Border States
renewed courage. During the remain.
der Of the session he acted firmly with
the President in preparing to resist Se-
cessioD and restore Federal authority.
In his own State, however, Secession
was dominant for the time being, aud
on his return there he was daily in pe-
ril of his life. He was burned in efficy
at Memphis, and at Liberty was treated
with personal violence. Coming north.
ward, a fugitive, as he said, not from
justice but from tyranny, he was re.
ceived with great enthusiasm by the
people. who were terminated BY his 10y.
A. sentiments.
Before Senator Johnson's term had
expired the victories at Forts Henry
and Donelson had loosened the Confed.
crate hold upon Tennessee, and as Gov.
Harris had gone over to the Secession.
lists, it became necessary for the Presi.
dent to establish Provisional Govern.
ment. Mr.. Lincoln accordingly ap-
pointed Senator johnson Governor. and
gave him the rank of Brigadier General
in the volunteers Repairing to Nash.
vile, Gov. johnson entered upon his
duties, and until March, 1864, he ruled
the State with an iron hand. Dur;nc
the time he repressed seditiou, arrested
Seeessionists. protected fugitive slaves
and levied contributions for the impov.
erished Unionists. He also oco-opera,eJ
actively with the Union forces. and con.
tributed greatly to the success of tn.
Federal arms in that quarter. wher