The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-08-02
1,aa th of Andru,,w johnson.

NJ
his daughter, Mrs. BRows, ofsCar,ef eeunas ,
Tenn. on Saturday morning. lie reacoeo
his daughters house on "Wednesday lsst ~
apparently good health, and In the even'"s =,
.hat dav was attacked with paralysis. he
temporarily improved, and~h's if'eoos'Ne.e
hv turns affected BY the changes 10 n's y up
,oms until, bis death, on Saturday.
a,narv Joussos was born In Raleigh, n.
r December Q, 1908. bis parents Wer'
moor and be was apprenticed to tailor.
For Years he followed that calling. At an
eariv age be showed striking Interest IN
forensic literature, and became devoted
reader Of the speeches OF the leading orators
amongst British and American statesmen.
He learned to write and cipher from DIS
wife, He bad removed with his mother
to Greenville, Tenp., where ne pursued
his trade for some years. He TOOK q
great interest in public matters, aud AZ
the age of twenty showed bis aver
sion for = Tat he then considered the
aristocracy by forming workingman's
party. BY which be was elected to the togn
council. He became noted person In the
village debating society, and has been the
subject of a very eulogistic account from
the pen of gentleman who was scholar ID
the Greenville College, and who spent mueh
time with JOHNSON in his little shop In Green.
vile. In house ten feet square, containing
a bed. TWO or three stools, and shop board,
orr Young scholar was entertained by the
statesman in embryo with his cruoe PM
iosophy and impulsive logic. -..r
In '35 he was elected to the Legislature OF
Tennessee, and in 80 be was again etecsed
and assumed q prominent position in the
body. In 40 he entered actively into tne
presidential campaign in favor of Mr.. VAN
buren, for the presidency, ana 10 Al WAS
elected to the State Senate. .
In 1913 he was elected to Congress from
the First District Of Tennessee. He was
snccessiyely reelected for ten years. During
That time be advocated the bill refunding the
tax i'm posed on General JACKSON at New Or.
leans, the annexation Of Texas, the war With
Mexico, and general retrenchment in the ex-
penses of the Government. At one time he
and Governor JOIN 'LETcHER, of Virginia,
we're considered the watch-dogs Of the trea-
surg. He sustained President Polk in ac-
ceptipg the forty.ninth parallel as settle
ment of the Oregon boundary, and was tie
enthusiastic advocate of homestead law.
On August 2, 1S4S, he delivered his famous
speech in defence of the veto power, which
added much to bis reputation.
In '53 Mr.. JOHNSON was elected Governor
of Tennessee over HENRY, Wing, and was
in '55 reelected over MEREDITH P. GENTRY,
the candidate of the Wings and "know-
Nothings." Persons familiar with those days
know how bitter and vindictive were the
discussions of the political arena. The tenn.
pest of passion was high in Tennessee,
aud threats of bloodshed were not un.
frequent. At one meeting JOHNSON
appeared with pistol in bis hand.
and placing it on the table commenced
thus Fellow-eitizens, have been in
"formed that part Of the business to be
transacted on the present occasion is the
assassination of the individual who now
&c has the honor of addressing you. | beg
respectfully to propose that this be the first
business in order. Therefore if any man
"hss come here tonight for the purpose
indicated, I do not say to him, let him
"speak,, but slet him shoot" After, with
This hand on his pistol, pausing a moment,
be said: 4" Gentlemen, it appears that have
= been msinformed. will now proceed TO
"address you on the subject that has called
GUS together"
In 1857 Mr.. JOHNSON was elected to the
United States Senate. In that body he Wig.
orously pursued his policy of giving to ac-
tual settlers 100 acres of land. Itpassed the
Senate, but was vetoed by Mr. BUCHANAN.
In 1859 he was still the conspicuous advo.
cate of retrenchment, and he op posed with
great zeal the Pacific railroad.
In 1860 he was the candidate for the pre-
sidency of the Tennessee delegation in the
Democratic conventions Of that year. A re-
markable incident connected with the con-
yentiou held in Baltimore is related of him.
|
ern zeal OF BUTLER, of Massachusetts, and
remarked, "Damn man who is more for
me than am for myself"
We come now TO the great epoch of his
ife-his course during the strife between
the sections, 10 which he look position
against the South and against his own State.
In the United States Senate on December Is
and 10, in 1860, he made an elaborate speech
against secession, and placed himself unre.
servedly on the side of the Government.
The Legislature of Tennessee voted the State
out of the Union. Johnson returned home
in May, T1, and met with many marks OF
disrespeet and hostility. He behaved brave
ly. BE was burned iae fl ~ ia many pl ices in
| Tennessee. 1t is needless to attempt to recite
the various incidents Of the war with which he
was conueeted. 1t was not time for cour-
tesy and suitability, and men who took sides
had to meet the fortunes Of war and its pas
sions. That Mr. JoHNsas was sincere in bis
course and felt that bis fealty was due to the
Union We suppose ne mGn doabta. He had
| always previous to the wSr shown his devo-
ton 10 the southern views of the Constitu.
ton, and faithfully adhered to the southern
opinions of natiosal policy. For his course
In going over to the Union party at time
! when all men were agita ed tv the msmen-
, tons nature of the questions forced apon
them, We are sure the people of the South
now retain no bitter memory of ANDREW
JOHNSON, and heartily scqut him of any no.
| tive derogatesy to an honest senss of pubic