Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-08-06

greater men, the country, IL all the
list of its distinguished sons, has never
been called to regret one drawer, more
patriotic, or more thoroughly Ameri-
can.
Interesting "Reminiscences.
SCH. V. r." in the Cincinnati Commercial.
The last time 1 saw Mr.. johnson
was at the Peabody House, Memphis,
Feb. 10. He was In unusually fine
health, and to a delegation of Missis-
sippians who waited on him on that
day he said that he thought there we're
a good many years of work IN him yet.
While at Memphis ne had a pressing
invitation to 90 to Little Rock. 1t
was a season Of excitement there on
account of President Grants alarming
proclamation concerning Arkansas af-
fairs. Gov Garland and others want
ed johnson TO 90 there, make a speech,
and try and quiet the fears OF the peO-
pie, who were thrown into consterna-
ton by the Presidents course. He
did not 60, and his private reasons
were these: He was not on good terms
with Grant, and he imagined that the
President would think that If he
rushed into Arkansas at that particu-
lar iuncture, it would be on account
Of personal spite and to attempt to
thwart the Presidents pet scheme of
re-recOnstructIng the State.
While IN Memphis be talked much
Of a contemplated European trip this
summer. He abandoned his idea Of a
European trip, principally, I take it,
on account of the still further prostra-
ton of his invalid wife, which took
place IN March. He did not desire to
leave her for SO long a trip. And with
the passing away of June he must have
abandoned the idea Of ever going
abroad. He said to me that if he did
not 90 this summer, he, in all proba.
bility, never would, as this December
he would be harnessed into the Senate
for six years. Next summer was out
of the question, on account Of the Pres
idential election.
sometimes thought that Mr. John
son had half a notion that he might be
the Democratic candidate IN 1876.
y DDh Ills tAtCNADA " ALC DNA4AGC III
January, the CWciHaaj Commercial
editorially referred 10 tie possibility,
if not probability, Of such an occur
renee. That article he carefully cut
out and put away in his trunk, and
with it he had many other articles bear
ing upon the same subject. Usually
be had little to say about 1t, and rather
IA = Al. v.,DHt,,. Gh1-..
day, after several gentlemen hadspoken
to him about it and retired, he said to
me, laughing: "Well, in the course of
human events, We don't know what may
happen" Very true Is that, indeed.
No victory Of his life-and he con-
querred on a hu ndred fields-aifOrded
him so much qualification as his cleo
ton to the Senate last January. Fora
whole week the contest ragged, and at
one time he seemed without hope. He
knew that a defeat then would put
quietus upon his political aspirations
ever after, snd that the evening Of his
life would be as under a cloud. No
man could be more keenly alive to the
Importance of that contest than he, yet
NC Noulu uOI dNull DlL1HElL u GlLN llCc1ln
which might be termed dishonOrable, to
win. When Mr.. Gibson, Republican,
and the leader Of the six Republican
votes In the House, went to him and
asked that, In consideration Of their
giving their votes to him, he should
cease to abuse Grant and the Repubh-
can party, he replied that il elected TO
the Senate he would be a Senator for
the whole people of Tennessee, and
that he would spare no party that he
thought was IN the wrong, be it the
Republican party or not. He entered
the contest as an Independent Demo
crat and Union man, and carried 1t
through as such.
The story, started by New Orleans
paper, that he used money to secure his
election, was an inven ion wicked and
cruel. The author of the story, when
asked to make good his assertion, backed
down, and there the matter ended.
who knew Sir. johnson, and were
upon the ground during that memOra-
bic contest, never gave the slightest
credit to the yarn. AT the close of the
battle it was concluded on both sides
that no money had been used either for
or against Mr.. johnson, and it was
feature Of that bitter con-
test.
Now that it Is all over and memorial
part of this extraordinary man lies in
the grave, I believe there are none that
regret his election to the Senate last
January. A defeat then would have
well nigh, if not quite, killed him, and
his last days would have been spent in |