Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-08-18
cLEARFIELD, Pa, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 49, 1875

Hawkins County District. In 1913
Mr.. johnson entered the arena Of na.
tional politics and began that career of
preferment which resulted in his at
tanning the highest Office in the gilt OF
the people. Nominated for Congress
by the Democrats of the First District
Of Tennessee, hc was elected by u vote
of 543 over Mr.. Aiken, his Wing oppo-
nent, the votes being 5,495 and 4,9o2,
for each candidate respectively. He
retained his seat by successive re-elec-
ton ten years, being elected for the
last time to the House in 1851, when
his majority was 1854. During these
ten years he supported the leading
measures Of the Democratic party. He
advocated the bill refnnding the fine
imposed on Andrew Jackson at New
Orleans in 1915, the annexation Of
Texas, the tariff of 1916, and the war
measures Of Mr.. Folks administration.
In 1853 Mr.. Johnson was nominated
for Governor of Tennessee, and after
spirited contest with G. ii. Henry, "the
eagle orator of the South-W est" he was
elected by $3.50 majority, over 10000
votes being polled on each side. Mr.
Johnson took an active part in the cam
paign, and owed his election to his per-
sonal popularity and the support of the
laboring class, with whom he was in
hearty sympathy. Renominated in
1855, he entered the field against Mere
dith p. Gentry, who was sustained by
the Wings, but was actually the nomi-
nee of the American or Known 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 meet
ting with revolver in his hand. Lay
ing it upon the table, he said that he
had been informed that his assassina-
ton 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 the 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.
In 1857, when his term as Governor
was approaching its close, Mr. Johnson
| ,voa alaotad 40 tho II,;taJ Ctatao Ca,
ate for the six years ending March 3,
1868. During the early part of his
Senatorial career he was mainly in ac-
cord with his party, but earnestly sup
ported the Homestead bill, TO which
the Southern Democracy We're opposed.
The advent Of the war aroused the
ambition of Mr.. johnson and gave him
an opportunity for acquiring ques-
tionable fame. Like most Democrats,
he favored compromising measures,
and even supported Breckenridge for
President IN preference TO Douglas, on
the ground Of expediency. But when
Lincoln was elected and the Senate re-
assembled in December, 1860, he placed
himself firmly on the side OF the Mon
grels. He made in February, 1861,
stump speech Of two days, wherein he
arraigned tho seeding Senators as
traitors, and declared that he preferred
Mr.. Wade TO jeff. Davis. Assailed by
Senator Lane of Oregon, he replied TO
him with great vigor and eloqucncc.
These speeches made the speaker in
tensely popular in the North. He was
burned in efigy at Memphis, and at
Liberty was treated with personal vio-
lcncc. Coming northward, a fugitive,
as he said, not from justice but from
tyranny, he was received with great
enthusiasm by thepeople, who were re-
animated by his so-called loyal senti-
ments.
Before Senator Johnson's term had
expired the victories at Forts Henry
and Donelson had loosencd the Con-
federatc hold upon Tennessee, and as
Gov. Harris had gone over to the South,
It became necessary for the President
to establish Provisional Government.
Mr.. Lincoln naturally appointed Sena-
tor johnson Governor, and gave him
the rank of Brigadicr-General in the
volunteers. Repairing to Nashville,
Gov. johnson entered upon his duties,
and until March, 1864, he ruled the
State with an iron hand. During that
time, (in the language of one of his ad-
mirers), he repressed sedition, arrested
Secessionists, protected fugitive slaves,
and levied contributions for the impov-
crished Unionsts." He also co-operated
actively with the Union forces, and con-
tributed greatly TO the success of the
Federal arms in that quarter. When
Nashville was besieged, and it was pro-
posed TO abandon the place, he replied
with characteristic firmncss, 'I am no
military man, but any one who talks
of surrcndcring l will shoot" His
policy of "blood and iron succeeded,
and in March, 1864, Tennessee re-en-
tered the Union.
Desiring to recognize his services
and at the same time conciliate the
war Democrats, the Republican con-
vention, which renominated President
Lincoln in June, 1864, named Andrew
johnson as its candidate for Vice Presi-
dent. He had received 200 votes on
the first ballot, which were increased
to 492 on the second, being 2l1 more
than were needed. Both candidates
were popular and carried all except
three of the States which voted, at the
ensuing election.
Vice President johnson took the
oath Of Office on the 4th of March, 1864,
making on the occasion an incoherent
and bombsstic speech, which was
deemed in very bad taste. President
Lincoln, however, in his good-naturcd
way, said that Andrew johnson was
too much Of a man to be repudiatcd
for single fault. On the 14th of April
Lincoln was assassinated, and Andrew
johnson became President of the United
States. lie at once said that "he in.
tended to do his utmost toward punish
ing secessionists, and would make
treason odious." In May he appointed
a commission to try the persons en-
gagged in the conspiracy TO assassinate
President Lincoln, offering at the same
time reward of 100000 for the ar.
rest Of ex-President Davis as abcttor
in the crime. lie appeared to be in
accord with the devilish spirit of the
time, and was regarded by tho victors
as well as the vanquished as man of
ruthless severity. Turning his atten.
ton, however, 10 the grayer task of
rcconstructing the Union, he acted on