Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-08-01

most unprOpitious circumstances, rose
to the highest official position of his
country, is now matter of history.
This exaltation was not the result of a
sudden upheaval of popular prejudice
or passion, but of long and devoted
service in the cause of the people. Be
ginning at the bottom, step by step he
ascended the official ladder, until after
5 long and trying years he reached the
topmost round. Again returning to
the plane of private citizenship, he
was taken by the representatives Of the
people in the General Assembly and
elected to the important and dignifed
position of Senator to the Congress of
the United States. 1t was not his first
appearance in that body, but no mem
ber's coming was ever looked to with
more anxiety, more solicitude by all,
with more pleasure by many, with
more fear by some than was his His
election after contest unparalleled in
B excitement and but seldom equalled in
length was communicated with light.
ming speed to every portion of the
Union. In most of the States the in
telligence was received with irrepressi-
bic expressions of JOY. In all, without
popular regret.
That Mr.. johnson had his foibles
and his faults no one will deny. He
was not superior to the imperfections
of human nature. But with all Of his
ifoiblss, with all of his faults, with all
! of his imperfections, he will be record
led in history as the most wonderful
imam Of his age. He was inevery sense
lof the word a robust man, robust physi-
lcally ard mentally. He had never re-
flied upon the strength of others to
s elevate him, or to sustain him when
elevated. He wove from himself.
With a stern will and courage IN.
doubted, he had heart responsive to
severy demand which friendship could
8 make.
When he came before the people ne
came thoroughly, earnestly, honestly
convinced that he was one of them,
9that their cause was his cause and his
cause was their cause; hence he always
+ poured out TO them with torrent like
sforce his deep seated convictions upon
7every subject in which he thought
8them interested. He was too sincere
not to be successful. Hour after hour
lin the hottest summer day the
thousands of his hearers would
8listen to him and draw closer
land closer until he concluded
5 This argument by e1horting them to
cling to the Constitution of their coun-
! try like the tempest-tossed mariner
clings to the last spar of his broken
vessel when storm and darkness close
around him. How often have the peo-
pie of Tennessee, in his illusions to
himself, the course he had pursued,
and his devotion to them, heard him
utter the wish that his earthly remains
might be buried near his mountain
hone with no other winding sheet but
Z the flag of his country?
That Mr.. johnson, with his lack of
early education and Literary cuItiva-
2tion, with his ignorance of the higher
branches Of philosophy and science
should have often failed to take the
I most comprehensive view of many
questions presented to his ooDsidera-
4tion, is not strange but natural.
q His life was one long struggle, and
sthat he should have looked with doubt
sand suspicion upon many who thought
themselves entitled to his confidence is
4 not matter of wonder when we re-
fleet upon the turbulent political
scenes which formed a great part of
/ his life.
8 In this city he passed years of Of
ffcial life. Here he made or repeated
all of his great speeches to the people.
aHere, when surrounded by overwhelm-
ling numbers of bitterest opponents,
She vas boldest and most defiant IN the
advocacy of his doctrines. Here many
: of his most severely criticised official
sacts had a direct local bearing and
sseffect.. Notwithstanding all this here
Elm this city, the intelligence of his
sdeath has been received with universal,
profound, sincere regret.
& We have not spoken in detail of his
Oficia, acts or the measures which he
advocated. The time has not yet come
for dispassionate review of them. In
his eventful career we have frequently
6 warmly sustained him. Sometimes we
have bitterly opposed him. He has
now passed from the view of his fellow
men. No more Will his voice be heard
s in the Senate Chamber. No more viii