Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-08-13

| ter, vehement speech, because he fan
cied that some slight had been put upon
him by the gentleman who had f led
the chair with so much grace and
ability.
STHE WAR.
1t is well known that IN the great
strugglefor the Presidency in 1860, Mr..
johnson supported the claims Of Mr..
Breckenridge. But the whole relations
Of the man to political parties changed
after Dir. Lincoln accession TO power.
The grand drama that was displayed
from that hour In this country found
Mr.. johnson in the ranks Of his po-
litical enemies. The breadth between
the poles is not greater than that which
separated Mr.. Breckenridge from Mr..
Lincoln-the one a representative of
the EXTREMIST Southern doctrines, the
other The chosen leader Of the party
that denounced the system of Ser dtude
existing in the great States extending
from the Potomac to the Gulf of Mex
leo. Confronted as the two parties
stood, under the lead Of these two
statesmen, Mr.. johnson promptly, In
view Of the whole world, turned his
back upon his friends and took his
place in the ranks of his
political enemies. Not for one
moment did he hesitate; his stride was
direct, and his purpose settled as he
marched from under the uplifted ban
ner Of the party that had ranged itself
for the defense Of the rights of the
South, to take his place with the power
full body that had Just won a victory
under a standard that menaced the
overthrow of an institution of his peo-
pie cOeval with the existence Of the
government. l do not know that his
tory affords parallel for the sudden
and momentous change In the course of
a statesman. Them 30 5les fell under
the displeasureo of hi untry before he
sought refuge with their invaders; and
though received with kindness by
Ar-azerxes, he still remembered that
Athens had given him birth, and he re-
fused to aid the Persian General With
his counsel. But Mr.. johnson, from
the time OF his adhesion to the Free
SOIL party, devoted himself to their
cause with a flaming zeal, and worked
with unsurpassed energy against the
people OF his section. It Is not my wish
to bring Mr.. Johnson's sincerity into
question. He believed that it was all
important to maintain the Union, and
be gave his heart and his hand to all
the measures adopted by Mr.. Lincoln's
Administration to accomplish that OBJ
ject.
HIS LAST DAYS.
The last appearance of Mr.. johnson
IN public life was impressive. 1t vas
proper that he should reappear Ia the
Senate. | met him IN travel a few
days before he took his seat, and In an
extended conversation he expressed
himself earnestly IN regard to the state
Of the country, and IN a way to
heighten my respect for him. His
speech delivered in the Senate, while it
did not meet with public expectation,
contained some very fine passages.
His opinions had undergone a change,
and the political doctrines which he
had adopted In fis earlier and better
days were once more recognized and
asserted. His YindicatiOn of the right
of local government, which had been
outraged IN Louisiana, was powerful.
The spectacle of a STATE held in sub
lection by United States troops reused
him as nothing had done since the war.
He spoke with the fire of his youth,
and borrowed the indignant tones of
Cato when be denounced the usurpa-
tions of Caesar: IBID him disband his
legions. Restore the commonwealth
to liberty" This was his last utter
ance.
We find in the KnosUiILe Age the fol-
lowing letter from DIR. Campbell, at
testing Mr.. Johnson's devotion and
steadfastness during the
CHOLERA EPIDEMIC AT GREENEvILLE.
During the cholera epidemic in 1873,
in the town of Greeneville, the home of
Senator johnson, it was my lot to be
with those peoDle in their affection when
the dark, lowering cloud of death over
hung the doomed village. Many of its
inhabitants had fed In dismay and
many more were being hourly stricken
down by death, while every
where gloom spread its sicken-
ing presence over and around this
sad picture of affection; yet l found
ez-President johnson at his post, ever
ready TO relieve the distressed and suf-
fering around him and to render such
assistance as possible to the sick and
dying. Such was the condition Of
tbinsrs when 4 rneSseu GER summoned
me to his Office for an indisposition. 1