Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-08-03
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.4NDRE " JOHNSON.

The death of Andrew Johnson, ex.Presi-
dent of the United States, removes from
mortal life a man whose career has been
strangely checkered, and whose character
istics were as remarkable as the events
which attended him. Born in Raleigh,
North Carolina, in 1903, he was appren-
ticed at the age of ten to a tailor in that
town, for seven years, but ran away ale W
months before the expiration of his appren-
ticeship, in consequence of having got into
trouble by throwing stones at an old
woman's house. His next location was at
Laurcns Court House. South Carolina.
where he worked nearly two years as a
iourneyman tailor. In 1926 he returned
to Raleigh, but in the fall of that year re-
went to work at his trade, married in the
course of year. and took up his resi-
dence for life. He had no opportunity on
account of his poverty for schooling. but
during his apprenticeship he managed by
his own exertions to learn to read, and at
ter he was married learned to write and
cipher under the instruction of his wife.
Ia 1928 he began his career rs Il politician,
by organizing working mans party In
Greenville, through which he was elected
alderman In 1880 he was elected mayor,
and held the office three years. In 1880
he was elected member of the Tennes-
see legislature, was Presidential elector
| in 1910, State senator in 1871, member of
| Congress from l943 to 1858, elected gov
| ernor Of Tennessee the latter year, re-
elected in 1855, sent to the United States
Senate in 1857, in which body he served
until March 1868. In politics he was a
democrat, supporting Breckenridge and
Lane in 1860, When it became apparent,
however. what the plans of the secession
lists were, he placed himself boldly and
unreseryedIy on the side of the govern
ment in speech made in the Senate, and
from that time forward, often at the risk
of his life, supported the Union cause.
In 1862 he was appointed by President
Lincoln military governor of Tennessee.
In 1864 he was elected Vice President on
the republican ticket with Mr.. Lincoln.
1868. and on the next day Mr.. johnson
took the oath of office as President and
entered upon the duties of that position,
which he filled until the close of the term.
During the summer of 1865, Mr.. John
son applied himself to the reorganization
and reconstruction of the States which had
been in rebellion, on such conditions as the
loyal people of the country did not believe
in, so that when Congress met that body
speedily developed strong opposition to
his policy. In February the President
made speech at the White House in
VIII ci he characterized the attitude OF
Congress as "a new rebellion" The fol.
lowing summer he made the speeches in
which appeared the phrase so often used,
swinging round the circle" At the next
session of Congress articles of impeach-
ment were presented against him, and his
trial before the senate followed. The vote
on impeachment was, guilty So not guilty,
10: but as a two-thirds vote was required
to convict the President, he was acquitted.
Mr.. Johnsons course Throughout his term
as President caused him to sink to low
point in the estimation OF the people of
the North. His violent, erratic, maudlin
speeches, and his arbitrary and unreason-
able acts, lost to him the respect which his
sacrifices and patriotism nobly evinced
during the war had won for him.
Last winter Mr.. johnson was returned
again to the United States Senate from
Tennessee, but what his course would
have been in that body had he lived no
one can tell. With all his faults he had a
kind heart which gained him many friends,
honor the heroic stand he took and main
tanned in the time of the nations great
trial.
IOLI7ICAL.
The democrats of Oregon have held their con-
vcntion and nominated Lafayette Lane for Con-
gress.
The Washington Star, from careful estimate,
which il regards as fair and entitled to considers
tlon calculates that Ohio will give 2O0O0 kepub-
lican majority in October.
The Nation says of the Democratic party:
"That the infationists element has been steadily
gaining ground for some years, there is now no
denying. 1t has been kept down on the Eastern
seaboard by the predominance of the commercial
interest; but in the West it comes nearer every
month to taking entire possession of the party,
and laughs at the way in which the Eastern or