Union and American. [volume] (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1875-1877, 1876-01-13

ms hrst appea rance in Tennessee,
and thus the first night ANDREW
JOHNSON passed in Greeneville,
which became his future home. $50
Mr.. johnson established himself
in business as a tailor. By his in
dustry, energy, unswerving integ-
rity, and promptness he was sue
cessful. AS a mechanic, that fidel-
ity to duty and unquestioned hon
esty which characterized him in
every period of his history won
for him the confidence and respect
of the people, and made him, even
then, a power in the community.
He was married shortly after he
settled IN Greeneville, where his
widow survives him. She taught
him TO write; she aided HIM by
her intelligence and instruction in
his efforts TO acquire the rudlments
of an education, and thus laid the
foundation Of his future greatness.
Conscious of his own powers and
with unfaltering confidence in him
self, identified in interest and sym
pathy with the laboring masses,
he applied himself with untiring
industry, under disadvantages of
"a most extraordinary character, to
the acquisition of an education
and to preparation for his future
wonderful career. = 81 s.
In 1923 he was elected an alder
man of the village; was reelected
in 1929 and 1880; and was elected
TO the Office of mayor in 1880. He
was appointed a trustee Of Rhes
Academy about 1881; was elected
to the lower house Of the Tennes-
see Legislature in 1885. Being
defeated IN 1887, be was reelected
in 1889. He WIS elected State
senator in 1S4l, and a member of
this House in lS43, to which posi-
tion lie was reelected for the four
succeeding terms. He was elected
Governor Of Tennessee in 1858,
reelected in 1855, and in 1857 was
chosen as a Senator in Congress
from the State of Tennessee Tor
The term ending March 3, 1863 /;
was appointed military governor
of Tennessee during the late civil
war, in 1862; was a candidate for
Vice. President on the ticket with
Mr. LincolD in 1864, to which
Office he was elected, and an event
never to be forgotten IN the his
tory of the country, Mr.. johnson,
on the 18th Of April, 1865, became
President Of the United States.
OF the events Of Mr.. Johnson's
administration | shall not speak.
The history Of his administration
is now part of the history of the
country. Posterity will do him
justice. The great statesmen of
the past have been called TO the
administration of public affairs in
times of peace, when the ship of
state was sailing over calm, un
ruflled sea. Mr.. johnson took the
helm in the midst of storm
lashed into fury unprecedented in
the history Of our country by the
angry passions, the bitterness, and
strife of a long and bloody civil
conflict. To say that he commit
ted no errors would be to Say that
he was more than human. Now
that he has passed away none can
gainsay the honesty and integrity
of Andrew Johnson, or doubt his
unwavering fidelity to the great
principle OF constitutional liberty.
After the close of his term as
President, in 1869, Mr. johnson
returned TO his home in Tennessee.
He became q candidate for Sen
ator, but was defeated. In 1872,
at the demand Of large nnmber
of his people, he became Il candi,
date for Congress from the State
at large, but was for the third
tine in the whole course of his
public life again defeated. In Jan
uary, 1875, at the demand Of the
people, he was elected by the Leg
iSlature of Tennessee q Senator
in Congress for six years. His last
and only appearance in that body
after his election was at the extra
session in March, 1875, and with
the close Of that session termina-
ted Andrew Johnson's public ser
vices. rrrg
Such is a brief statement of the
public positions held by Mr.. John
son. He was continuously in the
public service for almost forty
years.
1t may be well said that his
career was the most wonderful in
our history. Who, indeed, was
ever like him? Who ever, as he
did, proved his honesty, his aims,
and his ambitions by conquering
for them their indisputable vinrli-
catiohY Taking the history of the