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

eleyatiDg himself to the highest
position in the Republic. ef
The poor, uneducated youth be-
came a Senator in Congress, the
Governor Of great State. and the
Chief Executive Of a proud nation;
and, dying, has embalmed his
memory IN the grateful hearts of
millions of his countrymen; and,
though his form has disappeared,
Andrew johnson lives and will live
in the affections of the people
while the principles of constitu-
| tpnal liberty are cherished and
honesty, integrity, and patriotism,
and abilities of the highest order
are venerated by man. OF him
may be said Fl" tpef'@ oat 9
These shall resist the empire Of decay
When time is DER and worlds have passed
away; ~ HH I,ly
Cold in the dust the perished heart may lie,
But that which warmed it once can never
die,
Andrew Johnson was but man {;
he had his faults; he committed
errors; but, looking to the unfavor-
able circumstances by which his
youth was surrounded, the bitter
and continuous political battles in
n
which he was engaged from early
life down to his death, the wonder
is that he committed so few.
He had his enemies, and his life
and history furnishes most strik-
ing evidence Of the truth of the
poets sentiments:
He who ascends to mountain tops shall find
The loftiest peaks most wrapt in clouds
and snow;
He who surpasses or subdues mankind
Must look down on the hate Of those be-
low f.,#. .#. It
Though high above the sun of glory glow,
And far beneath the earth and ocean
spread,
Round him are icy rocks, and loudly blow
Contending tempests on his naked head,
And thus reward the tolls which to those
submits lead. 'sayo
But Mr.. Johnson had his friends
and admirers, who adhered to him
Through every vicissitude of his
political fortunes, and with the la-
boring masses OF the people of the
country perhaps no public man OF
his day had more influence and
power than did he. He was one
of them; knew their wants, and
sympathized with their struggles.
The life of Andrew johnson is
an exsmple of the lasting fame
that surely awaitsthe honest states
man. His unswerving integrity;
his bold, Independent and candid
declaration of his opinion on pub
llic questions; his confidence in the
people, and the absence Of disguise
in all his acts were his master-key
to tue popular heart The country
was never in doubt as to his oplnr
ions and purposes, and, victorious
or defeated, he remained firm iu
his belief. In all the contests Of
his time, his position on great. pub
lie questions was as clear as the
sun in a cloudless sky. .rg f
Sirs, standing by 1.-The grave OF
Andrew johnson, and looking back
over the history of his life and
considering these things, how in,
significant and contemplate ap,
pear the labor and ambition of the
mere politician! What reproach
is his life on that false policy which
would trile with a great people! !!
If | were to write the epitaph of
Andrew johnson | would inseribe
on the Stone Which Shall mark his
resting place, as the highest eulogy,
Here lies the man who was in the
public service for forty years, who
never tried to deceive his country
men, and died, as he lived, AN
honest man, the nohlest work OF
! God" While the youth Of
America should initiate his noble
qualities, they may take courage
from the example, and note the
high proof it affords that under
our equal institutions the avenues
to the highest positions are open
alike to all,
Mr.. johnson rose by the force OF
his own genius, lndomitable will,
and untiring energy, maided by
power prestige or wealth, AT an
age when our young men are usu-
ally in pursuit of education at liz
stitutions Of learning, he in ignor3
ance and poverty, made his way
from the cold North State" toward
the West, and amid the rude colli-
sions incident to East Tennessee
at that day, commenced his early
struggle and in less than fifty years
matured a character the highest
exhibitions of which were destined
to mark eras in his countly's his
tory. Beginning in the mountains
of East Tennessee in 1926, brought
into antagonism with the power,
;ra,,o l ,,ool.b of old citi.