Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-06-06

with the crisis of his public career Abont this period
he initiated his long and persistent struggle to secure
the enactment OF law granting homestead OF one
hundred and sixty acres OF the public lands to any
citizen who should occupy and cultivate part OF IL
for a specified number of years. This measure en-
countered both discouragement and opposition from
tio of HIaIs-v or. 500 J1 o, 9Th TarIi
toral settlement was an obsructng prejudice TO its
which was proposed to reserve for this purpose the
eager eyes Of Incorporated greed yulture-like were
as b0rnty to enterprise and frugal industry, and
announcement OF thrifty clttZenSthe richest treas
ure nation may have; but a powerful Influence
TO retain 1t for ripening schemes of selfish
speculation adroitly masked But Andrew Johnson
cOnspicuously champiOned the measure and at
time and under circumstances when considerations
of sectional popularity would have deferred IL rs
intrepid and independent man. He may be said
to have been its protector and his name is inds-
Solubly identified with this legislation benetceu
to thousands and so sagaciOus and statesmanlike.
1t is of that class OF laws which crown then
authors with the blessings of generations OF people
The many homes the broad acres the great west
stand a monument to the wisdom and courage OF
Mr.. Johnson 10 the agitation ensuing, upon the
territorial acquisitions from Mexico, with reference
to slavery as a southern man, Mr. johnson steadily
upheld the rights and interests of his section as
guaranteed under the constitution In the exciting
debates to which this portentous question led,
did not assume extreme ground touching the instl-
means of maintaining the balance OF political pow
er between the free and slave States. He did, how
ever, defend its constitutional sanctions where it
then existed, and In the common territory of the
United States, as species of property involable
as any other AS to the policy and perpeuty of this
peculiar Institution, he held that the former
settled In the fact that it existed. and thorough
~ Incorporated In the body OF society," and that the
latter was question out of the province of the
powers OF the general government, and determin-
able only by variety of JnoInica considerations
time might develop. An aggressive war upon it
moral and social wrong which was to be hedged
aud violative of the spirit In which the Federal
Union was formed, and deprecated it threatening
to 1neite sentiment importing alike the Union ana
the constitution, the safeguard of all Institutions
As scheme of adjustment of the then aspect of the
question: he did not approve some OF tee features OF
the compromise of 1850 but finally voted for the
five measures which it comprehended. One init
Lnately conversant with Mr. Johns Jn'S views during
the long and troubous era caused by these issues,
could but know that he was loyal TO the legal rights
of the slave States in this respect and to every de-
gIee and was prepared to maintain them under the
constitution and within the Union, and could not
but know also that he would not surrender the in
tegrity of the Federal government to preserve slave
~. or any other single interest whatever The des-
tructiOn OF that he regarded as tantamount to the
sacrifice OF all that could be held dear to the AneT
can people and as the elimination OF lrretrlevable
political disaster and would put nothing in the scale
against It's preservation. On March +, 1858, his
first period OF service in congress terminated and ne
retired from the public employment. but for short
time, ii few months only. In the spring of that year
governor of Tennessee. and thereabout the truth of
history requires statement. While recognizing
tneir necessity, MI Johnson was never an adept III
party conventions and he Was not present when this
honor was rendered him. In congressional lis
represented by him, had been made doubtful or adj
verse to the success OF a Democratic candidate.
prominent member of the party, who urged that
the coming gubernatoral candidate should be from
sented; and he, while in Washington City, by letter
requested distinguished leader in the party ia
as delegate or otherwise, to withdraw his name
from before the convention in the event he should
think it necessary to do SO in order to harmonic the
convention. There it rested, SO far as his, Mr. John
sons. personal interference was concerned. On the
sutaton Of delegates. the name OF the gentleman
to whom had been confided Mr.. Johnson'S Interest,
was himself recommended to the convention for
nomination as the Democratic candidate. He felt
the embarrassment, and frankly stating it to the
tod hnf hfS mo CHI NOT
presented to the convention, and therenp0n MI.
johnson was nominated by the convention In tue
c0nferment of this honor, no imputatfon of over
reaching can, in the least, impeach his manneSs.
His competitor was Gustavs A. Henry gentleman
of high character, and famed for commanding elo-
quence and ability and thu field of contest was the
entire State Mr.; johnson reversed the political ma
1ority OF the previous election, and inauguraed
governor In october. His address this occasion
eTes ss Tne Of ss s
upright and acceptable, and marked In some fea-
lures by his characteristic ygor and independence
reelection and the contest following OF the
leTceness as for the bol{ness and ability he dis
played and was, for time, doubtful. Only he, per
the dsintegraton of of the great parties which
had so long disputed the political mastery OF the
government gave Use to organization whose lead
Ing tenet proscptiye of the political rights of
citizens Of foreign birth and members of the Church
of Rome. Oath, OF obi "a ion its purposes, and
passwords of admission to its councils, alleged
of it. 1t absorbed the of that party whose dis
tinctive form had disappeared, and very consider
able numbers of thOS. who had held opposite polt-
zeal affiliations. 1t formidable alike in its
struction, Its sp ciOus principles, and in the sup
port it received from men Of high Intelligence and
mimpeachable character. 1t opposed the funda-
mental articles of Mr. J0Enson's polit1ta creed his
belief In the rights of man irrespective of nativity,
and In the largest barty of thought and conscience
as we'll as his theory or tree institutions, and
aroused tue utmost energy of his nature. In polltl
cal warfare he never favored defensive tactics but
this he assailed like the Mameluke cavalry on a
charge The intensity of his feeling quckeued his
powers, and his argument blazed with denuncia-
tons as ne attacked it In every form. With Tdcule
he drove II from the 1ntrenchment of secrecy, and
with unsparlng language he combated its doctrines
and designs. The opposing candidate was Mere
dith P. Gentry, gentleman of experience and tried
capacity. and gifted with copious aud sonorous eo-
able speakers to the field. Mr.. JOINS ms forensic
efforts were the highest he had ever exhibited,
his triumph won a national renOWn. His secQnd
term of service as governor of the State passed
without notable incident, and at its conclusiGn,
being now the unquest1ona6le leader of his party.
he was, by Its unanimous choice elected to the
can't seat In the United States senate IN In 1885,
the untiring application With which he Cultivated
fo s int great en In his eVeopmsn he h had
acquired degree of accomplishment we'll as ill
wart figure in the chamber where the giants of de
Bate dead and living, were wont to wreste. Over
ing, and the public mind was tevered with anxiety
and alarm at the period of his entrance. On the |
OF tie terrific storm which. in few years, was to
turst with devastating fury upon the nation. No
desired earnestly to avert the catastrophe or
Understood more thoroughly the necessity for
the desigl of iUfatuated and reckless leaders
whether they marshaled the sentiment OF a vast
section of the country under the banner of ire
preSSible conflict, incucated another sect with
the doctrine of national DESCRIPTION as means of
sympathy with neither but the chief themes SEN
atOrial discussions were big with the problem Not
withstanding these, however there were other mat
tiers of great importance which received his atten
ton. He opposed the Pacific railroad measure on
the ancient principles OF the Democratic faith
which denied the power OF the government to CON
struct directly or otherwise. works of internal i'm
1yanl ont nv aid or IhSi at
lands to ally itself With cOmpanie, for that object
Not doubling the utility of such work for purposes
or military transportation on which it defend
ed, he yet saw vast acres OF the public lands about
to pass into the grasp of souess corporations, and
engendering OF corrupt combinations as a cOnSe-
quence. He was instnctively jealous CT these pow
erful cTganizat Ons. The Infamous history of the
scenceless lobby which hoVerS nov at Washington
another branch of congress, attess his foresight
questionable compensation for such train of evils
The discussions in the Democratic party regarding
the status of slavery III the Territories which caused
the adjournment or the Charleston convention with
out nominee, was deeply depIored by Mr. johnson.
result to which it cJnrlbuted-the election of sec
tlonal President cOuli not have been aveIted;
though, with united front of the party, north and
south, contrary result possible. During the
session of that convention he hid been honOred
balotings its Presidential choice. and had there
prevailed greater unanimity to The question is
sue. 1t Is not improbable that the conservatism of
his locality, and the inherent constituents of his
popularity, would have made him the candidate of
poused the cause or that one of the Democratic
candidates having the greater following in the
southern Stats. Over this step tie heSitated and
numbers OF his friends watched his course with
anxiety In the crisis then imminent:Lis antecedent
views warranted the opinion that he would not fol-
low into extreme measures. and to your spedker he
firmly said that in the last event he should be for
the government, the UniOn and the constitution.
His motive at this time may be assumed to have
been the hope that in an alliance with that section
of his party from which he apprehended extreme
action, he could assert more potent influence to
restrain It The event came. and congress Assem-.
bled amid unparalleled excitement. Already the
Federal Union was disSOlving Within fortnight
he delivered in the senate speech directed against
the doctrines and policy of secession, and in behalf
of the Integrity of the Federal government. was
the abest effort of his life. Other great speeches
ancient and modern, have displayed more ampl-
tude of learning and rhetorical excellence, but for
incisye power and electric bodness the scene ana
the theme piring for e-ctthis is unsurpassed
Benton spoke satire of Weoster's reply to Hayne
thirty years before, when the lion was intact and
the danger imaginary, but the most violent antae-
osist was awed into respect by the thunder
OF this eloquence when the storm
actually burst All through those three
eventful months preceding Mr.. Lincolns lnaugura-