The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-05-08
Andy Johnson at Lexington.

SiSh a iSAuSSC ~
Camp Dick Robinson, near Danville,
KY, came to Lexington, KY, in the sum-
mer of 1861, to make speech against
the evils of secession. 1t had been an
nounced for days preceding that the
speech would be made at the Opera
House. The city was filled with the cul
tivated and elite citizens of that unsur-
passed country. John Morgan, the
famous raider, was then organizing his
regiment at Lexington. The secession
spirit was wild with anticipated success
of its cause. At the appointed time the
Opera House was crowded almost to
suffocation with ladies and gentlemen,
with those clinging to the Union with
unshaken affection, with those undecided
where to cast their lot, with those filled
with the idea of a new government and a
new order of things. Mr.. johnson en-
tered the hall from the front, accom-
panied by few friends, looking every
inch man. He was then in the prime
of life and beauty of a well-developed
manhood, like Paul of old, stood ready to
offer up his life in defence of the faith
and hope that possessed him. AS he
entered the house shout went up from
friend and foe, for all saw at once in the
man the wonderful power and magnetism
which made him the pride of Tennessee
and the acknowledged friend of the peo-
pie. Threats had been made on the
streets of the city that day by young rebel
spirits that Mr.. Johnson should not de-
liver q Union speech on that occasion,
Others declared that he should-both
sides were armed more or less. There
was dread in the minds of the more
prudent on both sides that "bloody
drama" was imminent. Mr.. johnson
saw at once the danger surrounding the
situation, and with mastery stroke,
quickly quieted the surging, excited
throng of people, with the following hap
py introduction: 81 stand to-day a refu-
gee from home, from my adopted State,
in whose councils have stood as tri-
bune of the people, from my loved>wife
and children, and have Sought a tempo
rary home in the grand old State of Ken
lucky, in the historic city of Lexington,
under the shadow OF. that monument
which stands in memoriam of the grand
est man the world ever saw! Kentucky
was the fit home of Clay, and Clay was
the true representative of such State.
Monuments of marble are not necessary
to perpetuate their glory. They are q
part of the history of our common coun-
try, and will only be forgotten when we
-fellow-citizens-shall forget the glory
of that country. lam here to speak in be-
half of that country-one and insepara-
ble-just as our forefathers made it-just
as our Clay preserved it in the compro-
mise measure of 1850, when he said: Il
may be asked, as I have been asked,
when I am for the dissolution of this
Union, l answer, never! never!!
never!!p So say I, my countrymen!
May /, Kentuckians, the friends, neigh
bors and constituents of such man, give
my reasons to-day why this Union should
be preserved, why war, the last alterna-
tive of civilization, should be avoided?
Shall, / be heard for my cause, even by
the brave and gallant men who are to-
day putting on the harness of war under
an excitement that it will yet make many
homes desolate, make many hearts weep
over stricken loved onesl Brave men
are brave on all occasions; no more
afraid of free speech than of free combat.
Cowards suppress the one and flee from
the other! Shall I be heardw At this
point Col. Tom Buford (who has just as
sassinated Judge Elliott at Frankfort,
Ky.,) moved from his seat to the aisle
facing the speaker, and said: "Go on
Mr.. johnson; you shall be heard to-day
in behalf of the Union. Kentuckians
love a brave man, wherever found and
under all circumstance" Suffice it to
say that the eloquence of the orator and
the response of the auditor abated all
uneasiness in the minds ofithe fair wo-
men and brave men, and the crowd lis
tened with eagerness to the plea of the
great natural orator for more than two
hours. Few such speeches have ever
been made. 1t was enough within him.
self to have immortalized him. 1t was
grand plea for peace, harmony, home
and country. Subsequent history has
fully verified his brave words. u When
he said: ~ am done. God bless ken,
lucky! God bless our whole land !2n+a
wild burst of applause was heard from
that great mixed crowd OF. Union men
and secessionists. Andrew johnson en-
tered that hall stranger and left it
hero.-T T. Crittenden, Of Warensburg,
No.