Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-03-26
Andrew Johnson.
rHE CHARACTER And CAREER oT InX Ten
NT~>FE STATESMAN.


From Mr.. Blaine second Volume
The character AMI career II Mr.. johnson
were anomalous and ia many respects con-
Trajectory. By birth De- belonged to that class
In ihc south known a. The poor white.
cia-- scarcely les, de.pi>eI by the >ia,e-l,old-
ins ari-tOtracy than were the human ehAtia-
themselves. Born ia North Carolina ami
bred to the trsdt Of 4 tailor Ia, reached BIZ 18Th
year before he was taught e,en 10 read. In
his 18th year he migrated to Tennessee. and
established himself in that rich upland region
on the eastern border OF the state. Where by
attitude the same agricultural condition. are
developed thai characterize the land which
lie> several degrees farther north. II Wa. es-
pccially adapted 10 the cereals. the grasses ana
the fruits of southern Ptnu@y " ania and Ohio.
East Tennessee could not employ slave labor
with the profit which it brought in the rich
cotton fields Of the neishborn. lowianl-, and
the result Wa that the population contained
large majority OF whites. Owing much TO i
wise marriage, pursuing his trade with skill
and industry johnson gained steadily IN know
ledge and influence. Ambitious, quick To
learn, honest, necessarily frugal. he speedily
became a recognized leader Of the class to
which h belonged. Before he bad attained
his majority he chosen 10 an important
municipal Office, and at - he was elected mayor
of hi town. Henceforward his promotion was
rapid.
Al 2. be was sent 10 the legislature Of his
State. and In 1870 when he wa- in hi. 3ad
year, he was nominated for the Office OF presi-
Dental elector, and eanyas>ed the State III the
interest OF Mr.. Van Buren,. Three years later
he was chosen a representative Ia Congress,
where he served ten years. He was then NOM
mated for governor. and in the elections OF
1853 and 1855 defeated successfully two
of the most popular Wing. in Ten
nessee. Gustayus A. Henry and Meredith r..
Gentry.
In 1851 he was promoted TO the Senate of
the United States, where he was serving at the
outbreak of the civil war. OF the twenty-five
senators from the eleven States that afterw ards
composed the eonfederacy, johnson was the
only one who bonorably maintained hi. oath
to support the Constitution. the only one " no
did not lend aid aud comfort TO the enemies Of
the Union. He remained in his seat in the
Senate. loyal to the government, and resigned
a year after the outbreak of the war, in March,
1862, upon Mr.. Lineoln's urgent request that
he should accept the important post of mill
tary governor OF Tennessee. His admins
tration of that Office and his firm discharge Of
every duty under circumstances Of great ex-
igency, and ofientiines of great peril, gave to
him an exceptional popularity in all loyal
States, and led to his selection for the vice.
presidency In 1884. The national calamity had
now suddenly brought him to larger field of
duty and deyolved upon him the weightiest
responsibility.
II was known to a few that when Mr.. John
son arrived from Fortress Monroe on the
morning Of April 10 and found the national
capital in blaze Of patriotic excitement over
the surrender Of Lees army the day before at
ApDomxffOx. he hastencd 10 the White Hou.e