New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-05-27
AN INCOMPREHENsIBLE NAN,
An Amusing Story Of One of Andrew john
sons PafdOns

An Amusing Story Of One Of Andrew John
sons Pard0ns.
Andrew johnson was a strange be-
Ing, understood by few, and incompre-
hensible to the greater. number of
those in public and private life when
he unexpectedly became president Of
the United States. The war had hard
~ been closed, telegraphic and postal
communication had not been re-estab.
lished between the two sections, and
the leaders Of the great rebellion were
IN state OF great anxiety as to what
would be done with them by the fede-
raj authority for their participation in
the rebellion. The widest rumors
were circulated OF federal vengeance
to be wreaked at short notice upon
all who had been prominent in the
confederate cause, and naturally there
was not a little trepidation among
them as rumor followed rumo1 Of
drumheads, hangings, banishments,
and lmprlsonments to be melted out to
the main offenders without mercy.
This feeling was enhanced in the CON
temptation Of the fact that Andrew
johnson had succeeded to the presi-
dency. His well-known applicability,
especially toward those southern men
who had, by resigning their seats in
congress, made the rebellion possible,
was remembered with augmented ter
rors, and great cry went up from
scores OF quacking throats, of .:What
shall save us from the dire Nemesis?"
Prominent among those who appre-
hended they knew not what, was the
late Col. Robert w.. johnson, of.Ar-
kansas. 1t had fallen out that in the
spring OF 1861, on the very d:y Col.
johnson, resigned his seat in the
senate OF the United States, he and
Andrew johnson (who was then very
bitter in his speeches against the Sc
cesslonists) had had a personal alter
cation on the floor few moments be-
tore the senate was called to order,
which was only prevented from be-
coming a serious tisticIff encounter BY
the interference, Of bystanders, and so
the two Johnsons had parted, exchang.
ing mutual epithets Yof hostility. Re-
membering this, among other causes
OF dlsqniet, Col. johnson, who ut the
Lee surrender found himself III an UNI
enVlable situation, stripped of all his
worldly. possessions and practically
without where Ito lay his head, be-
thought himself that the only wav to
begin to rehabilitate himself so as to
be able to resume his former profess
sion OF a lawyer was though presi-
dental pardon. Coupling in his mind
the old personal quarrel with the wild
stories he heard on all sides that the
president OF the United States had
been Empowered by congress to hang
or shoot the leading men who had sur
rendered, he reflected that his chances
with his old foe We're slim indeed But
seeing no other course open, he made
up his mind to try the venture and
take what fate should accord him.
Accordingly Col. johnson applied
for and obtained a pass from the com.
mandant OF federal military post and
journeyed to Washington Arriving
there in he early evening lie proceed
ed to the Metropolitan hotel, where
he locked himself in his room, fearing
to show his head to chance of recog-
milton, either by an accidental old ac-
.qualntance, or, worse yet, provost
marshal. During the night he tried to
consider what would be the outcome
OF his expedition, and the conclusion
was anything but hopeful. Arising
from his sleepless bed in the morning
he thought over the situation again,
and finally determined that he would
''face the music without further de-
lay and end the suspense. So at IS
early an hour us he could gain admit
lance 10 the white house he cornered
him elf out of the hotel and into
hack and proceeded to make his ven
ture.
Arriving at the executive mansion.
he wrote his name on card and sent
it to the president. In a few moments
the usher returned and announced, in
voice OF fearful portent, that the
president would see him at once. The
door swung open, and he found him
self in the presence Of Andrew John
son. Col. johnson IN relating this
incident to friend years afterward,
said that at the moment his eye fell on
the president, fer the first and only
time in his life he was afraid. He adj
vanced to the end Of the table nearest
the door and placed his hand on it to
steady himself. At the other end sat
old Andrew, his face worked up to an
apparent frenzy OF passion, his eyes
fairly emitting sparks OF fire. His
glance struck through the colonel like
electricity, and he began to tremble
at the knees. This lasted a few mo-
ments, when Andrew broke out:
You here! you Internal traitor, do
you know where you stand? Do you
dare come here to the capital that YOU
have tried to destroy? why, you
wretched rebel! On you, | have a
great mind to hang you to7a lamp
post The colonel stammered out
he had come to the president to plead
for h life. Come to plead for your
life, . sneered the president. .:why.
your life is forfelred a thousand times"
Then followed series Of expressions
of q most sulphurous nature, and
which had such an effect on, the colo
mel that he said he had to hold on to
the table with both hands to keep from
sinking to sthe floor. Next came
pause of some duration, during which
the president plared unOn him with