The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-01-09

I'm 1851 Andrew Johnson was Unk-
ed States Senator from Tennessee"
said the Doctor, "He stood with the
Unionists and used the harshest Ian
guage In criticism of the secessionists.
He returned with his family to Ten
nessee and caused more commotion
than any other man in the State. The
people of Tennessee had voted strongly
against secession. and Johnson believed
that the State could be saved to the
Union. But the fact that he was well
known and popular and a fighter
caused him to be made the object of
bitter attack on the part of those en-
gagged in the intrigue to take Tennes-
see out OF the Union.
HE was abused in the newspapers,
attacked by mobs, and hanged in eff
gy. He knew every man in public life
in the State. and he did not hesitate
to deal in the most pointed PERSONAL
ties. 1t was necessary to silence him,
and all sorts of schemes and influences
were resorted to. But Johnson went
to his old home in East Tennessee,
made strong Union addresses at the
conventions held In that part of the
State, and was so active and aggressive
that force was resorted to, and he was
iriven from his home. Defending him
self on one occasion, pistol In hand, he
told the mob that he would go, but that
be would come back.
I'm March, 1862, he went back as
military Governor of the State, and he
remembered every word said against
him and every indignity heaped upon
him in 1861. He remembered the
wrongs of his neighbors driven from
East Tennessee, and the persecution of
his own family. and he acted up to
the demands of the hour. l was in
Nashville at the time, and 1 retain
day. When the Union troops occupied
the city number Of the leading gener-
ais called formally on Mrs. Polk, and
we're courteously received. A few days
later General Nelson took one of his
brigades out to the Hermitage and
marched it in stately ceremony around
the tomb of Jackson. Some of the I'm
Ion officers from Ohio and Kentucky
renewed their acquaintance with Nash
ville's aristocracy, but Johnson held
alOof
His family was in the hands of the
Confederates, but his first orders meant
war to the knife. He spoke contempt
uously of Governor Isham G. Harris,
and yet when Mrs. Johnson was order
ed from her home In Greenville by
General Kirby Smith, Harris interceded
In her behalf and secured an order
from Richmond passing her through
the lines to Nashville. Bluff old Mel
son, in his march southwark from
Nashville, turned his division from the
road to let the widow of General Zolli-
koffer pass. But Johnson paid no hon.
Ors to his old enemies, or the enemies
Of the Union.
''The families of several of the Con-
federate Generals remained In Nash
vile when the rebels moved South, and
some of them presumed upon their po-
sitlon and upon old acquaintance. John
son would have none of It. On one oc-
casion in the summer after Shiloh.
when Forrest was only few miles
from the city, the leading Confederates
families were jubilant and the Union
lists in dismay. Johnson called a pub
lie meeting at the capitol and invited
citizens of all parties to be present
This, it was rumored on the streets,
was the beginning OF the end.
"A friend and myself went over to
the meeting. When we arrived at the
statehouse we found no crowd outside,
pot single individual in the halls and
corridors. We thought we had made a
mistake as to the time or that the peo-
pie had been afraid to come. At last
we saw group of excited scared men
looking into the Assembly hall. We
went toward them, but there was no
noise-none of the confusion incident
to a public meeting. But inside the
large hall was packed with men and
women, all listening in a dazed way to
man who was speaking from the plat
form in low, incisive tone. That man
was Andrew Johnson.
mot q foot or q hand In all that
audience moved. Unionists and Con-
federates were listening In silence.
amazed or awed by the manner of the
speaker and the grave import of his
utterances. Johnson, with his fill. y,
pointing at group of stylishly dressed
women, was saying: Il know you every
one and l know of your plans. Send
this word out to your friends this even
Ing. A crisis has come, but Andrew
Johnson will not sneak away as did
your Governor, Isham q. Harris. Tell
your friends ready TO attack the city to
attack. They will find me here. But
tell them also that the minute they
cross the city's line l will turn these
batteries on Capitol hill-look at them
as you go out-on the city, on your
homes. Tell them that, and let them
come at their peril and yours
This was received In dead silence.
The Confederates present knew that
Johnson was not talking for effect.
They knew their man and they felt he
would do what he said. In the quiet
that followed his threat Johnson turn
ed to the Union men to say some en-
couraging words. He told them of
threats made to kill him, TO intimidate
them, and to precipitate panic in the
city. He asked all of them to show
their hands, to stand by the flag, to
proclaim to the spies and traitors in
their midst that they were not afraid.
He then proposed that a procession be
formed at once and that the Union men
march through the streets of the city.
Men shook their heads at this.
Those in business were reluctant at
such time to make themselves con
| spicuous. But wLtl they reached the