The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-09-19
JOHNSON
AS HEREALLY WAS
Raleigh Has Cause to Be Proud
of Her Native Son

Carolina delegation ought TO urge the
next Congress to make an approprl-
alton TO build a monument in Raj
eigh TO Andrew Johnson. The peo-
ple of the United States, generally,
and ] am impelled to add. the people
of North Carolina. particularly, know
little Of Abraham Lincolns successor
as Chief Executive of q troubled ma
ton. Your long editorial article was
entertaining. but more than this, It
was instructive North Caroilnid1s
shonld know the true Andrew John
son.
Two years ago it was my good
fortune to visit Greenvil1e, Tenn
T7ae mere fact Of a foremer
President of the United States
having once lived in this town
would have excited my curl
osity TO see whatever memorials re-
manned and to learn from the inhabl-
tants any facts Of his life. gathered
neither through personal experience
with him or from tradition. However,
/ must confess that Andrew johnson
had interested me little up to- this
time. His service to the South. IN
standing against the horrors OF Re-
construction had not been impressed
upon my mind. But, l did remember
that he had fallen into disfavor and
had narrowly missed disgrace.
A different point of view is suffi-
cient to cause intelligent men to mold
widely divergent opinions. 1t is not
surprising to listen to a variation OF
details, when two persons describe an
occurrence they have witnessed from
different angles. Yet human beings are
so constituted that they differ TO a
surprising degree ever in essential
matters. Stonewall Jackson's Valley
campaign was an extraordinary event
in military history but ] doubt seri-
cuSly whether the Northern teacher
thinks it worth while to lay stress
upon the Southerner'S movements.
Although the great Confederate gen
eral advanced against four Federal
Armies in turn. / dare write that the
average Northerner possesses little
knowledge thereof and would attempt
to minimize Jackson's movements, if
a Southern man endeavored to en-
tighten him.
My reason for introducing the pre-
ceding paragraph is to show how a
child may receive impress
sions which will cling to him during
his entire life. School histories, for
many years following the War Be-
tween the States, were written by
those who were more or less pre-
JUDGED against the South. Therefore,
wrong ideas have been implanted.
Both sides are revising their opinions.
The descendants of Confederates and
Federals need to revise their opin-
ions OF the official acts OF Andrew
Johnson. He was opposed to Seces-
sion but he was also opposed to the
fanaticai policy Of unreasoning
Northerners. His power of speech
won many men over to the Union
side but his sense of right did not
desert him. He knew that the advo-
Gates of States rights had hearts and
inteliects. He intended to act honor
ably. We. Of today, can review his
act inlD~asSionately.
| talked to a number Of East Ten
~nesseans who knew Andrew ohnso
personally. They were poor men and
uneducated. l wanted to know how
he had impressed his humble neigh
bors. Without exception. the replies
Indicated One old man told
me that Johnson was always the same
10 everybody that he was free from
ostentation and that honors heaped
upon him did not make him forget
to be kind to the humblest citizen.
Anothet said he had heard Greene
'Ile's most distinguished citizen make
a speech. at the outbreak of hostilities.
which caused him to take the Union
side.
saw the old house where be
worked at the tailor's trade. The sign
made by himseif. WIS lstill above
the door. 1t was crude and bore the
simple inscription. A. Johnson. Mr..
Patterson. his grandson. received me
at the much more n home
where Andrew Johnson lived after he
had achieved fame. The table. on
which he worked as a tailor. was
pointed out: also. several other relies
Of interest came to my notice but men
ton If them would be out Of place
in this communication
RALEIGH can be proud Of her native
son. Although he adopted Tennessee
he belongs to North Carolina. There
IS such a thing as maternal love and
the love of a wife. Tennessee has
a right to claim him but his fila love