Later, Johnston gave a speech in 1878 in Congress against the railroad, specifically Bill No. 942, which he viewed as "a positive menace to the commercial interests of the South".
1878年，约翰斯顿在国会演说反对斯科特的铁路公司，特别是反对第942号法案，称其为“南方商业利益的绝对威胁”。