Portrait and biographical album of Ingham and Livingston counties, Michigan, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties ... the governors of the state and of all the presidents of the United States.

84

A NDRE TV I _fOHNSON.

84 A R _.S_
- ~_ _

--- -~ ---- I

ity, and proved himself the warm friend of the working classes. In 1857, Mr. Johnson was elected
United States Senator.
Years before, in I845, he had warmly advocated
the annexation of Texas, stating however, as his
reason, that he thought this annexation would probably prove " to be the gateway out of which the sable
sons of Africa are to pass from bondage to freedom,
and become merged in a population congenial to
themselves." In I850, he also supported the compromise measures, the two essential features of which
were, that the white people of the Territories should
be permitted to decide for themselves whether they
would enslave the colored people or not, and that
the free States of the North should return to the
Souih persons who attempted to escape from slavery.
Mr. Johnson was never ashamed of his lowly origin:
on the contrary, he often took pride in avowing that
he owed his distinction to his own exertions. "Sir,"
said he on the floor of the Senate, "I do not forget
that I am a mechanic; neither do I forget that Adam
was a tailor and sewed fig-leaves, and that our Savior was the son of a carpenter."
In the Charleston-Baltimore convention of i 8t,, ne
was the choice of the Tennessee Democrats for the
Presidency. In I86r, when the purpose of the Southern Democracy became apparent, he took a decided
stand in favor of the Union, and held that " slavery
must be held subordinate to the Union at whatever
cost." He returned to Tennessee, and repeatedly
imperiled his own life to protect the Unionists of
Tennesee. Tennessee having seceded from the
Union, President Lincoln, on March 4th, I862, appointed him Military Governor of the State, and he
established the most stringent military rule. His
numerous proclamations attracted wide attention. In
1864, he was elected Vice-President of the United
States, and upon the death of Mr. Lincoln, April 15,
i865, became President. In a speech two days later
he said, "The American people must be taught, if
they do not already feel, that treason is a crime and
must be rE':nished; that the Government will not
always beal with its enemies; that it is strong not
only to protect, but to punish. * * The people
must understand that it (treason) is the blackest of
crimes, and will surely be punished." Yet his whole
administration, the history of which is so well known,
was in utter inconsistency with, and the most violent

opposition to, the principles laid down in that speech.
In his loose policy of reconstruction and general
amnesty, he was opposed by Congress; and he characterized Congress as a new rebellion, and lawlessly
defied it, in everything possible, to the utmost. In
the beginning of i868, on account of " high crimes
and misdemeanors," the principal of which was the
removal of Secretary Stanton, in violation of the Tenure of Office Act, articles of impeachment were preferred against him, and the trial began March 23.
It was very tedious, continuing for nearly three
months. A test article of the impeachment was at
length submitted to the court for its action. It was
certain that as the court voted upon that article so
would it vote upon all. Thirty-four voices pronounced
the President guilty. As a two-thirds vote was necessary to his condemnation, he was pronounced acquitted, notwithstanding the great majority against
him. The change of one vote from the not guilty
side would have sustained the impeachment.
The President, for the remainder of his term, was
but little regarded. He continued, though impotent!l,
his conflict with Congress. His own party did not
think it expedient to renominate him for the Presidency. The Nation rallied, with enthusiasm unparalleled since the days of Washington, around the name
of Gen. Grant. Andrew Johnson was forgotten.
The bullet of the assassin introduced him to the
President's chair. Notwithstanding this, never was
there presented to a man a better opportunity to immortalize his name, and to win the gratitude of a
nation. He failed utterly. He retired to his home
in Greenville, Tenn., taking no very active part in
politics until I875. On Jan. 26, after an exciting
struggle, he was chosen by the Legislature of Tennessee, United States Senator in the forty-fourth Congress, and took his seat in that body, at the special
session convened by President Grant, on the 5th of
March. On the 27th of July, I875, the ex-President
made a visit to his daughter's home, near Carter
Station, Tenn. When he started on his journey, he was
apparently in his usual vigorous health, but on reaching the residence of his child the following day, was
stricken with paralysis, rendering him unconscious.
He rallied occasionally, but finally passed away at
2 A. M., July 3i, aged sixty-seven years. His fun-:
eral was attended at Geenville, on the 3d of August,
with every demonstration of respect.