LIFE, SPEECHES, AND SERVICES

OF

ANDREW JOHNSON.

SEVENTEENTH PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES.

HISTORY is being created very rapidly in America at this era. We cannot say, in Biblical language, that " a nation is born in a day," but we can say, with truth, that great principles are receiving their verification with almost instantaneous flashes, and that character is being tested in such crucibles as humanity never before expected to be tried in. Tremendous tests are applied to military reputations, and holocausts of failures are piled up for the wondering speculation of future generations. Political fame has also been sternly brought to the test, and when found wanting, have been cast aside. The stern practicality of the American people has been quickened by the events of this war, and they will not brook imbecility, lukewarmness, or inattention to the great work before the nation. The Republic has just lost, by the infamous blow of an assasin, a beloved head. The stroke came from a representative of the slave aristocracy, which has sought to destroy the life of the nation, and it fully represented the feeling of that faction towards the Republic. The martyr-victim who fell, represented the sentiment of the

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loyal people, in his true democracy, his magnanimity, and his sympathy with all humanity.

In his successor, Andrew Johnson, whose life we are about to narrate, we have just such a representative of the people as our martyred President. Born in obscurity, brought up in comparative ignorance, and finally struggling into distinction almost unaided, Andrew Johnson's career is salmost parallel with that of Abraham Lincoln. The same traits of American character inspired their hearts and nerved their souls, and from youth to manhood, they were impelled by common impulses. Andrew Johnson has exulted in the fact that he was no slaveholding oligarch; that he was "a plebeian," and as an American citizen, he could have no other title before which, as to a crown, he could "bid kings bow." A native of North Carolina, and a resident of Tennessee for nearly his entire life, he has inwrought into his character the sturdiest traits which mark the people of those commonwealths, and in the grand test which tried the soul of every man in America, in 1860 and 1861, he was proof against both blandishments and the threats of treason.

HIS BIRTH AND PARENTAGE-DEATH OF HIS

FATHER.

A little more than fifty years ago, a poor but industrious couple resided in Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina. Their social position was necessarily, from their pecuniary circumstances, of that grade which debarred them from all, save business intercourse, with their more wealthy and aristocratic neighbors; yet within their humble dwelling was born a babe, who was destined to attain a position in after years which but few of those who despised the parents by whom he was begotten ever realized.

Andrew Johnson was born in Raleigh, on the 29th of December, 1808. When Andrew was only four years

of age, his father, in exerting himself to save from drowning Colonel Thomas Henderson, the editor of the "Gazette," a newspaper published in Raleigh, unhappily injured himself so severely that his own life was sacrificed.

ANDREW APPRENTICED TO A TAILOR.

From that time until he was ten years old, the youth was reared by a fond mother; but at that tender age her pecuniary circumstances compelled his entering upon some trade, by which in the early future he could support himself and his widowed protector. He was therefore placed as an apprentice to a tailor in his native city, and until he was seventeen, plied the needle faithfully and patiently for his employer. The blessings of the public school system which are now guaranteed to the poor children of the Union, had not at that time been experienced in North Carolina, and consequently young Johnson was never enabled to spend an hour in a school-room. He, however, became anxious to learn, and this anxiety was greatly increased by an incident, which, although trivial in itself, was of momentous importance to the poor lad. A person residing in the town, who enjoyed the advantages of an education, was wont to visit the tailor's shop and read to the apprentices and journeymen while they were at work. His favorite book, and one which appeared to please the workmen more than any other, was 8 volume of speeches, principally those of British statesmen, and so interested did young Johnson become, that he determined to apply himself to study after he had finished his daily labors. He, by perseverance, soon mastered the alphabet, and then soliciting the privilege of using the book as a means by which he might learn to spell, his request was more than granted by the owner, who, instead of loaning, presented the work, and also gave him some instruction in the formation of words. His exertions

were crowned with success, and to his great delight he found himself able to read the speeches to which he had only a short time before been such an interested listener.

HE WORKS AS A JOURNEYMAN TAILOR IN SOUTH CAROLINA-HIS REMOVAL TO EAST TENNESSEE.

In the latter part of the year 1824, his term of apprenticeship having been completed, he bade adieu to Raleigh, and went to Laurens Court House, in the north-western part of South Carolina, where he worked as a journeyman for two years. While there, he became attached to a young lady, who returned his affection, and to whom it is said he was engaged to be married, but her family objecting to the match on account of his youth and poverty, he, in May, 1826, left the scene of his mingled happiness and sorrow, and returned to Raleigh, where he worked at his trade until the following September. Believing that a settlement farther to the westward offered greater pecuniary inducements, he, in September, 1826, removed to Greeneville, in Eastern Tennessee, taking with him his mother and step-father.

HIS MARRIAGE AND SUBSEQUENT ROMANTIC HISTORY-HE IS EDUCATED BY HIS WIFE. He had not been there many months before he married an estimable woman, and from the day the two became one, may be dated the commencement of a chapter in the history of the poor tailor boy which is as yet incompleted, and which is tinged with more romance than is generally found in the book of lives of distinguished men, even in this country, where none can justly claim superiority on account of birth or social position. Well educated herself, she determined that her husband should enjoy the same blessings, and scarcely had the marriage ceremony been performed, before this excellent woman commenced

the pleasing task of instructing her husband. Day after day, while he sat upon his board, she patiently remained by his side, book in hand, increasing the slight knowledge of reading he had secured while an apprentice in Raleigh. At night, when the needle and the partly made garments had been laid aside, she substituted the pen and pencil for the book, and after months of sweet labor she had the satisfaction of finding her efforts rewarded, and her once ignorant pupil become proficient in reading, writing, and arithmetic, rudiments which she knew the industry of her husband would soon enable him to mature into a complete system of education. While this romantic portion of their history was in progress, young Johnson again determined to change his location, and removed farther westward; but failing to find a suitable place in which to settle, and at the solicitation of a friend, who felt assured that his industrious habits could not fail to secure success in Greeneville, he returned to that place, and recommenced work.

HIS DEBUT ON THE POLITICAL STAGE-IS ELECTED ALDERMAN, MAYOR AND LEGISLATOR.

Andrew Johnson's position in the community was of that character which naturally made him inimical to whatever would give power and wealth to the few, at the expense of the many; and thanks to the tuition of his wife, and to his own natural powers, he soon became known as one of the most able exponents of the views of the working men in Greeneville. He talked with them and to them, and by their influence and power succeeded in crushing a powerful aristocratic sentiment, which had until that time ruled in the town, and which had prohibited honest citizens who labored for their daily bread, from occupying even the most trivial political offices.