j\Tidrew JoKti SOT\ Class _i_^ Book lO h AWDRBAV JOHNSON iiMj J. 1 5. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY. 1890. kk ANDREW JOHNSON. / V. ^%.^^ ->^^.., V ^^2M P IT r L A D E L P H I A : J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY 1890. El. u 7 Copyright, 1890, by J. B. Ltppincott Company | lSTEREOTYPERSANprr ANDREW JOHNSON. Johnson, Andrew, seventeenth president of the United States, was born at Raleigh, North Carolina, December 29, 1808. His parents were in humble circumstances, and his father was drowned while at- tempting the rescue of a friend when Andrew was but four years old. At the age of len he became a tailor's apprentice, and with the help of a fellow- workman learned to read. In 1824 he went to Lau- rens, South Carolina, to work as a journeyman, and two years later emigrated to Greenville, Tennessee. There he married Eliza M* Cardie, a young girl of education and refinement, who taught him to write, and in other ways helped on his studies. He served as alderman and then as mayor for several years ; in 1834 took part in framing the new state constitution; and in 1835 and 1839 was elected a member of the legislature. In 1840 he was chosen presidential elector-at-large, and cast his vote for Martin Van Buren. In 1841 he was elected to the state senate, and in 1843 ^^ congress. Successive re-elections continued him a member of the House of Represent- atives until 1853, when he was chosen governor of 4 AmVDREW JOHNSON. the state of Tennessee, and in 1855 he was re-elected to that office. In 1857 he was sent to the United States senate for six years. There he was an earnest advocate of the Homestead Law and other measures for the benefit of working-men. He was a sturdy opponent of all secession and disunion schemes. When the war broke out in 1861 he found himself in accord with the administration, and during its progress was a leader of the Southern Union men. His efforts and sacrifices in behalf of the Union led to his selection by President Lincoln as military governor of Tennessee (1862), and subsequently to his nomination and election to the vice-presidency (inaugurated 4th March 1865). On the assassination of Lincoln (14th April 1 865) he became president. He sought to carry out the policy of his predecessor. He retained all the former cabinet in office, and, when vacancies occurred, filled them with those known to have been Lincoln's personal and political friends. But the assassination had provoked a revulsion of public feeling. Many who had favoured amnesty, leniency, and reconciliation now began to doubt whether the states so recently in rebellion could safely be restored to a share in the government with- out further guarantees. Congressional sentiment divided on the question of ' reconstruction.' Presi- dent Johnson's policy was first distrusted, and then denounced as evincing disloyal sympathies. Irritated at the misconstruction of his motives, and resenting the charge of disloyalty as insulting, he retorted by speeches full of bitter and violent invective. This intensified the ill-feeling. Soon a majority of the ANDREW JOHNSON. . congress, elected with him, were opposing his policy. While he urged the readmission of Southern repre- sentatives to seats, the congressional majority insisted that the Southern states should be kept for a period under military government, until they gave more proof of loyalty. President Johnson vetoed the con- gressional measures ; and the congress passed them over his veto. Extra sessions were held to keep him in check, and laws passed to limit his power. Finally, his removal of Secretary Stanton from the war de- partment precipitated a crisis. He claimed the right to change his ' constitutional advisers' in cabinet, and in return he was charged with violation of the ' Ten- ure of Office Act,' in doing so without the consent of the senate. Articles of impeachment were presented, and he was formally brought to trial before the senate. The trial resulted in his acquittal — less than two-thirds of the senators voting for conviction (see Impeach- ment). Practically this ended the contest, as the election of 1868 was close at hand, at which his suc- cessor was to be chosen. Retiring from office in March 1869, he returned to Tennessee. He was an unsuccessful candidate for congress in 1872, but was elected to the United States senate in January 1875, and again took his seat in that body. On 31st July of the same year he died from a stroke of paralysis. V s LEJa'l2 s m^^', '''M r LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 013 785 714 5 t