JOHNSON, ANDREw (ante), 1808-75; b. N. C.; son of Jacob Johnson. a petty city officer in Raleigh. The father lived only four years after Andrew's birth, and, being extremely poor, he left no funds for the boy's education. When ten years old be was bound to a Mr. Selby to learn the business of tailoring. While there he took great interest in readings by a gentleman who frequently passed an hour or two in the bumble shop. Andrew listened with close attention, particularly to the speeches of great English orators. But his utter lack of education was a great grievance, and ho resolved to learn to read by himself. For this purpose he borrowed books and passed. all the time between labor and sleep in diligent study. Just before his term of service was out he went to work on his own account at Laurens Court-house, S. C.; but in the spring of 1826 he went back to Raleigh. His tailor-master had gone to another place, and Andrew made a foot-journey of 20 m. to see him, his object being to apologize for leaving service before his term was out, and to pay for the unfulfilled months. Selby wanted security, but being an entire stranger in the place Johnson was unable to give it. His mother depended upon him for support., and he determined to try his for tunes in Tennessee. Taking her with him he made his way to Greenville, in the extreme• eastern part of the state. Here he worked as a journeyman tailor about a year; took a. wife, and concluded to make the place his permanent home. His wife was fairly educated, and 'she became his tutor. He could read, but that was the most of his acqpirements. She taught him writing and ordinary arithmetic, these, with reading; being then the extent of the education of the classes in that region. Johnson naturally a politician, and when only 20 years old lie got up a party of workingmen in opposition to the planters and other well-to-do citizens who had always had their own way in the town. The workingmen chose him alderman and re-elected him twice. In 1830 Greenville was a city, and Johnson was elected mayor, serving three years. His ambition was to be a public speaker, and to qUalify himself he joined a debating society, most of whom were students of Greenville college. In 1834 Johnson took an active part in advocating the proposed new constitution for the state. Parties at this period were whigs and democrats; Johnson was anxious to get into the legislature, and, in accord ance with the custom in that part of the union, in 1835 he nominated himself for the .assembly, declaring; himself a democrat. As the nomination was not readily accepted by the people, he took the field in person, and by several strong common-sense speeches quite silenced the other side and easily secured his election. The main feature of his course as a member was his opposition to the creation of a debt of $4,000,000 for internal Improvements unless such debt should be approved by the vote of the people. But the
bill was passed, and in 1837 Johnson was defeated on account of his opposition to it. "That his course was right was proved soon afterwards; the works undertaken were -abandoned, and the greater portion of the money was stolen or wasted. In 1839 he was again chosen a member of the legislature. In the " Log Cabin and Hard Cider" cam paign for president in 1840 he was on the democratic electoral ticket, and made many speeches for Van Buren. The next year he was elected to the state senate, and in 1843 he was chosen a member of congress, where he served his constituents so satisfactorily as to secure four consecutive re-elections. Within his ten years' service in the house of :representatives he supported the annexation of Texas and the war on Mexico; the refund ing of gen. Jackson's tine for imprisoning a judge at New Orleans in 1815, and the tariff of 1846. He favored the acceptance of the 49th degree of latitude to settle the Oregon boundary dispute, and was one of the foremost of advocates of a homestead law. He was also a firm supporter of the president's veto power; and ou all occasions he was iu favor of the greatest economy in public expenditures. He left congress Mar., 1853, and in the same year was chosen governor of his state over the whig aspirant. Two 3-ears afterwards lie was re-chosen over a candidate supported both by the whigs and the newly-organized American party: This last canvass was very turbulent, and many threats were made against the democratic candidate and others. On one occasion John son stepped to the front of the platform from which he was to speak, drew a pistol so that it could be Seen ,by all, laid it before him, and remarked: "Fellow-citizens: I have been informed that part of the business to be transacted on the present occasion is the assassination of the individual who now has the honor of addressing you. I beg respect fully to propose that this be the first business in order. Therefore if any man has come here, to-night for the, purpose indicated, I do not say to him let him speak, but let him shoot." Naturally a man of such character was popular with the rude people in that comparatively new country. The tailor's apprentice, who at ten years of age could not even read, had, by force of character and an iron determination to advance, filled the highest offices in the state. If he lacked education and fitness for polite society, he had enough for the people who supported him. But during all this political work and the duties of office lie improved every occasion for study, and little by little accumulated *enough education to fit him for the responsible positions which he was called upon to fill.