JOHNSON, ANDREW (1808-75). The seven teenth President of the United States of America. He was horn at Raleigh, N. C., December 29, 10,04. His father lived only four years after _1ndrew's birth, and left no funds for the edu cation of the boy, who, at the age of ten, was bound out to a tailor. Lack of education was a great grievance to Andrew. and he resolved to learn to read by himself. For this purpose lie passed all the time between labor and sleep in study. Just before his term of service was out he went to work on his own account as a journey man tailor at Laurens Court-house, S. C. In 1S26 he removed to Greenville in East Tennessee. where be worked at his trade for about a year, and married Eliza Mef ardle. who taught him writing and ordinary arithmetic.
When only twenty years old Johnson or ganized a party of workingmen in opposition to the planters. The workingmen chose him alderman in that year, and reelected him in the two succeeding years. In 1830 Johnson was elect ed mayor, serving for three years. To qualify himself for public undertakings, he joined a de bating society, most of whose members were stu dents of Greenville College. In 1834 Johnson took an active part in advocating the proposed Constitution for the State; in 1835 he nominated himself for the Assembly, declaring himself a Democrat. He was successful in the ensuing elec tion, but in 1837 failed of reelection because of his opposition to a financial measure, which, as was later proved, he rightly judged to be bad. In 1839 he was again chosen a member of the Legis lature. In 1840 he was on the Democratic elec toral ticket, and made many speeches for Van Buren. The next year he was elected to the State senate, and in 1842 he was chosen a member of Congress, to which he secured four consecutive re elections. While in the blouse he supported the annexation of Texas, the Mexican War, the re funding of General .Jackson's fine for imprisoning a judge at New Orleans in 1815, the tariff of 1846, and the compromise of 1850. He favored the acceptance of the 49th degree of latitude to settle the Oregon boundary dispute, and was one of the foremost of the aavocates of a homestead law. He was also a firm supporter of the Presi dent's veto power, and on all occasions was in favor of the greatest economy in public expendi ture. He left Congress in Starch. 1853. and in the same year was chosen Governor of his State. and two years afterwards was reelected after a very turbulent canvass.
In 1857 lie was elected to the United States Senate,where he opposed the increase of the army and the legislation for the Pacific Railroad. He spoke little on slavery, his main interest being centred on the preservation of the Union. In the campaign of 1860, after being himself mentioned for the nomination, he supported Breckenridge until he found that secession was contemplated, when he repudiated him. When he went home in 1861, after opposing secession in the Senate. he was in great danger of his life. He worked hard for the Union cause. and at one time the secessionists turned his family out of their home. Early in March. 1862, was made mili tary Governor of Tennessee. For a long time he labored earnestly to bring his State back into the Union. Year the beginning of March. 1s64. under Johnson's special orders. Tennessee elected officers. both State and local. Three months afterwards he was nominated for Vice President on the ticket with Lincoln. Six weeks after the inauguration Lincoln was shot, and Johnson became President. On taking the exemi tive chair lie made a brief speech. which was understood to mean that he would deal with the utmost severity with the leading seces sionists. Instead of following this policy. his course, after he Caine under the influence of Secretary Seward, was the very opposite. He hastened to bring Virginia hack to the Union. and near the close of .June lie brushed aside all regulations with regard to trade with the seced ing States. He proclaimed general amnesty to all (except a few special classes) who would swear to he loyal to the Union. Under his proclamation provincial governments were set up in a number of the States but a few weeks before in rebellion, and he prepared the way for them to send members to Congress. These acts put him in opposition to the majority of the Republicans in Congress:. Congress appointed a committee on reconstruction and on the admis sion of Southern members to the llouse, and adopted the Civil Rights Act., adding au act to increase the power and efficiency of the Freed men's Bureau. These last two bills were vetoed by President Johnson, but they were readopted and passed. This action was severely denounced by the President, who characterized the course of Congress as another rebellion. Disaffection began to work in the Cabinet, and three members resigned in consequence of differences with the President.