JOHNSON, HERSCHEL VESPASIAN (1812-80).
An American jurist and political leader, born in Burke County, Ga. He graduated at the versity of Georgia in 1834, studied law and ticed at Augusta, and finally settled at in 1844. In 1843 he was nominated for Congress, hut was defeated, and in the campaign of 1944 was a Presidential elector. In 1848 he was appointed by the Governor to the seat in the United States Senate made vacant by the tion of W. T. Co]quitt ; and in that body he .trongly supported the Administration's Mexican policy. From Ids entry into political life he had been a strong States Rights advocate, and in 1849 he was one of the of the "Southern dress." His views, however. underwent a radical change at this time, and he became one of the warmest supporters of Clay's scheme of promise, and thereafter allied himself with the Unionist element in the Smith. He was a judge of tile Superior Court of Georgia from November, 1819, to 1953, and was Governor of the State Iron 1953 until 1857. Ilis well-known conserva
tism led to Ids nomination in 1860 as the candi date of the Northern Democrats for Vice-Presi dent on the ticket with Stephen A. Douglas. With Alexander H. Stephens (q.v.) he did his utmost to check the secession movement in Georgia, but he abided by the decision of the secession con vention and threw in his fortune with the Confed eracy. He was elected one of the Senators from Georgia in the Second Confederate Congress in November, 1962, but early despaired of the cause of the South. The openly advocated peace in 1864. hailed the cessation of hostilities with delight, and in October, 1863, was president of the t1e(wgia convention which repealed the ordi nance of secession. On the readmission of Georgia he was, in January, 1866, elected United States Senator, but was not allowed to take his seat on account of war disabilities. In 1873 he was appointed to the bench of the State Superior Court, where he remained until his death.