business, and where he became a thriving and popular man. With the indefatigable thirst for knowledge which had characterized his early career, he still pursued his studies, and in the evenings which followed a day of labor, with his wife as instructress, pushed on in the road to knowledge.

He entered early into political life, being elected to the first office which he ever held-that of Alderman of the village of Greenville-in 1828. He was re-elected to the same office in 1829. In 1830 he was elected Mayor, and retained that position for three years. In 1835 he was sent to the Legislature, where he chiefly distinguished himself by taking strong grounds against a scheme of internal improvements, which he argued was extravagant and useless. The measure was popular, however, and he was defeated in 1837. In 1838 he was a candidate again, and was this time successful. In 1840 he served as Presidential Elector for the State at large on the Democratic ticket, and during the campaign rendered efficient service to the party as a stump speaker. In 1841 he was elected to the State Sen ate, and in 1843, at the age of thirty-five, he was elected to Congress, where he held his seat; being four times re-elected, until 1853. During this time he was thoroughly identified with the old Democratic party, and supported all the party measures. In 1853 he was elected Governor, after a very exciting contest, over Gustavus A. Henry. He was re-elected in 1855 over Meredith P. Gentry, the Whig candidate. At the expiration of his Gubernatorial term, in 1857, he was chosen United States Senator by a Democratic majority in the Legislature of Tennessee. In that body he commanded the respect of all his compeers, as an able, eloquent, and patriotic statesman. At the breaking out of the rebellion, Senator Andrew Johnson still proclaimed his allegiance to the United States, and continued to hold his seat in the Senate, though his course subjected him to much unpopu larity and even danger.

When, in the spring of 1862, our army had penetrated Tennessee to Nashville, and the northern and central portions of the States were wrested from rebel control, the President desired the services of a wise and sagacious man, of unquestionable loyalty, to act as Military Governor of that State, and he did not have long to look-Andrew Johnson was at once recognized as the man for the place, and being commissioned a Brigadier General, he repaired to Nashville, where he has for two years discharged the delicate and responsible duty of his charge with a degree of wisdom and efficiency, which has challenged general admiration. Under his administration, the rebellion has steadily been losing its hold in Tennessee, and loyalty as constantly cultivated and developed.

He was nominated for the Vice Presidency by the Union Con

vention at Baltimore, June 8, 1864, and was elected November 8, 1864, and was sworn into office March 4, 1865. President Lincoln died April 15. Andrew Johnson was sworn into office, as President of the United States, on the same day, by Chief Justice Chase. The following is his Inaugural Address:

GENTLEMEN:-I must be permitted to say that I have been almost overwhelmed by the announcement of the sad event which has so recently occurred. I feel incompetent to perform duties so responsible as those which have been so unexpectedly thrown upon me. As to an indication of any policy which may be pursued by me in the administration of the Government, I have to say that it must be left for development as the administration progresses.

The message or declaration must be made by the acts as they transpire. The only assurance that I can now give of the future is a reference to the past.

The course which I have taken in the past, in connection with the rebellion, must be regarded as a guarantee of the future.

My past public life, which has been long and laborious, has been founded as I, in good conscience believe, upon a great principle of right, which lies at the base of all things. The best energies of my life have been spent in endeavoring to establish and perpetuate the principles of free government.

I believe that the Government, in passing through its present perils, will settle down upon principles consistent with popular rights, more permanent and endearing than heretofore.

I must be permitted to say, if I understand the feelings of my heart, that I have long labored to ameliorate and elevate the condition of the great masses of the American people. Toil and an honest advocacy of the great principles of free government have been my lot. The duties have been mine, the consequences are God's. This has been the foundation of my political creed. I feel that, in the end, the Government will triumph, and these great principles will be permanently established.

In conclusion, gentlemen, let me say I want your encouragement and countenance. I shall ask and rely on you and others in carrying the Government through its present perils. I feel, in making this request, that it will be heartily responded to by you and all other patriots and lovers of the rights and interests of a free people.

Of President Johnson's official acts, it is too soon to speak, save his Amnesty Proclamation, which will be found on another page.

AMNESTY PROCLAMATION

By the President of the United States of America :

WHEREAS, The President of the United States, on the 8th day of December, 1863, and on the 26th day of March, 1864, did, with the object of suppressing the existing rebellion, to induce all persons to return to their loyalty and to restore the authority of the United States, issued Proclamations offering amnesty and pardon to certain persons who had directly or by implication engaged in said rebellion, and

WHEREAS, Many persons who had so engaged in the said rebellion, have, since the issue of said Proclamation, failed or neglected to take the benefits offered thereby; and whereas, many persons who have been justly deprived of all claim to amnesty and pardon thereunder by reason of their participation directly or by implication in said rebellion, and continued hostile to the Government of the United States since the date of said Proclamation, now desire to apply for and obtain amnesty and pardon; to the end, therefore, that the authority of the Government of the United States may be restored, and that peace, order and freedom may be established

I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, do proclaim and declare that I hereby grant to all persons who have directly or indirectly participated in the existing rebellion, except as hereinafter excepted, amnesty and pardon, with the restoration of all the rights of property, except as to slaves, except in cases where legal proceedings under the laws of the United States, providing for the confiscation of property of persons engaged in the rebellion, have been instituted; but on the condition, nevertheless, that every such person shall take and subscribe the following oath, which shall be registered for permanent preservation, and shall be the tenor and effect of the following, to-wit:

"I do solemnly swear or affirm, in the presence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully defend the Constitution of the United States and the Union of the States thereunder; and that I will in like manner abide by and faithfully support all laws and proclamations which have been made during the exist ing rebellion, with reference to the emancipation of slavery, so help me God.”

The following classes of persons are excepted from the benefits of this proclamation: (163)

First-All who are, or shall have been, pretended civil or diplomatic officers or otherwise, domestic or foreign agents of the pretended Confederate Government.

Second-All who left judicial stations under the United States to aid the rebellion.

Third-All who shall have been military or naval officers of said pretended Confederate Government above the rank of Colonel in the Army, or Lieutenant in the Navy.

Fourth-All who left seats in the Congress of the United States to aid the rebellion.

Fifth-All who resigned or tendered the resignation of their commissions in the Army or Navy of the United States, to evade the duty in resisting the rebellion.

Sixth-All who have engaged in any way in treating otherwise than lawfully as prisoners of war, persons found in the United States service, as officers, soldiers, seamen, or in other capacities.

Seventh-All persons who have been or are absentees from the United States for the purpose of aiding the rebellion.

Eighth-All military or naval officers in the rebel service who were educated by the Government in the military academy at West Point, or in the United States Naval Academy.

Ninth All persons who hold the pretended offices of Governors of States in insurrection against the United States.

Tenth-All persons who left their homes within the jurisdiction and protection of the United States and passed beyond the Federal military lines into the so-called Confederate States for the purpose of aiding the rebellion.

Eleventh-All persons who have engaged in the destruction of the commerce of the United States upon the high seas, and all persons who have made raids into the United States from Canada, or been engaged in destroying the commerce of the United States upon the lakes and rivers that separate the British Provinces from the United States.

Twelfth-All persons who, at the time when they seek to obtain the benefits hereof, by taking the oath prescribed, are in military, naval or civil confinement or custody, or under bond of the military or naval authorities, or agents of the United States, as prisoners of war, or persons detailed for offenses of any kind, either before or after the conviction.

Thirteenth-All persons who have voluntarily participated in said rebellion, and the estimate value of whose taxable property is over $20,000.

Fourteenth-All persons who have taken the Oath of Amnesty as prescribed in the President's Proclamation, December 28th, 1863, or the Oath of Allegiance to the Government of the United States since the date of said Proclamation, and who have

not thenceforward kept and maintained the same inviolate. Provided that special application may be made to the President for pardon by any person belonging to the excepted class, and such clemency will be liberally extended as may be consistent with the facts, and the peace and dignity of the United States. The Secretary of State will establish rules and regulations for administering and recording said Amnesty Oath, so as to insure its benefits to the people and guard the Government against fraud.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington, this 29th day of May, A. D. 1865, and of the Independence of the United States, the eightyninth. (Signed.)

SEAL.

By the President,

W. H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State.

ANDREW JOHNSON.