In 1861 Senator Andrew Johnson...
Illustration
In 1861 Senator Andrew Johnson of Tennessee attended the first inauguration of Abraham Lincoln and his first vice president, Hannibal Hamlin. Seven states had already seceded from the Union. Senator Johnson was outspokenly opposed to secession, a stance that made him increasingly unpopular.
The train back to his home in Greenville, Tennessee, stopped in Liberty, Virginia. An armed mob met the train and rushed into Johnson's car. One man threatened Johnson, saying he was "going to pull your nose." But Johnson pulled a revolver and forced the mob off the train. The train pulled out, and Johnson shouted, "I am a Union man!"
At the stop in Lynchburg, Johnson was not so lucky. A mob pulled him from the train, kicked him, spit on him and made to lynch him. Someone with a cool head shouted, "His neighbors at Greenville have made arrangements to hang their senator on his arrival. Virginians have no right to deprive them of that privilege!" He was let go, but continued to campaign against secession and he became the only southern senator to remain in the Senate for the duration of the Civil War.
He became Lincoln's second running mate, and then president of the U.S. during the turbulent time after the Civil War known as Reconstruction. He was impeached for his policies of leniency toward the defeated South when the radical Republicans wanted to punish and destroy. The impeachment lost by one vote.
Andrew Johnson returned to the Senate in 1875, one of the few ex-presidents to return to federal office.
The train back to his home in Greenville, Tennessee, stopped in Liberty, Virginia. An armed mob met the train and rushed into Johnson's car. One man threatened Johnson, saying he was "going to pull your nose." But Johnson pulled a revolver and forced the mob off the train. The train pulled out, and Johnson shouted, "I am a Union man!"
At the stop in Lynchburg, Johnson was not so lucky. A mob pulled him from the train, kicked him, spit on him and made to lynch him. Someone with a cool head shouted, "His neighbors at Greenville have made arrangements to hang their senator on his arrival. Virginians have no right to deprive them of that privilege!" He was let go, but continued to campaign against secession and he became the only southern senator to remain in the Senate for the duration of the Civil War.
He became Lincoln's second running mate, and then president of the U.S. during the turbulent time after the Civil War known as Reconstruction. He was impeached for his policies of leniency toward the defeated South when the radical Republicans wanted to punish and destroy. The impeachment lost by one vote.
Andrew Johnson returned to the Senate in 1875, one of the few ex-presidents to return to federal office.
