Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/24

8 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS millions of people. Johnson s speech, coming from a southern man, thrilled the popular heart; but his popularity in the north was offset by the virulence with which he was assailed in the south. In a speech delivered March 2, 1861, he said, referring to the secessionists: "I would have them arrested and tried for treason, and, if convicted, by the eternal God, they should suffer the penalty of the law at the hands of the executioner." Returning to Tennessee from Washington, he was attacked at Liberty, Va., by a mob, but drove them back with his pistol. At Lynchburg he was hooted and hissed, and at various places burned in effigy. He at tended the East Tennessee union convention, in Cincinnati, May 30, and again on June 19 he visited the same place and was received with en thusiasm. Here he declared for a vigorous prose cution of the war. He retained his seat in the senate until appointed by President Lincoln military governor of Ten nessee, March 4, 1862. On March 12 he reached Nashville, and organized a provisional government for the state. On March 18 he issued a proclama tion, in which he appealed to the people to return to their allegiance, to uphold the law, and to accept "a full and competent amnesty for all past acts and declarations." He required the city council to take the oath of allegiance to the United States. They refused, and he removed them and appointed