planation of Tennessee affairs; Senator Johnson holding that the Legislature of that State manifested no disrespect in the resolutions, and only exercised the privilege that had been exercised by most of the States. The discussion extended through a large portion of the 23d and 24th of February, and unpleasant results were anticipated, but on the 25th both gentlemen made personal explanations, each evincing a spirit becoming the Senatorial character.

CHAPTER VII.

RETRENCHMENT IN GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES.

RESOLUTION to Reduce the Department Expenses-A Presidential Test to the Presidential Party- Leaving the Old Senate Chamber - Vice-President Breckinridge's Address, its Lessons Retrenchment Inaugurates the New Senate Chamber-Senator Shields Sustains it-Johnson's Proposition The Finance Committee Objects - Means by which Measures are Postponed Fessenden, Mason, Davis - Compliment from Mason - Growth of Population and Government Expenses - Fifty Million Dollars Proposed as the Maximum for Annual Expenses of Government - The Pacific Railroad Arguments For and Against it-Johnson believes it Unconstitutional We might as well Build a Road from Boston to Little Rock, as to the Pacific-The Railroad as a Defense for California- Proposes to have the People Vote on it - Senator Gwin's Millstone-Was the Pacific Railroad a Party Doctrine - Before his Election, Mr. Buchanan Opposes it on the Atlantic Side and Favors it Secretly on the Pacific — Johnson does not believe Presidential Conventions should periodically Dictate Terms to Democrats The States ought to Nominate Candidates - Passage on Presidential Aspirations between Johnson and Davis - The Former not in the way of the Latter for that Office- Would rather be an Honest Man -Senator David C. Broderick - Supports the Bill-A Self-made Man The Gold Connection between California and the Atlantic States - Johnson to Broderick Broderick's Death - Hunted Down by the Buchanan Party -Sketch of his Career-Speech in Reply to Hammond Addresses on his Death-Fine Tribute from Seward.

It will be seen that with the rigid simplicity of his character, Mr. Johnson always espoused the cause which seemed to him to most fully express, explain or illustrate the wants, protests or purposes of the masses. This course was to him not only a duty, but a necessity. The man was as prominent as the legislator, and feeling always superior to politics. He was watchful, active, conscientious. He

was a workingman in the hall of legislation. He did not seek the honor of representation for honor alone. While he felt proud of his position, it is probably but true of him that his chief pride was in the exact ratio of the power it extended to him of doing good, or striving to do good. I have already indicated his views touching economy in Government expenditure. In justice to Mr. Johnson, the subject needs a somewhat more extended illustration.

The President's Annual Message at the Second Session of the Thirty-fifth Congress, having given Senator Johnson a favorable opportunity to bring the subject of retrenchment plainly and fully before the Senate, he, on the 4th of January, 1859, submitted the following resolution, and asked for its immediate consideration:

"Resolved, That so much of the President's second Annual Message as relates to the expenditures of the Government of the United States, which is in the following words, to wit: 'I invite Congress to institute a rigid scrutiny to ascertain whether the expenses in all the Departments cannot be still further reduced, and I promise them all the aid in my power in pursuing the investigation,' be referred to the Committee on Finance; and that said Committee are hereby instructed, after first conferring with and obtaining all aid and information from the President and Heads of Departments, as indicated in the President's Message, to report a bill, reforming as far as possible, all abuses in the application of the appropriations made by Congress for the support of the various Departments, and which will reduce the expenditures to an honest, rigid and economical administration of the Government."

Hoping that President Buchanan had made the suggestion in good faith, Senator Johnson made this hope a fulcrum on which to place a lever and raise the Administration Senators to a discussion of the subject. If the President was not in earnest, he desired to put him to the test. The latter had said he was willing to give every aid toward an investigation and in furtherance of a reduction. It was the very thing to captivate Johnson's heart; and while he used the Presidential recommendation to incite the Presidential