Friday, August 8, 2008

A Governor Frees His Slaves


145 years ago on the 8th of August 1863 Andrew Johnsons, the military Governor of Tennessee freed his personal slaves. Beginning as early as the 1870’s, the day was celebrated by African American’s Tennessee as a holiday.
At the beginning of the war, Johnson was a Senator from Greeneville,TN. He was the only southern Senator not to resign upon secession. In 1862 Abraham Lincoln appointed Johnson military governor of Tennessee, with the instructions to re-establish the state to the Union; maintaining peace and security pending restoration of civil government. Johnson did a good job under trying circumstances.
For more information see the following web sites
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/aj17.html
http://www.nps.gov/anjo
http://www.answers.com/topic/andrew-johnson
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/opinion_columnists/article/0,1406,KNS_364_4900392,00.html

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