Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/21

 ANDREW JOHNSON 5 and made a state reputation by the force of his or atory. In 1841 he was elected to the state senate from Greene and Hawkins counties, and while in that body he was one of the &quot;immortal 13&quot; Dem ocrats who, having it in their power to prevent the election of a Whig senator, did so by refusing to meet the house in joint convention. He also pro posed that the basis of representation should rest upon the white votes, without regard to the owner ship of slaves. In 1843 he was elected to congress over John A. Asken, a U. S. bank Democrat, who was supported by the Whigs. His first speech was in support of the resolution to restore to Gen. Jackson the fine imposed upon him at New Orleans. He supported the annexation of Texas. In 1845 he was re- elected, and sustained Folk s administration. He opposed all expenditures for internal improve ments that were not general, and resisted and de feated the proposed contingent tax of ten per cent, on tea and coffee. He was regularly re-elected until 1853. During this period he made his cele brated defence of the veto power, and urged the adoption of the homestead law, which was obnox ious to the slave-holding power of the south. He supported the compromise measures of 1850 as a matter of expediency, but opposed compromises in general as a sacrifice of principle. In 1853 the dis trict lines were so &quot;gerrymandered&quot; as to throw