Joseph Smith Fowler (August 31, 1820 – April 1, 1902) was an American attorney and politician. As a resident of Tennessee, he was notable for his support of the Union during the American Civil War. Fowler served as state comptroller during the military governorship of Andrew Johnson. After the war, Fowler served as a United States Senator from Tennessee from 1866 to 1871.
Fowler was an ardent Unionist and at the start of the American Civil War he moved his family to Springfield, Illinois. He returned to Tennessee when a pro-Union government was established. From 1862 to 1865, Fowler served as Tennessee's state comptroller, holding office during the military governorship of Andrew Johnson.
United States SenatorEdit
In 1866, Tennessee became the first former Confederate state to be readmitted to the Union; the Tennessee General Assembly elected Fowler to the Senate, where his service began on July 24, 1866. Fowler became a part of the majority Republicancaucus. In the 40th Congress he served as chairman of the Committee on Engrossed Bills.
Impeachment trial of Andrew JohnsonEdit
During President Andrew Johnson's impeachment trial, Fowler broke party ranks, along with nine other Republican senators, and voted for acquittal. Including Fowler, seven Republican senators were disturbed by how the proceedings had been manipulated in order to give a one-sided presentation of the evidence. The other Republican senators expressing these concerns were William Pitt FessendenJames W. Grimes, John B. Henderson, Lyman Trumbull, Peter G. Van Winkle,[citation needed] and Edmund G. Ross of Kansas, who provided the decisive vote.[1] Together, with three other Republican Senators (James Dixon, James Rood Doolittle, Daniel Sheldon Norton) they all defied their party and public opinion and voted against convicting Johnson.[2][3] After the trial, Congressman Benjamin Butler conducted hearings on the widespread reports that Republican senators had been bribed to vote for Johnson's acquittal. In Butler's hearings, and in subsequent inquiries, there was increasing evidence that some acquittal votes were acquired by promises of patronage jobs and cash.[3]
Later lifeEdit
Fowler was not a candidate for reelection, and left the Senate at the end of his term in 1871. He returned to Tennessee, and practiced law in Nashville. In 1872, he was active in the Liberal Republican Party, and was a delegate to its national convention. In 1875, Fowler was selected by the committee planning the public memorial in Nashville that commemorated Andrew Johnson's death to deliver the funeral oration. In 1878, Fowler moved to Washington, D.C., where he practiced law until shortly before his death. Fowler also authored articles for The Magazine of American History and other publications.
On November 12, 1846, Fowler married Maria Louisa Embry (1827-1866). They were the parents of two children, Louisa Fowler (1849-1889) and James Bowling Fowler (1859-1887).
LegacyEdit
A collection of Fowler's papers is maintained by the Tennessee State Library and Archives.
^"Senate Journal. 40th Cong., 2nd sess., 16 / 26 May 1868, 943–51". A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774–1875. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
^ abDavid O. Stewart, Impeached: The Trial of President Andrew Johnson and the Fight for Lincoln's Legacy (2009), pp. 240–249, 284–299.
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Joseph Smith Fowler August 31 1820 April 1 1902 was an American attorney and politician As a resident of Tennessee he was notable for his support of the Union during the American Civil War Fowler served as state comptroller during the military governorship of Andrew Johnson After the war Fowler served as a United States Senator from Tennessee from 1866 to 1871 Joseph Smith FowlerUnited States Senatorfrom TennesseeIn office July 24 1866 March 3 1871Preceded byAlfred O P NicholsonSucceeded byHenry CooperTennessee Comptroller of the TreasuryIn office May 1862 May 1865Preceded byJames T DunlapSucceeded bySamuel W HatchettPersonal detailsBorn 1820 08 31 August 31 1820Steubenville OhioDiedApril 1 1902 1902 04 01 aged 81 Washington D C Resting placeLexington Cemetery Lexington KentuckyPolitical partyRepublicanEducationFranklin College New Athens OhioProfessionAttorney Contents 1 Early life 2 Civil War 3 United States Senator 3 1 Impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson 4 Later life 5 Death and burial 6 Family 7 Legacy 8 References 9 External linksEarly life EditFowler was born in Steubenville Ohio on August 31 1820 a son of James and Sarah Atkinson Fowler natives of Maryland and Virginia respectively He graduated from Steubenville s Grove Academy attended Franklin College in New Athens Ohio from which he graduated in 1843 He taught school in Shelby County Kentucky in 1844 and was a professor of mathematics at Franklin College in Davidson County Tennessee from 1845 to 1849 He studied law in Bowling Green Kentucky was admitted to the bar and practiced in Tennessee until 1861 From 1856 to 1861 he served as president of Howard Female College in Gallatin Tennessee Civil War EditFowler was an ardent Unionist and at the start of the American Civil War he moved his family to Springfield Illinois He returned to Tennessee when a pro Union government was established From 1862 to 1865 Fowler served as Tennessee s state comptroller holding office during the military governorship of Andrew Johnson United States Senator EditIn 1866 Tennessee became the first former Confederate state to be readmitted to the Union the Tennessee General Assembly elected Fowler to the Senate where his service began on July 24 1866 Fowler became a part of the majority Republican caucus In the 40th Congress he served as chairman of the Committee on Engrossed Bills Impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson Edit During President Andrew Johnson s impeachment trial Fowler broke party ranks along with nine other Republican senators and voted for acquittal Including Fowler seven Republican senators were disturbed by how the proceedings had been manipulated in order to give a one sided presentation of the evidence The other Republican senators expressing these concerns were William Pitt Fessenden James W Grimes John B Henderson Lyman Trumbull Peter G Van Winkle citation needed and Edmund G Ross of Kansas who provided the decisive vote 1 Together with three other Republican Senators James Dixon James Rood Doolittle Daniel Sheldon Norton they all defied their party and public opinion and voted against convicting Johnson 2 3 After the trial Congressman Benjamin Butler conducted hearings on the widespread reports that Republican senators had been bribed to vote for Johnson s acquittal In Butler s hearings and in subsequent inquiries there was increasing evidence that some acquittal votes were acquired by promises of patronage jobs and cash 3 Later life EditFowler was not a candidate for reelection and left the Senate at the end of his term in 1871 He returned to Tennessee and practiced law in Nashville In 1872 he was active in the Liberal Republican Party and was a delegate to its national convention In 1875 Fowler was selected by the committee planning the public memorial in Nashville that commemorated Andrew Johnson s death to deliver the funeral oration In 1878 Fowler moved to Washington D C where he practiced law until shortly before his death Fowler also authored articles for The Magazine of American History and other publications Death and burial EditFowler died in Washington on April 1 1902 He was buried at Lexington Cemetery in Lexington Kentucky Family EditOn November 12 1846 Fowler married Maria Louisa Embry 1827 1866 They were the parents of two children Louisa Fowler 1849 1889 and James Bowling Fowler 1859 1887 Legacy EditA collection of Fowler s papers is maintained by the Tennessee State Library and Archives References Edit The Trial of Andrew Johnson 1868 Senate Journal 40th Cong 2nd sess 16 26 May 1868 943 51 A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation U S Congressional Documents and Debates 1774 1875 Washington D C Library of Congress Retrieved June 7 2019 a b David O Stewart Impeached The Trial of President Andrew Johnson and the Fight for Lincoln s Legacy 2009 pp 240 249 284 299 External links EditUnited States Congress Joseph S Fowler id F000324 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Joseph S Fowler at Find a GraveU S SenatePreceded byAmerican Civil War vacancy previously Alfred O P Nicholson U S senator Class 2 from Tennessee1866 1871 Served alongside David T Patterson William G Brownlow Succeeded byHenry Cooper Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joseph S Fowler amp oldid 1108500285, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
