Opposite in personality to Jones, Johnson was prone to brooding, often hot tempered and quick to take offense. He was a loud 'champion of the people,' Johnson was a fierce thunderstorm in contrast to Jones, who was quiet, diligent, careful, long-suffering, and quick to smile. Jones' personality could bring up a lightning storm when required, but that was not his primary characteristic as it was with Johnson.
Jones and Johnson were so independent that President James K. Polk (1845-49), a fellow Tennesseean, complained that it would be just as well if Whigs-members of the opposition party-occupied their congressional seats. They didn't like the aristocratic, autocratic lawyer Polk, and Polk didn't like the unpolished, unlettered, unpredictable, populist plebeians, common working men, from East and Middle Tennessee.
During their years together in the U.S. House of Representatives, (1843-53) and when Johnson was governor of Tennessee and U.S. Senator, he consulted, confided in, and worked with Congressman Jones on varied issues, but especially on homestead legislation, Johnson's passion. They also worked in together on cutting of governmental expenses. Both stood foursquare for the Union against the fire-brands: Calhoun, Davis, Yulee, Haynes, Yancey and other Southern leaders who supported nullification and, in varying degrees, considered secession as a viable option for the Slave States if the Free States would not protect slavery's existence and its spread to new territories. Johnson often advised his sons that if they needed anything while in Washington or traveling through Middle Tennessee, to see Friend Jones.
Mr. Jones was host to Johnson on Johnson's several electioneering visits to Fayetteville. Jones would be the 'opening act' of the show that was an antebellum political event. Johnson would follow him as the 'star'. Jones was quite fond of the Johnson family. He was especially taken with Eliza, Johnson's bright, sickly, and dutiful workmate.
Given their decades of close friendship, common work, and shared Union convictions, it seems strange that Jones did not stick with Johnson and the Union when the Civil War finally erupted. Both worked feverishly during the 1850s and especially in the election of 1860 for Union and the sacredness of popular government. Jones supported the regular Democratic nominee Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois. He felt the northerner Douglas was safe and that he would protect the Union. Jones believed 'The Little Giant' could win against Lincoln with southern support. Johnson went grudgingly with Vice President John C. Breckinridge of Kentucky, the southern Democratic nominee. He felt Douglas could never defeat Lincoln in the North and most assuredly would be beaten in the South by Breckenridge and forlorn hope candidate John Bell of the Constitutional Union Party. Johnson was right and Jones wrong.