Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-29
Executive MANSION, WAsHIxeroS,l .
OetOber 81 1862


October 81, 1862.
M1jor General Grant. Governor Johnson, and all
haUiRg Mititary NaUal and Girl Authority
under the United States toifhiH The State Of
Tennessee:
The bearer of this, Thomas r Smith, citi-
zen of Tennessee. goes TO that State. seeking to
have such of the people thereof as desire to avoid
the unsatisfactory prospect before them. and to
have peace again upon the old terms under the
Constitution Of the United States, TO manifest
such desire by elections of members 20 the Con
gress Of the United States, particularly, and Per
haps Legislature, State officers and United
States Senator, friendly to their object. l shall
be glad for YOU, and each of you, to aid him. and
all Others for this object, as much as possible. In
all available ways, give the people chance to
express their wishes at these elections. Follow
law, and forms of law, as far as eoRDenieRt, but
at all events get the expression of the largest
number of the people possible. All see how
much such action will connect with and affect the
p,OelamItiOn Of September 22d. Of course. Che
men elected should be gentlemen of character.
willing TO to support the Constitution as of
old. and known to be above reasonable suspicion
of duplcity. Yours, very respectfully.
fSignedl A. LINCOLN.
II would be difficult to characterize this letter
in BETTING language, without departing from the
courtesy of disni6ed journalism. This Mr.
SMITH, (whoeyer he may be,l has been sent into
Tennessee for the avowed purpose of inducing
'such of the people thereof as desire to avoid the
unsatisfactory prospect before them"-meaning
the emancipation of their negroes by the procla-
mation-tO elect members of Congress, ''and
perhaps Legislature, State officers. and United
States Senator, friendly to this object" This
means, interpreted into plain and honest terms,
that these members of Congress and Senators
shall be friendly to the Administration, and in
favor of the Presidents emancipation policy,
and the taxing Of the white people to purchase
and pay for the "free Americans of African de-
scent This policy being condemned in the re-
cent elections in the loyal States, by "free Amer
leans" Of Anglo Saxon, Teutonic, and Celtic de-
scent, the President appeals to the States in re-
beIliOn, as last resort, to send members to Con-
gress-men elected under military Surveillance
and pressure-to make up the losses he sustained
in the free Northwest and Middle States. If
this letter anything less than direct Presi-
dental interference with the elections of the peo
pie, we too dull to comprehend it,
With simplicity purely Abrahamic, the Presi-
dent advises his Governor and General, in carry
ing out Mr.. SMITHS views, to follow the law
as far as convenient but at all events to get the
expression of the largest number of the people
possible" If the people. as a body, were ho
disposed to vote for members of Congress. then
cat all events" have as many as possible, but
have an election of some Sort for they must "se'
how much such action will connect with and affec
the proclaim stion Of September 22d." These ar,
the Presidents words.
To sec1re the return Of members of Congress
from the rebellious States. sound on the po
litical and party gospel proclaimed at Chicago
Mr.. LIScoLx is willing to abate the penalties o
the proclamation as TO such Districts, even though
but dozen men voted for the bogus members
The fact is, Honest Old ABE will stand badly in
need of votes in the next Congress. and. like a
"convenient soul as he is is perfectly wilIin.
to hare Tennessee ''half slave and half free. )" i
he can but squeeze out from that Stlte half
dozen more tools in that Congress. OF course
to insure an end so desirable to himself and hi
party, it is absolutely necessary that political con
venience should not be subordinated to writer
law, nor hampered by its "powers." He kicks il
this case as in Others the State laws to the dogs
Now that the President has united. in his owl
person. the purse and the sword, why may he no
20 a little further. and regulate the election o
= members of Congress, and say who shall hol'
seats and who mott Why may benot judge ~ha
Districts and parts Of Districts shall be represent
ed in the National Congressg He assumes, also
70 ix the qualifications Of members to be sen
from Tennessee "Of course" writes th
amiabIe and wise Mr.. LINCOLN. ''the gensIeme
elected should be gentlemen # character. willing
70 swear to support the Constitution as Of old
and known to be above reasonable suspicion
dnpIieay!' This Is cool-is'nt it7 The peopI
have been, heretofore. regarded as proper judge
Of the qualifications oftheir members of Congress
and have generally done pretty well in sendin
persons into public life. and it IS the first time
President has been so lost 70 all modesty, as
define, in a letter dated at the Executive maj