Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-10-27
THE DIsFRANCHIsEMENr OF TENNESSEE.

18th instant, Mr. LEILYETT, loyal citizen Of
Tennessee, waited on the President of the United
States tolsy before him respectful paper, signed,
ON behalf of large portion of the loyal people of
that State, by the Electors on the Tennessee Nc
Clellan ticket, in protest against the proclamation
by which Mr.. Andrew johnson, the Military Go
vernon of Mr. Lincoln and his political associate
on the Republican ticket, has undertaken to dis
franchise the supporters Of Gen. Mcclellan in the
very act of proclaiming election for the choice
of Presidential Electors.
1t will be remembered that when this paper was
thus submitted to the President and read in his
hearing he simply responded as follows:
"May inquire how long it took you and the New York
politicians to concoct that paperi"
When informed that the paper had been drawn
up in Nashville, without communication with any
New York politicians" or with any persons but
citizens of Tennessee, Mr.. Lincoln answered as fol-
lows: 81 enpect to let the friends OF George B.
NC Cleltan manage their side of this contest an
their oaon aoay, AND WILL MANAGE MY SIDE OF
IT IN MY Way"
When asked if he would give an answer in writ.
ing to the protest he replied:
"Not now Lay those papers down here will give
no other answer now may or may not write something
about this hereafter understand this know you in
tend to make point of this But 60 ahead. You have
my answer"
After taking week to deliberate on the subject
the President has "wIitten something" on it,
which will be found in another part of to-days pa
per. 1t will be seen that he has come to the con-
clusion that he @ can have nothing to do with the
matter, either to sustain the plan as tho Conven-
ton and Gov johnson have initiated it, to revoke
or modify it," as the protestants request.
In support of this view the President urges that,
by the Constitution he is charged with no duty in
the conduct of Presidential election in any State"
and he further submits that he can perceive no rea
for his interference in the present case because
he "cannot discern that by this plan Gov. Johnson
proposes any thing more than to keep the peace
among and for the loyal people of the State J" and
the President adds, that if any body does not like
the plan their security against it will be to "leave
it alone that is, to submit tacitly and quietly to
the disfranohisement which it ordains "It is
not proposed" says the President, /" to force you
into it,"
This is in effect to say: "My Military Co.
vernon and political associate on the Republican
ticket has, it is most true, established test-oath
in Tennessee at the coming election for President
in that State which will keep every body from vot
ing except those who will vote for me and for him
but you not required to participate in the election
if you do not like this plan DO as you please
on your own account peacefully and Loyalty, and
Gov. johnson will not modest you, but will protect
you against violence so far as in his power 1t
is only your Acknowledgement which he seeks to
compass, and SO entirely concur with him in
desiring to keep the friends Of Gen. Mcclellan in
Tennessee from exercising the elective franchise
that my conclusion is I can have nothing to dc
with the matter Gov. johnson is my Military
Governor, it is true, and am directly responsible
for his acts, which in presumption of law are all
done by my authority; but in this case l do not
perceive any military reason for my interference
in the matter when nobody's rights are concerned
except those Of the loyal citizens of Tennessee who
prefer to support Gen. Mcclellan rather than my
SELF"
Such, we say, is virtually the languageof the Pre-.
siden, in reply to the protest of the loyal people
of Tennessee. Let the reader refer to the precise
words of the President, and Judge if we have il
any respect or in any degree misinterpreted it,
tenor And now let US examine one or two of tht
Presidents propositions in this most extraordina
ry response to free and loyal people, petitionine
for relief from civil disabilities unlawfuly imposed
on them by his military subordinate.
The President says that " he can have no
thing to do with the matter" But in SO saying
Rsad in acting accordingly, he takes upon himself
kttSdo every thing in the matter which constitutes
the grievance which provokes complaint The re
,trctons put on the right of suffrage in Tennessee
by Andrew johnson arc imposed and enforced by
virtue Of his authority as Military Governor hold
ing under Mr.. Lincoln. Has Nh. Lincoln forgot
ten that Andrew johnson is his agent, both 70
military and civil purposes in Tennessee If h
has, it may be proper to remind him that Nj
johnson has no power or authority to do the high
handed thing he is now doing in that State, ex
cept such as he derives from the following commits
sion, conferred by the President:
WAR DEPARTMENT, MARCH 8, 1862.
To the Hon. ANDREW JOHNSON.
SIR: YoH hereby appointed Military Governor OF
perform within the limits Of that State all aud singular hs
| dutips and the n