The Portland daily press., 1864-10-24
President Lisoola'. Reply to the Tsnne-

Al TcStucNt A<tWcotH1 1CptY 70 tAe Ief311e-
baslnaB see0ns. toislss 3
aaaa WASHINGTON, Oct. o.
The following is President Lincolns reply
to the protest OF the committee of Tennessee
ans against the test oath required by Cover
nor johnson, preliminary to the exercise of
the elective franchise in the coming presiden-
tial election: y = 81 s sTe,9,I - q q
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
Washington, Oct. %, 1854.
I Messrs, VIM. B. Campbell, Thos. r. Nelson,
James p. Carter, John Williams, A. Blizzard,
Henry Cooper, B. Peyton, John Lellyett,
Emerson Ethridge, and John %. PERUVIAN.
Gentlemen, On the 18th day ofthis month,
as remember, printed paper with few
manuscript interlineations called protest
with your names appended thereto, and &C.
companied by smother printed paper purport-
ing to be a proclamation by Andrew johnson.
military Governor Of Tennessee and also a
manuscript paper purgorting to be extracts
from the code Of Tennessee, were laid before
me. The protest proclamation and extracts
are respectively as follows: 81 & t55,s - -.
The protest is here recited,i and also the
proclamation of Gov. johnson, dated Sept.
30th, to which 1t refers, together with lis. OF
the counties in East, Middle and West Tenne-
see, also extracts from the code of Tennessee
10 relation to electors of President and Vice
President, qualifications Of voters for members
of the General Assembly and places Of holding
elections, and officers OF popular elections.
The President then says: ,siasse ~.
Sat the time these papers were presented, as
before stated, had never seen either of them
nor heard of the subject to which they relate
except in general way only the day previ-
ously. Up to the present moment nothing
whatever upon that subject has passed be-
twhen Gov. johnson, or any one else connect
ed with the proclamation, and myself. Since
receiving the, papers, as stated, have given
the subject such brief consideration as have
been able to do in the midst of so many press
ing public duties NY conclusion Is, that /
can have nothing to do with the matter, eth
er to sustain the plan, as the convention and
Gov. johnson have initiated it, or to revoke
or modify it as you demand. By the consti-
tuition and the laws the President is charged
with no duty in the conduct Of the presiden.
tial election in any State, nor do Lin this ease
perceive any military reason for his interfer-
ence in the matter The movement set on
foot By the convention. and GOV. johnson does,
not, as seems to be assumed by you, ema1late
from the National Executive ---
In no proper sense can it be considered 9TH
er than as an Independent movement Of at
least portion of the loyal people of Tennes-
see. i do not perceive in the plan menace
Of violence or coercion towards any one. Gov.
oouuooHy AAO auy othpk tOydt CtlllousCI Ien-
nessee, has the right to fayor any political plan
he chooses, and as military Governor 1t Is his
duty to keep the peace among and for the
loyal people of TIE State.
l cannot discern that by this plan he pur-
poses any more. But you object to the plan.
Leaving 1t alone will be your your perfect Sc
curity against it. 1t is not proposed to force
you into it. Do as you please on your own
account peacefully and Loyalty and Gov. John
son viii not modest you but viii protect you
against violence 80 fat as in his power. pre-
sumo that the conducting of a presidential
election in Tennessee, in strict accordance
with the old code of the State, is not now a
possibility. 1t is scarcely necessary to add
that If any election shall be held and any votes
shall be east in the State of Tennessee for
President and Vice President of the United
States, it will belong not to the military agents,
not yet to the EXECUTIVE Department, but ex-
clusively to another department of the gov
eminent to determine whether they are en-
titled to be counted in conformity with the
constitution and the laws OF United States.
Except it be to give protection against vio-
lence / decline to interfere in any way with
the presidential election.
tSlgnedl I ABRAHAM LINCOLN.