Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-10-24
SUNDAY NIGHTS DISPATCHES.
LincOIn's Reply 10 the Tennessee
Delegation.

Delegation.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23.-The following is
President Lincoln's reply to the protest of
the committee of Tennesseeans against the
test oath required by Gov. johnson prelim-
mary to the exercise OF the elective fran
chise in the coming Presidential election.
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, d. c., Oct. %, 1S64}
Messrs. VIM. B. Campbell, Thomas A. r.
Nelson, Jas. T. z. Carter, John Williams,
A. B. Lizard, Henry Cooper, Bailey
Peyton, Jno. Lilliett, Emerson Etheridge,
and Jno D. Perryman:
GENTLEMEN On the 18th day of this
month, as remember, a printed paper with
few manuscript interlineations called a
protest, with your names appended thereto,
and accompanied by another printed paper
purporting to be proclamation by An
drew johnson, Military Governor of Ten
nessee, and also manuscript paper pur-
porting to be extracts from the code of
Tennessee, was laid before me, Here fol-
lows the protest, proclamation and extracts
respectively
The protest is here received, and also the
proclamation of Governor johnson, dated
September 30th, to which it refers, together
with list of the counties in East Middle
and West Tennessee; also extracts from the
code of Tennessee in relation to electors of
President and Vice President qualifica-
tions of voters for members of the General
Assembly, and places of holding elections
and officers of popular elections.
The President then says: At the time
these papers were presented, as before sta
ted, had never seen nor heard of the sub
ject to which they relate, except in gen.
eral way, only one day previously. Up to
the present moment nothing whatever has
passed between Governor johnson or any
one else connected with the proclamation
and myself. Since receiving the papers,
as stated, l have given the subject such
brief considerations as | have been able to
do in the midst of so many passing
public duties. My conclusion is, that can
have nothing to do with the matter, either
to sustain the plan as the Convention and
Governor johnson have initiated, or to re-
woke or modify it as you demand. BY the
Constitution and laws the President is
charged with no duty in the conduct of the
Presidential election in any State; nor do
| in this case perceive any military reason
for his interference in the matter. The
movement set on foot by the Convention
and Governor johnson does not, as seems
to be assumed by you, emanate from the
National Executive. In no proper sense
can it be considered other than as an inde-
pendent movement of at least portion of
the loyal people of Tennessee. l do not
perceive in the plan any menace, or vio-
lence, or coercion towards any one. Gov.
johnson, like any other general citizen of
Tennessee, has the right to favor
any political plan he chooses; and, as
Military Governor, it is his duty to
keep the peace among and for the
loyal people of the State. 1 cannot
discern that by this plan he pur-
poses any more. But you object to the
plan. Leaving it alone will be your per-
feet security against it. 1t is not proposed
to force you into it. Do as you please, on
your own account, peacefully and Loyalty,
and Gov. johnson will not molest you, but
will protect you against violence as far as
in his power. presume that the conduct
ing of a Presidential election in Tennessee
in strict accordance with the old code of the
State is not now possibility.
1t Is scarcely necessary to add that IL any
election shall be held, and any votes shall
be cast in the State of Tennessee for Presi-
dent and Vice President Of the United States,
it will belong not to the military agents, nor
yet to the Executive Department, but exclu-
sively to another department of the Gov
ernment, to determine whether they are en-
titled to be counted in conformity with the
Constitution and laws of the United States.
Except it be to give protection against
violence, l decline to interfere in any way
with any presidential election.
TSignedl ABRAHAM LINCOLN.