The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-11-04
Letter from the President.

EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, Oct. %, 1864.
To Messrs. Vim. b. Campbell, Thomas W. Il.
Nelson James j. p. Carter, John Wilson, A..
Bhssard, Henry Cooper, Bale Peytom, John L.
Elliott, Emerson Ethe,fdge and John d. PEN
nynsdn:
GENTLEMEN: On the 18th day of this month,
as you remember, printed paper. with few
manuscript interlineations, called protest,
with your names appended thereto, and ac-
companied by another printed paper purport.
ing to be proclamation by Andrew johnson,
Military Governor of Tennessee, and also a
manuscript paper purpOrting to be the extracts
from the code of Tennessee, was laid before
me. The protest, proclamation and extracts
are respectively as follows
THE protest is here recited, and also the
proclamation of Gov. johnson. dated Sept. 80,
to which it refers. together with list of coun-
ties of East Middle and West Tennessee. Also
extracts from the code of Tennessee, in rela-
ton to electors of Presidents and Vice Presi-
dents, qualifications and places of holding cleo
tons. The President then says:
At 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 one day pre-
viOusly. Up to the present moment, nothing
whatever upon the subject has passed between
Gov. johnson, or any one else connected 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 pressing public du-
ties My conviction is that l can have nothing
to do with the matter, either to sustain the
plan az the Convention and Gov. johnson have
initia.el it, or revoke or modify it as you dc.
manl. BY the Constitution and laws, Presi-
dent1 are charged with no duty in the conduct
of the Presidential election, in any State nor
do il this case perceive any military reason
for lis Interference.
In this matter the movement set on foot bv
the Convention and Gov. johnson does not as
seems to be assumed by you eminate from the
National Executive. In no proper sense can
it be considered other than an independent
movement of at least portion of the loyal
people of Tennessee. do not perceive in the
plan any menace or violence, or coercion
toward any one. Gov. johnson, like any other
loyal citizen of Tennessee, has right to favor
any political plan he chooses, and as Military
Governor it is his duty to keep peace among
and for the loyal people of the State,
cannot discern that by this tplan he DUR.
poses any more; but you object to the plan.
Leaving it alone will be your perfect security
against it. It is not proposed to force you
into it. DO as you please on your own account,
peacefully and legally. Gov. johnson will not
modest you, but win protect YOU against yio-
lence so far as in his power presume that
the conducting lof Presidential election in
Tennessee, in accordance with the old code, is
not now possible - asf.t
It is scarcely necessary to add that if any
election shall be held, and any votes shall be
cast in the State of Tennessee for President
and Vice. President of the United States, it will
belong, not to military agents, nor yet to the
Executive Department, but exclusively to an
other department of the government, to de-
termine whether they are entitled to be ac-
counted lE cOnfOrmance with the Constitution
and laws of the United States, except it be to
give protection against violence. decline
to interfere in anything with any Presidential
election.
49, (Siyned) ---- A. LlNCoLN