Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-10-20
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
THE TENNESSEE TEST OATH.
From ii. Nsu York Commercial Adas,ttss


4 few days ago adverted to the course Of Andrew
johnson in Tennessee in ordering strange and Unusual
rot to say Illegal test for those who would vote d. uo
coming election, and the hope was expressed lnat M
President would at once repudste the plan oil MS MIL
tAry Governor and dssyow any suspicion OF ihenon "
interfering with free ballot in Tennessee =.
1t ia impossible for any rsh. minded man. Tree from
partisan bss 10 approve the Tennessee test oah anu te
manner Of It's requirement MI Johnson VINO orders the
cath IL on the same ticket with Mr. Lincoln, who ads
onnn.top 10 it esq political concoction They desire
IN have The votes Of Tennessee and in order that they
NAV p. them all compel the to take an oath which
oblres him 10 vote against the Democratic nominee, and
10 pledge mss any possible terms of peace or negot
aons therefor until the rebels utterly subdued This
requirement reacts upon the President also, who in his
"to whom II msy concern" letter proposes to receive
ard coDg er propositions which come by and with an
authority hst control the armies now at war against
the United States person having such control must
BE- rebel il arms against whom the johnson test is
directed Mr. Lincoln further said that such propositions
from reb 10 arms would be met by liberal terms. Mr.
Lincoln honest in his letter would be debarred from
vote 10 Tennessee He could not take the oath pre-
Ecbed by Andrew johnson and could reach the balobox
only by resort TO the war power
lti precisely such this taken IN Tennessee
tbt changes doubtful the Border States to open
ira ion and gives them fresh cries that makes the
'1udiciuus greve" because wild hunt for Office
ders those to whom grave public trusts committed
careless Of the limitations of their prerogaves and that
ootens respect for free institutions by placing the
sid.e Of ruer above the painest suggestions of JUS
tee toward political opponents
Let Us not be misunderstood. Tie openly dsoyal must
net be allowed vote inhose States where military ope
ratous are CONDUCTED necesssryrebels must be
kept under surveillance within lines The baotboI
may be purified and the rights Of loyal regarded
without test utterly indefensble that
quued in Tennessee and which may yet be eIacted in
other States.
We publish elsewhere the report Of the interview with
Mr. Lincoln, and portion of the protest of the Tennes
That they the Mcclellan electors does notpre
cudethem from the of rights which the President
dis bound to respect while it should have entitled them
to dguifed hearing The Presidents talk of political
eoncsc)n, lis prefsrrng to manage his side in his
way and his biut only, that he may give the dele
gsnop answer all unworthy of the chief of the
ton who should be above partisan motives, and
whose side" should IN reality be the side" of the
people As well might James Buchanan in 1860 have
qued the voters TO to sustain the platform of the
Charleston Convention, for Mr. Lincoln to require
oath against that Of Chicago in 1864 1t is not in this
way tall Ga1lo that the power aud influence of
publican institutions to be sustained. And we do
most earnestly hope that the President instead of issuing
smart" letter in reply to the Tennessee complaint,
will manage his side" by strict adherence to the right
From The NeU York San Of October 18th
The Inherent power of people to untrammeed Sc
lection OF public officers the fundamental principle
republican goyernmentthe cornerstone of liberty Fol
thi. right the of the Revolution inaugurated fol-
It's perpetuaton the Federal Union erected 1t is h
sacred Inheritance which the Fathers OF the Republic hav
warned repeatedly than any other to guard wit
the most anxious sohcitude-to protect with the mos
Jealous care They knew that freedom of election til
great barrier which protects republican government fro
the hments of despotsm and they forssaw the
evitsble consequence that would follow its destruction
ordeal Ike that through which country passiu
wac perhaps anticipated by the founders Of Go
ernment hut they OF the general truth th
the tendency If civil to generate despotism and
doubt they sought to counterfeit the influence of
xation by unlimited freedom OF ballot
In those Districts which the present time are under mi
tary occupation and where there uIquestonaby ell
meI OF oppoltion to the Government it right and prop
that te,t Of oyaty should be adopted To this pausb
objection be made, for it is demanded alike by ustt
10 our cause ard consideration for the interests of the 10
al cssse, 10 those districts Further than this howeve
the Government has constitutional right to CO. Neth
the President his subordnstes is ustable In makir
any distinction between electors unless that distinction
for the sole purpoEe Of separating loyalty from dsoyat
In Tennessee the Military Governor Of the State wi
also happens be the Presidents colleague 10 the prese
political canvass, has practically Dul6ed the privilege
free ballot 10 hs State He has issued order for Il
government of the forthcoming election and has appende
oath which be prescribes qualification for votip
This oath provides that the voter shall oppo,
all trmstces negotiations for peace with rebels in arm
until the Constitution Of the United States and all Law
and proclamaons made in pursuance thereof shall b
este bsbed all The people Of every State and Terror
emit raced within the National Union" etc. This mean
eIector must endorse the Presidents
proclamation The conscaton act and all the anti SLAYER
tdlcs proclamatOns which have emanated from th
present Administration.
But this proceeding Of Governor johnson il not an is
lstd every other district which s under mar
surveillance tie general has been pursued
though 70 extent modified in certain instances TIL
alluded TO- however sufficient TO illustrate the dan
gerous encroacbments that being made upon the free
doGl OF election 1t teaches that il the American peopl
would preserve those rights which they have inherite
IRON their fathers, they must by all loyal means insis
upon tgd observance Of the Constitution by thos
whom hey have elevated to power.
AEBLL ACCOUNT OF THURSDAYS FIGHT.