The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-10-29
FROM THE PRESIDENT
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
WAsHIGToS, D. c.. Oct -. 1864,

WASHINGTON. y, c., Oct. -. 1S64,,
To Messrs. VIM r. Campbell, Thomas
w K Nelson, James J. p Carter,
John Wilson, \ BIissard. Henry Coo
per, Bale Priten, John L. Elliott, En-
erson FtheriIge, and John D. Penny
man:
GESrLE,lrN; On the 18th day Of this
month. as Won remember printed pa
per. with few manuscript interlineations
called protest, with your names appen-
dcd thereto, and accompanied by,,another
printed paper purporting to be a procla-
NATION by Andrew thomson, Military
Governor Of Tennessee, and also man
nscript paper. purporting to be the ex-
tracts frum the code of Tennessee was
laid before me. (The protest, proclama
ton Of GOV. Johnson, dated Sept. 30th,
to which It refers, together with list of
counties in East. Middle and West Ten
nessee. Also extracts from the code of
Tennessee, in relation to electors of
Presidents and Vice Presidents. qualifi-
cations and places Of holding elections,
and officers Of popular elections The
President says:
At the time these papers were presen-
ted Is before stated, | had never seen
either of them nor heard Of the subject
to which they relate, except in a general
way, only one day previously. Upto the
present moment. nothing whatever upon
the subject has passed between Governor
johnson, or any one else connected with
the proclamation, and myself. Since re
ceiving the papers, as stated, | have
given the subject such brief considers
ton rs | have been able to do, in the
midst Of so many pressing public duties.
Nv conviction is that i can have nothing
to do with the matter, either to sustain
the plan rs the Convention and Governor
Johnson have initiated it, or revoke or
modify in as you demand. BY the Con
stitution and laws. Presidents are
charged with no duty in the conduct of
the T. esidential election, in any State,
nor do / in this case preceive any mill
tary reason for his interference.
In this matter the movement set on
foot 10y the Convention and Gov. Johnson
does not as seems to be assumed by you
emcnate from the National Executive.
Ia no proper sense can 1T be considered
other than an independent movement Of
at least a portion of the loyal people of
Tennessee. l 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
his duty to keep peace among and for
the loyal people of the State.
cannot discern that by this plan he
proposes any more; but You object to the
plan. Leaving 1t alone will be perfect
security against it. 1t is not proposed
to force YOU into it. Do as YOU please
on your own account. peacefully and lie
gally. GOV. johnson will not modest
you. but viii protect YOU against violence
so far rs it is in his power. | presume
I that the conducting Of a Presidential
! election in Tennessee, in accordance
with the old code, is not now possible.
I 1t is scarcely necessary to add that if
any election shall be held, any votes
/ shall be cast i'll the State of Tennessee
I for President and Vice President of the
United States. it will belong, not to mill
/ tary agents nor yet to the Executive De
partment, but exclusively to another de
mine whether they are entitled to be
accounted in conformance with the Con
stitution and Laws Of the United States,
exccptit he - give protection against
violence. decline 10 interfere in any
thing with any presidential election,
(Signed) ABRAHAM LINCOLN.