, 1864-10-27
Qt)ifa9, : Qrtbn1le.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER q. 7s7a'
EHE PRESIDENTS TFNNFGsFF
8 .a. LETFEU

ANn FnES1WENT7S TENNESSEE
LETTER.
We nave always asserted that the prctense
OF Inc Copperheads that Mr.. Lincoln Assumes
Or desires to decide upon the validity OF the
electoral votes Of Tennessee, Arkansas and
Aoulssana under their embryo State govern
ments Ii wholly false. We are glad thnt he
eeta the seal Of emphatic and pointed contra
'ntcuon upon this elandcr by bis letter to the
opponents Of Andrew Johnson's election
proclamation in Tennessee. lie says:
It ts scarcely necessary to add that i any elee,
ton shall be h4lt and any votes shall be cast in
:: the State or Tel neatee for President and Vice
President Of the United States it viii belong, not
% but crusSey to snotheI ns
o1 the Government, to determine whether they are
eent,t!ea e be ACCOUNTED n conformance with the
+*in this mntte1, the movement ut on foot bv the
Convenuon and Gov johnson, does not, as seems
70 oe seenmea BY you. enaanate from The Nattonsl
other taon az tndeptadent Increment Of at ieass a
oo.saon q Ae loyal Deople Of 1s,.nesset. do not
io Pes1save n tic plan any menace. o. .1olence
ofAsr loyal citizen u Tennessre, hds Yi1hi to ID
gor any political plda he chooses, aud, aa Military
sa;a y n1s ag e to sSssp peace and
Ieas9ot dticern that BY this ploa he pu,poses any
ns e. yeq oe'sst 1e to- Psn Ltag"g
PLEAsE, ON YOUR OWN ACCOUNT. PEACE
FULLY AND LEGALLY. Gov. Johneon will not
So fAr 8s in his power"
The President here distinctly states that
the people Of Tennessee are at liberty to vote.
and that tribunal oye1 which be exercises
no control lat first Congress, and atterward,
= II need be, hesupzeme Conrt, will decide
upon the legality Of their vote. And until
: the "proper department Of the Government
,fhall have "determined whether they are en-
\. titled to be accounted in conformance With
the Constitution and laws Of the United
States" tits ssscarcely necessary to add'' they
VIII not bo received. This spikes the princi-
pal gun Of the Capperhead battery. The
1oyL people Of State are not to lose their
rights Of participating in the choice Of our
nations rulers, by reason of the acts Of reb-
els,i eucn righ.a can possibly be preserved
to them. Now GOV. johnson, whose bust
nees as military Governor is to preserve or.
der in Tennessee, proposes plan OF voting
which ,ehan ttst the voter ~and give the
whole loyal vote With as little as possible Of
:. the rebel vote. Mr..Lincoln Is not the tribu-
nal TO decide whether an election 80 held
will BE- legal, and be wisely refuses to give
: IN opinion where It would have no off,
clRl validity Is a decision. But
he. .saJs In edtct, If ) on think 1t illegal, 60 on
and cast the legal vote yourselves accord
ing to your own plan, being sure to preserve
the peace, and Congress ard the Supreme
Court will decide between your plan and
!. Cog. Jchpson's plan. II yourplan is leg i,
your electors will cast tie vote Of the State.
1fGov. Johnson's plan il legal, his electors
nil cast the Tennessee rnte. If neither are
Legal, neither will be received.
The FresideIt instead of "plA5ing the
despot,' as the Coppsr1eads would like to
: charge, leaves The people OF Tennessee the
largest conceivable liberty, viz: to vote on
any one plan or various pl2ns, one ticket OF
many tickets, at the eamt sets Of polls or at
different SETS OF polls, and. hsv1ng so'voted,
the legality of their vote will bs legally
passed upon. Hear him again:
@@My conviction il that can have nothing
to 90 with the matter, either 10 sustaln the
plan rs the Convention and Governor johnson
asgs e. Or 9Sd1 + a
dents are charged with no duty in the conduct Of
the Presidential election, IN ary state nor do IN
this cue perceive any military reason for his In
Finally, It may be asked, why need there be
any plan? Why not vote under the old State
1awT Simply because 1t is not denied that
:" OF such vote the rebels would carry the
State 1t is not contended by any UnlonIst
that, on a secret ballot. the Unionists in
Tennessee are yet In the ascendency. Hence,
s:the Preeident says:
"Ipresu.ne that the conducting Of Presidential
election IN Tennessee, u .ccosdsnce with The old
code, Il mot now possible"
II the Copperbeads are determined that
, the canvass in Tennessee shall be openly be-