Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-10-27
PROTEST AGAINST GOVERNOR
JOIlNSON'S NEW OATH.
Protest of Loyal Tennesseans.

focHtW me OnHc0 StdteS:
SIR: The undersigned loyal citizens OF
the United States and Of the State of Ten
nessce, on our own behalf, and on behalf Of
the loyal people of our own state, ask leave
to submit this protest against the proclains.
ton of His Excellency, Andrew johnson,
military Governor, ordering an election to
be held for President and Vice President,
under certain regulations and restrictions
therein set forth. A printed copy is here
with inclosed The Constitution of the
United States provides that leach State
shall appoint, in such manner as the Legis-
laturc thereof may direct, as a number of
electors, &c Under this provision of the
Federal Constitution the Legislature of
Tennessee, years before the present rebel
lion, prescribed the mode of election to be
observed, which will be found to differ es-
sentially from the mode prescribed by the
military governor. We herewith inclose
copy Of the law of Tennessee governing the
holding of said election. The military gov
ernor expressly assumes by virtue of au-
thorlty derived from the President. to so al
ter and amend the election law of Tennessee,
(enacted under authority Of the Coustitu-
ton of the United States, as above set
| forth as to make the same conform to his
own edict as set forth in the proclamations
aforesaid.
He assumes so to modify our laws as
! to admit persons to vote at the said election
who are not entitled to vote under the law
and Constitution of Tennessee. Instance
thus our Constitution and law require
that each voter shall be citizen of the
| County wherein he may offer his vote, for
six months next preceding the day Of cleo
ton: while the governor $ order only re-
quircs, that he shall with other qualitica
tons named) be citizen of Tennessee for
six months, &c. This provision would adj
mt many persons to vote who We're not en-
titled by law We will for the sake of brev-
ity, pass over some less important points
ofconhict between the proclamation and the
law but will instance in this place another
BY our law it is provided that the polls shall
be opened in every civil district in each
county in the State; but the proclamation
provides only for their being at one place in
each county. This provision would put out
of the power of many legal voters to exer-
else tn elective franchise
We solemnly protest against these in
Engagements of our law, conflicting as they
do, with the very letter of the Federal Con-
stitution, because they are without authori-
ty, and because they will prevent free, fair
and true expression of the will of the loyal
people of Tennessee. But we protest still
emphatically against this most, unusual and
impracticable test oath which it is proposed
to require of all citizen voters i'll Tennessee
| 81 solemnly swear that will henceforth sup
port the Constitution of the United States, and
defend it against the assaults of its enemies;
the United States, and an enemy the o-callcd
Confederate States; that ardently desire the
suppression of the rebellion against the Govern
ment of the United States; that l sincerely re-
joce in the triumph OF the armies and navics of
| the United States, ana in the defeat and over
| throw of the armies, navies, and OF all armed
combinations in the interest of the so-caled
armstces or ] @ a for Gpsg peaec XIX b Tebcs
in arms until the Constitution of the United
hara" sha d bs "vsr ali
| the people ofcvcry state and territory within
and assist the loyal people in whatever meas
ure may be adopted for the attainment of those
ends; and further that take this oath freely
tion. SO help me God,'
A citizen qualified to vote, and whose 10y
atty cannot be ''disprovcd by other testimo
ny is to be required to swear, that he will
henceforth support the Constitution of the
United States, and defend it against all en-
emies. This obligation we are willing to
renew daily But this is not yet deemed
make oath and subscribe to mass of vain
repetitons concerning his activity as friend
of the Union and the enemy of its enemies
| ~ i.I i. = -. =:
ana 'lia1 Tic nhoS ~ III MS leaIt 10 rGloict
over we scGnes VI piopu, anu VI eouhis' VI
anguish ana dea,h, wherein ms lrlenus, ms
klnureu' MS 'oVeu ones are slai'l, or u,all'lgu'
or mage PRISONERS oi %War--Wheregy war ,he
anu % vi lls % IN vi VI :uop'lol'' 10 n':uo uo'
ol'l.c' anu iI'icllla'ion anu iiiouT,1inS a'H
spread over the Whoie hati0h. " me all
tne ciVlilEc1 Worio stahGS ashaSt ~ coh'ehl-
pioll9h Vi .!c unequaleu holoTS n ol our trc
men9ous stflle the cttinen nIi:. OF tennessee Is
Gaileu I upon ny !ne -nllltary uoNerlo', ul
dei your anIIorl.y, 20 swear tlac III 'hese
tll,'gs riG mus occaSi1h 10 reJolce; :.
AS IL th,s were sun iioC enough, the G'tl-
aen Is iuIthcr Ieq"ileu 10 swear TO me llioci-
inluG .1r Proi9hem'loi rl n'l's war 's iohoWs:
Inat will corulally oppose an q, ar'ills'lces
or Heg1.la5lonS ior peace WIN TJ repgls ~ arms
on1ii ~ me Nols'l.u'lol VI 'i'c on''eu n.a'es
anu al laws any P''oTui"'h"''o'i> ,n"i0 Al
pursuance tnereOI, snali De estaDlisncu over
all the neonle of every State and Territory
- II III - - -: .;i'
euipraceu WlIhin lhe iiatloilal Chiohi unlli,
in brief the war shall be at an end. Now,
wa froalr ovo,p 70 ,our avoalancv aud to
| 'oiJ w 'N' IN!' w
the world, tnat we earnestly desire tne re-
t,lrn of neace and rood will tO orr now nm
nappy countfy-tnat we seek heltner pea
sure, profit not honor in the perpetuation
of tho ,vor-thot MO sbould faal hound nc
y, 0u 'no ""i MAJ VIC o"ou,u ioci =, couiu "'
otinat' that @ ao pa,I9 pbI M any a' th otiIuo @ ne
VIC are buuhu ny tHS Udlil VIC HdNc