Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-10-27


qulrcd to swear that he will heartily aid
and assist the loyal people in whatever
measure may be adopted for the attainment
of these ends" We cannot tell what meas
ures may be adopted. We cannot comment
upon the absurdity of the obligation here
imposed, without danger of departing from
that respectful propriety of language which
we desire to preserve in addressing the chief
magistrate Of the American people. But
this is clause of the oath which the candi-
date for the Vice Presidency requires at the
lips Of the loyal and qualified voters of Ten
ncssee, before these citizens shall be allowed
to vote Tor or against you and himself at the
coming election
| For these reasons, and others, which for
the sake OF breyity we omit, we solemnly
! protest against the interference of the mill
tary Governor with the freedom of the cleo
tive franchise of Tennessee. We deny his
authority and yours, to alter, amend, or an
nul, any law of Tennessee We demand
that Tennessee be allowed to appoint her
electors as expressly provided by the Federal
| Constitution, which You have sworn to sup
port. protect and defend, in the manner
which the Legislature thereof has pre-
scribed. And to that end we respectfully
demand of you, as the principal under
whose authority this order has been issued,
that the same shall be revoked. We ask
that all military Interference shall be with
drawn so far as to allow to the loyal men
of Tennessee full and free election. BY
! the loyal men of Tennessee we mean those
who have not participated in the rebellion
or given it aid and comfort or who have
complied with such terms of amnesty as
| have been offered them under your author
| ity.
On the sth day of December 1868, you, as
President, issued a proclamation, declaring
that "all pardon is hereby granted, z" with
| the restoration of all rights of property"
&c, to each Of our citizens having partici-
patcd directly or certain exceptions) 'upon
the condition that every such person shall
take and subscribe an oath, and thencetor-
ward keep and maintain said oath inviolate. P"
And it is further provided in the proclama-
ton aforesaid, that in the contingency of
the Reorganization of a state government
in Tennessee, or certain other states named
the persons having taken the oath referred
to, being otherwise qualified by the election
law Of the state, shall be entitled to vote
The undersigned would state, that many of
our citizens have complied in good faith with
the terms OF amnesty proposed in your
proclamation aforesaid and are, therefore
by reason of the full pardon granted them,
| fully entitled to vote, and exercise all other
rights belonging to loyal citizens without let
or hlndrance; and we respectfully appeal to
you, as President of the United States, to
make good your promise of pardon to these
citizens by the removal of all other and fur
ther hindrance to their exercise of the elec-
tive franchise. But if it be claimed upon
the lea of military necessity, that guards
and restrictions shall be thrown around the
ballot box in Tennessee, we still ask the
withdrawal of the proclamation of the mill
tary governor, because the conditions there
by imposed upon the loyal men of Tennes-
see as qualification for voting are irrele-
want, unreasonable and not in any sense a
test of loyalty. But they pledge the citizen
to oppose the lawful authorities in the dis
charge of their duty. The oath required
is only calculated to keep legal and rightful
voters from the polls. We suggest that no
oath be required but such as prescribed by
law Our people will not hesitate, howev-
er, to take the usual oath of loyalty for ex-
ample, in the language Of the primary clause
Of the oath in question : THAT | will
henceforth support the Constitution of the
United States, and defend it against the
assaults of its enemies. Denying your
right to make any departure from the law
in the case, we shall, however, feel no hard
ship in this. The convention to which
Governor Johnsonrefers, was a mere parti-
san meeting, having no authority, and not
representing the loyal men of Tennessee, in
any sense.
The names of the signers of this protest
! have been placed before the people of Ten
nessce as candidates for electors who, if
chosen, are expected to cast the electoral
vote of Tennessee for George b. Mcclellan
for President and George HI. Pendleton for
Nice-President, BY virtue Of such position,
it becomes out province especially to appear
before you in the attitude we do. We are
aware that gravequestions may arise, in any
event. with regard to the regularity of the
vote of Tennessee, Ill consequence of the
partially disorganzed condition of the State
The friends ofyour reelection, however an
nounced an electoral ticket, and the public
became aware that preparations were being
made for the holding of the election, leav-
ing that matter no longer question. Some
time thereafter our electoral ticket was pla-
ced before the public, and within few days
followed the proclamation complained Of
! We, for ourselves and those we represent,
are willing to leave all questions involving
the right of Tennessee to participate in the
election, to the decision of competent au-
thorty.
WM. B. CAMPBELL, of Wilson county,
TIL. A. r. NELSON, of Washington Co.
For the State at Ldrge,
JAMEST. p. CARTER, of Carter Co,
A. BLIZZARD, of McMinn county,
HENRY COOPER, of Bedford county,
BAILIE PEYTON, of Davidson county,
JOHN LEILYEIgT, of Summer county,
EN-. ETHERIDGE of Weakley county,
| JOHN d. PERUVIAN of Shelbv CO