Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-10-26

month Of July last you issued the following
proclamation.
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WARRINGTON, July lS. 1864
To whom tmdy concern.
Any proposi ton which embraces the resto-
ration OF peace, the integrity Of the whole
Union, and the abandonment of slavery, and
which comes by aud with an authority that
eau control the armies now al war against
the United States, will be received and con-
sidered by the Executive Government Of the
united states, and will he met by liberal terms
on other substantial and collateral points, and
the bearer or bearers thereof shall have safe
conduct both ways.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
This IL certainly proposition to treat with
rebels in arms--wth their chiefs Are we
now to understand by this proclamation Of
one acting under your authority, and himself
candidate with you Tor the second office,
that even the above proposition is Withdrawn
that you will hepceforth have no negotia-
tons upon any terms but unrelenting war to
the bitter end ? Or are we 10 understand
that while you hold this proposition open, or
yourself free to act as Your judgment may
dictate, we, the citizens Of Tennessee, shall
swear to oppose your neHRLlRlions2
In the next breath the voter who has al
ready been thus far qualified is required To
swear that he will heartily aid and assist the
loyal people in whatever measures may be-
adopted Tor the attainment of these ends -
Adopted by whom2 The oath does not say
We cannet tell what measures may be adopt
ed We cannot comment upon the absurdity
oil the obligation here imposed without dau-
ger OF departing from that respectful propr-
ely Of language which we desire to preserve
in addressing the Chief Magistrate Of the
American People. But this is the clause Of
an oath which the candidate for the Vice
Presidency requires at the lips Of the loyal
and qualified voters OF Tennessee, before
these citizens shall be allowed to vote for or
against you and himself at the coming elec.
ton
For these reasons, and others which for
she sake OF brevty we omit, we solemnly pro-
test against the interference OF the Military
Governor with the freedom Of the elective
franchise in Tennessee We deny his author.
ity and yours TO alter amend or nnnul 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 support, protect and defend,
in the manner which the Legislature thereof
has prescribed Aud TO that end We erespeCt-
fully 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 withdrawn,
so far as to allow 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 may haze complied with
such terms OF amnesty as have been offered
them under your authority. a1
On the Sth day of December, 1868, you, as
President, issned proclamation declaring
that "a full pardon is hereby granted, i'wth
restoration of all rights of property etc to
each of our citizens having participated, di
rectly or by implic alton, in the existing rebel
lion, (with certain exceptions), "upen the
condition that every such person shall take
and subscribe an OATH aud thenoeforward
keep and maintain said oath inviolate." And
it is further provided in the proclamation
aforesaid, that, in the contingency of reor-
ganization Of o State Government 10 Tennes.
see, or certain other States named, the persons
having taken the oath referred to, being 9th.
erwise qualified by the election law os the
State, would be entitled to vote. The under
signed 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
all loyal citizens, without let or hinder1nce;
and we respectfully appeal TO you, as Presi-
dent OF the United States. to make good your
promise OF pardon to these citizens by the
removal OF all other and further hinderances
TO their exercise of the elective franchise
Bnt il it be claimed upon the plea of military
necessity that gnaTda and restrictions shall be
thrown around the ballot hox in Tennessee,
we still ask the withdFawal Of the proclaIna.
ton of the military Government, because the
conditions thereby imposed upon the loyal
men Of Tennessee as aqualfication for voters
are irrelevant, unreasonable, and NOT In any
sense test of loyalty But they pledge the
citizen to oppose the lawful authorities in the
discharge Of their duty The oath required is
only calculated to keep legal and rightful vo
ters from the polls. We suggest that no oath
be required but such as is prescribed by law
Our people will not hesitate, however to take
the usual oath of loyaltY-for example, in the
language Of the primary clause Of the oath il
question "That will henceforth support
the Constitution of the United States, and de
fend 1t against the assaults Of its enemies ,
Denying your right to make any departure
from the law in the case, we shall, however
fell no hardship ia this. l
The Convention to which Governor John
son referred was a mere partisan meeting, hay
ing no authority, and not representing tbs
loyal men OF Tennessee 10 any sense.
The names of the signers of this protest
have been placed before the people OF 1ennes
see rs candidates for Electors, who II chosen
are expected to cast the electoral voice o.
Tennessee for George B. Mcclellan for Presi
dent and George H. Pendlelon for Vice Pres
idenL By virtue of such position it beeome
our province especially to appear before yol
in the attitude we do We are aware tina
grave questions may arise, in any event will
regard to the regularity ofthe vote of Ten
nessee, N consequence Of the partially dis