TENNESSEE. 



7G.3 



Oath. I solemnly swear that I will henceforth 

 support the Constitution of the United States, and 

 defend it against the assaults of all its enemies ; that 

 I am an active friend of the Government of the 

 United States, and the enemy of the so-called Con- 

 federate States ; that I ardently desire the suppres- 

 sion of the rebellion against the United States ; that 

 I sincerely rejoice in the triumphs of its armies and 

 nayies, and in the defeat and overthrow of the armies 

 and navies of all armed combinations in the interest 

 of the so-called Confederate States ; that I will cor- 

 dially oppose all armistices or negotiations for peace 

 with rebels in arms, until the Constitution of the 

 United States, and all laws and proclamations 

 made in pursuance thereof,- shall be established 

 over all the people of every State and Territory em- 

 braced withm the National Union; and that I will 

 heartily aid and assist the loyal people in whatever 

 measures may be adopted for the attainment of these 

 ends ; and further, that I take this oath freely and 

 voluntarily and without mental reservation. So 



HELP SCE G'OD. 



Resolved, That the offices of the State of Tennes- 

 see should be filled by none but truly loyal men, the 

 unfaltering friends of the National "Uni'on, and that 

 all doubtful men should be at once removed from 

 office. 



That we do cordially approve and en- 

 dorse the policy aad course of Gov. Andrew Johnson 

 as military Governor of the State. 



JtesolceJ, That an Executive Committee of five 

 from each division of the State be appointed, who 

 shall have power, among other things, to fill all 

 vacancies that may occur in the electoral ticket. 



Begohfd, That "the military Governor of the 

 State of Tennessee be requested to execute the fore- 

 going resolutions in such manner as he may think 

 will best subserve the interests of the Govern- 

 ment. 



On September Tib Governor Johnson issued 

 a proclamation, stating that as military Gov- 

 ernor he should proceed to appoint officers 

 and establish tribunals, as he had heretofore 

 done in all the counties and districts of the 

 State wherever the people gave evidence of 

 loyalty and a desire of civil government, and a 

 willingness to sustain the officers and tribunals. 

 All officers were required to take the oath 

 recommended by the Convention, and all 

 civil and criminal, coming before the judicial 

 tribunals of the State involving the rights of 

 colored persons, were to be adjudicated and 

 disposed of as free persons of color. 



On Sept, 30th the Governor issued another 

 proclamation, in which, after quoting the reso- 

 lutions adopted by the Convention relative to 

 the Presidential election, relative to the qualifi- 

 cations of electors and those above mentioned, 

 relative to the oath to be taken by voters, he 

 thus proceeds : 



And wTiereas, it further appears from the proceed- 

 ings of said Convention, " That the military Governor 

 of the State of Tennessee is requested to execute the 

 foregoing resolutions in such manner as he may think 

 best subserves the interest of the Government." 



And ichereat, I, Andrew Johnson, military Gov- 

 ernnor of the State of Tennessee, being anxious to 

 cooperate with the loyal people of the State, and tc 

 encourage them in all laudable efforts to restore the 

 State tolaw and order again, and to secure the ballot- 

 box against the contaminations of treason by every 

 reasonable restrains! that can be thrown around it, 

 I do, therefore, order and direct that an election for 

 President and "Vice-President of the United States of 

 America be opened and held at the county seat, or 



other suitable place in every county in the State of 

 Tennessee, on the first Tuesday after the first Mon- 

 day in the month of November next, at which all 

 citizens and soldiers, being free white men twenty, 

 one years of age, citizens of the United States and for 

 six months prior to the election citizens of the State 

 of Tennessee, who have qualified themselves by regis- 

 tration, and who take the oath prescribed in the foro- 

 going resolution, shall be entitled to vote, unless said 

 oath shall be disproved by other testimony, for the 

 candidates for President and Vice-President of the 

 - .'os. 



And to the end that the foregoing resolutions, which 

 are made part of this proclamation, may be faithfully 

 executed, a^id the loyal citizens of the State, and 

 none others, be permitted to exercise the right of 

 suffrage, I do hereby appoint the several gentlemen 

 whose names are affixed to this proclamation to aid 

 in said election and superintend the registration of 

 the loyal voters in their respective counties, as pro- 

 vided by the fourth resolution above quoted. 



But as the day of election is near at hand, and 

 there may be difficulty in completing the registration 

 within th'e time limited, it is not intended that the reg- 

 istration be an indispensable prerequisite to the 

 qualification of the voter ; and in such cases, where 

 it has been impracticable, and where the voter is of 

 known and established loyalty, he shall be entitled to 

 vote, notwithstanding he may not have registered his 

 name as required by the foregoing resolution. 



The election shall be opened, conducted, returns 

 made, &c., in all respects as provided for by the 

 fourth chapter of the " Code of Tennessee," except 

 so far as the same is modified by this proclamation. 



But, in cases where the county courts fail or neg- 

 lect to_ appoint inspectors or judges of election, and 

 there is no sheriff or other civil officer in the county, 

 qualified by law to open and hold said election, the 

 registering agents, heretofore appended, may act in 

 his stead, and in all respects discharge the duties im- 

 posed in such cases upon sheriffs. 



In like manner, it is declared the duty of military 

 officers commanding Tennessee regiments, battalions, 

 or detached squads, and surgeons in charge of the 

 hospitals of Tennessee soldiers, to open and hold 

 elections on the day aforesaid, under the same rules 

 and regulations hereinbefore prescribed, and at such 

 suitable place as will be convenient to the soldiers, 

 who are hereby declared entitled to vote without oath 

 or registration. 



In testimony whereof, I, Andrew Johnson, military 

 Governor of the State of Tennessee, do hereunto set 

 my hand, and have caused the great seal of the State 

 to'be affixed at this department, on the SOth day of 

 September, A. D. 1804:. 



By the Governor, ANDREW JOHNSON. 



Attest : EDWARD H. EAST, Secretary of > 



The Presidential electors who had been ap- 

 pointed by the Convention were in favor of 

 Mr. Lincoln for President. Another list of 

 Presidential electors hi favor of Gen. McClellan 

 was selected by persons not in sympathy with 

 the State Convention. On the appearance of 

 this proclamation of Governor Jonnson these 

 Presidential electors united in a protest, ad- 

 dressed to President Lincoln. They state the 

 object of their protest in these words : 



SIR : The undersigned, loyal citizens of the United 

 States and of the State of Tennessee, on c ir own be- 

 half, and on behalf of the loyal people of our State, 

 ask leave to submit this protest against the procla- 

 mation of his excellency, Andrew Johnson, military 

 Governor, ordering an election to be held for Presi- 

 dent and Yice-President, under certain regulations 

 and restrictions therein set forth. A printed copy 

 of said proclamation is herewith enclosed. The Con- 

 ;jn of the United States provides "that each 



