Letters Exposing the Mismanagement of Public Affairs by Abraham Lincoln

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Excerpt from Letters Exposing the Mismanagement of Public Affairs by Abraham Lincoln: And the Political Combinations to Secure His Re-Election But, if absolute conquest and the obliteration of State lines and State rights is to be the ultimate object, and general disfranchisement of the loyal, the constrained and the deluded, as well as the guilty and the deceivers, attended by sweeping confiscations, is to follow in the wake of our armies, then we may despair of a restoration of order in the South for years to come, and may well tremble for the preservation of free institutions as well as individual liberty in the North. It speaks well for Gen. Grant, that he has exacted no degrading oaths from loyal men in Tennessee, and shown a disposition to protect them in their individual and constitutional rights. It also speaks well for him, that he is not trifling away his time in places of amusement and speech-making, while his bleeding country requires all his energies of body and mind to save it from ruin. When we see announcements of our high dignitaries at entertainments and theatres, we cannot but feel that their presence in these times of general mourning and distress would be more appropriate in houses of prayer, nor can we avoid thinking of that passage in Roman history which informs us that, "Nero fiddled while Rome was burning." But we have serious misgivings that Gen. Grant will not be let alone. We fear that should he assert his independence and apply his military skill and sound common sense to the suppression of the rebellion with the least possible general suffering and destruction of human life, he will be hunted as Gen. McClellan was by those who, with shouts for liberty, are trampling under foot all the barriers of liberty, and are preparing, ignorantly we hope, both the North and the South for a grand military empire. We had written thus far, when strong evidence presented itself confirming our fears. We learn through Parson Brownlow's paper, in Knoxville, that in parts of East Tennessee, the people refused to take the oath prescribed by the President's Proconsul or Military Govenor, and were allowed to vote notwithstanding. He says, "in several places we have heard from, where Union sentiment was overwhelming too, the judges and people required and took no oath, but that prescribed by the old code of Tennessee. The people have an idea, somehow or other, that the Union men of East Tennessee, have given sufficient evidence of their loyalty without the additional sanction of a test oath, no matter by what military officer prescribed." The principal organ of the Revolutionists at Washington, takes to task these "refractory voters" as it calls them, and distinctly intimates that their votes ought not to be counted! It says, "We are not informed whether votes cast in disregard of the Governor's requirement, will be counted, or how many rebel votes were cast on the same easy terms. We presume that Governor Johnson will satisfy himself on these points, and also as to the effect of the example set by these refractory voters, before he permits them to have legal effect." Why was not the military on hand, as in Kentucky, Maryland, &c., , to compel these "refractory voters" to take the oath or drive them from the polls? It was because a man who entertains a high sense of justice and honor was in command of that military district, a man who appreciates the fact, that it is the proper function of the army to put down the armed rebellion and not to enforce illegal test oaths upon any body, and especially upon men whose loyalty was never doubted. The article in the revolutionary organ, therefore, can be understood only as a growl at General Grant and an order to Governor Johnson. And will it not be a scene for the world's wonder, if the votes of t