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Who made these comments about the president while his country was at war?
The war is "a wanton outrage upon the Constitution"; "the president's policies (have been) incredible, mendacious, ruinous, mischievous, disgraceful, dishonorable, reckless, and infamous." And, the president, "...waging war against the Constitution, was a free people's greatest enemy."
The reply to Lincoln's communication, signed by Campbell, Peyton, and
Lellyett, appeared in the World on election day, November 8:
``To Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States.
SIR: Your letter in reply to the Tennessee protest has reached us, and
has, no doubt, been read by the people. The argument on this subject is
nearly exhausted, but we have some additional and most important facts to
submit to the people, in further elucidation of the subject. Our wonder is
not excited to learn that you had not seen the proclamation of Governor
Johnson, and scarcely heard of it until presented by us. It is an evil of
no small magnitude, connected with your administration, that military
subordinates assume despotic powers without asking the sanction of their
superiors---even presuming to give law to the people by proclamation and
to repeal and modify our laws at will. The idea that the President himself
can make, or repeal, or modify a law of the land, state or national,
constitutional or statutory, though freely practiced upon by yourself, is
a doctrine of despotism in `irrepressible conflict' with the principles of
public liberty. And when these things are done by subordinates, the evil
becomes intolerably oppressive, and calls for the firmest and most active
lawful resistance which a people deserving to be free can offer.
``You tell us that `the movement set on foot by the convention and
Governor Johnson does not, as seems to be assumed by you, emanate from the
national executive.' What we did assume is, that the plan was promulgated
by proclamation of the military governor, who has no authority but that
derived directly from you, and it was given the force of law by his edict.
It thus became indirectly your act; and now that you decline to order the
edict to be recalled or modified, it becomes your own as fully as if it
had emanated from you. `In no proper sense,' you say, `can it be
considered other than an independent movement of at least a portion of the
loyal people of Tennessee.' Independent of what? Manifestly independent of
all lawful authority---independent of and at war with the federal
Constitution, which you have both sworn to support, protect, and defend.
What right has a citizen or officer to favor an `independent movement' at
variance with the Constitution, and support the same by force of arms?
What less is this than waging war against the Constitution of the United
States, and the government established thereby?
W. B. CAMPBELL, of Wilson county,
``Nashville, October 29.'' ``BAILIE PEYTON, of Sumner county,
``JOHN LELLYETT, of Davidson county.''
(Pretty bad mistake on my part... I live in Sumner county....)
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