Beschreibung:

JOHNSON, Andrew, President . Letter signed ("Andrew Johnson") as Military Governor of Tennessee and Vice President-elect TO ABRAHAM LINCOLN, Nashville, 6 February 1865. "State of Tennessee Executive Department" stationery, traces of mounting on verso . VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT ANDREW JOHNSON TO PRESIDENT LINCOLN A rare letter as Vice President-elect--a month before the disastrous ceremony in which he was sworn in as Vice President. Johnson had delayed going to Washington, remaining in Tennessee to complete the restoration of civil government there after the Confederates had been virtually driven from the state in the battle of Nashville (Dec.14-15). Two weeks after this letter, a state convention assembled in Nashville and repealed Tennesse's secession resolution and voted to abolish slavery. Here, Johnson pens a letter of introduction to the President for two Tennessee Union supporters: "Permit me to introduce to your favorable consideration Messrs. D.A. Nunn, and W.B. Bond, of Brownsville Tenn, who visit Washington and desire an audience with the President, which I hope will be granted. These gentlemen come to me highly recommended as men of integrity & thoroughly loyal to the Govt., and as such I recommend them to you." Johnson actually telegraphed Lincoln to ask whether he might stay in Tennessee and arrive in the capitol after the official inauguration date, March 4, but Lincoln, after consulting with the cabinet, insisted that Johnson be present. Johnson left Nashville, finally, at the end of February and took the oath as Vice President in the Senate chamber, unfortunately, in a state of mild inebriation.