Annotation
[1] ALS, RPB. This telegram is misdated May 4, 1862, in Hertz (II, 929). Johnson replied on June 5, ``I have to state that I do believe we can prescribe such terms of release & so dispose of the question as to exert a powerful influence throughout the State in our favor. . . . I do desire the disposition of. . . releasing the Tennessee prisoners. . . .'' (DLC-RTL). In a second telegram of the same date Johnson explained that he proposed to exchange the secession prisoners for East Tennesseans held by the Confederacy in Mobile. Stanton telegraphed Johnson on June 7, that the president ``. . . holds the question as to the time when executive clemency shall be exercised under consideration. It has always been the design of the Government to leave the exercise of that clemency to your judgment and discretion whenever the period arrives that it can properly be exercised.'' (OR, II, III, 659). See further, Lincoln's telegram to Johnson on June 9, infra.