Hon. Andrew Johnson: Executive Mansion,
My dear Sir: Washington, September 11, 1863.
All Tennessee is now clear of armed insurrectionists. You need not to be reminded that it is the nick of time for re-inaugerating a loyal State government. Not a moment should be lost. You, and the co-operating friends there, can better judge of the ways and means, than can be judged by any here. I only offer a few suggestions. The re-inaugeration must not be such as to give control of the State, and it's representation in Congress, to the enemies of the Union, driving it's friends there into political exile. The whole struggle for Tennessee will have been profitless to both State and Nation, if it so ends that Gov. Johnson is put down, and Gov. Harris is put up. It must not be so. You must have it otherwise. Let the reconstruction be the work of such men only as can be trusted for the Union. Exclude all others, and trust that your government, so organized, will be recognized here, as being the one of republican form, to be guarranteed to the state, and to be protected against invasion and domestic violence.
It is something on the question of time, to remember that it can not be known who is next to occupy the position I now hold, nor what he will do.
I see that you have declared in favor of emancipation in Tennessee, for which, may God bless you. Get emancipation into your new State government---Constitution---and there will be no such word as fail for your case.
The raising of colored troops I think will greatly help every way. Yours very truly A. LINCOLN