Annotation
[1] AES, DLC-RTL. Lincoln's endorsement is written on a letter from John L. Riddell, noted chemist, botanist, and professor in the medical department of University of Louisiana, New Orleans, December 15, 1863, requesting that the president so instruct military authorities in Louisiana ``that our loyal efforts . . . may be facilitated and not discouraged or prevented. It is proper to state, that a comparatively small party of over zealous men . . . ignoring and contravening the constitution of the state . . . are laboring to call a state convention, whose delegates are to be voted for by residents of six months, instead of a year, the constitutional time; and by free negroes, who do not possess the right of voting under the constitution. . . .''