Annotation
[1] ALS, IHi; ADfS, DLC-RTL. On January 22, Banks wrote Lincoln:
``It gives me great pleasure to report the progress making in the state election. All parties participate in the selection of candidates, and a very handsome vote will be given. Not a word is heard from any one in favor of a restoration of slavery, and no objection is made to the free state basis upon which the election is based. The indications are very strong that Mr. Hahn will be elected governor. By the middle of April, you will receive a full delegation in both houses of Congress, composed not only of loyal men but earnest supporters of your administration. This will be accomplished in ninety days from the receipt of your letter embracing your instructions for a free state organization in the shortest possible time, and it will give in its results I am sure satisfaction to the People. Officers selected will be from the established residents of the state. The only part I take in the affair is to discourage nominations from the army of which none will be attempted.
``The only ground of hesitation on the part of the most conservative men is in regard to the oath required which is that of your proclamation of the 8th. December; Prominent Union men, who have never sympathized with or aided the rebellion directly or indirectly, . . . who support your administration, . . . have taken the oath, and complied with the conditions of your proclamation . . . say, that having been established in their rights as citizens, and voted in election of members of congress they ought not to be compelled to take an additional oath in order to vote at this election. The exception taken refers . . . to the clauses referring to the laws of congress &c. relating to slavery and the confiscation of property. There is perhaps a professional interest in the case. Some of the most prominent and steadfast are lawyers of high standing. They have discussed the statutes of confiscation in the District court here and expect to argue their causes in Washington. They interpret the oath so as to forbid this exercise of their professional privileges. . . . It has seemed to me that the oath prescribed in the late proclamation was intended to apply to states in which no elections have been held, and that if it were so construed as to allow loyal men to vote who had qualified under the conditions of the Proclamation of no harm could be done. It would not change the results of the election, but affect only the aggregate of votes. . . .