territory embraced within the national Union; and that I will heartily aid and assist the loyal people in whatever measures may be adopted for the attainment of these ends; and further, that I take this oath freely and voluntarily and without mental reservation, so help me God."
This test oath marks the first grave departure from President Lincoln's plan. He had suggested a simple oath "to henceforth" support the Constitution on the principle, as he expressed in his message to Congress, that "that test is a sufficient one which accepts as sound whoever will make a sworn recantation of his former unsoundness." This test oath, framed by the Convention, went much further and virtually disfranchised all who had served in the Confederate army.
The Convention completed its labors by nominating a candidate for Governor, and a general ticket for the Legislature. It thus combined the functions of a political and constitutional convention.
Governor Johnson now had no motive for delaying the reorganization of the State government, as it was only a month until his inauguration as Vice-President. He thereupon gave force to the action of the Convention by a proclamation ordering a vote of the people to be taken in the mode prescribed by the Convention. The election was held on February 22d, and resulted in 25,293 for, 48 against. On February 25th, Johnson issued a second proclamation declaring the amendment ratified, and ordering an election for Governor and Legislature. The second election occurred on the 4th of March. W. G. Brownlow, the candidate for Governor, received 23,352 votes against 35 scattering. The legislative candidates received the same number of votes as the election was by general ticket.
In the presidential election of 1860 the vote of the State was 145,000. Johnson therefore held that Tennessee had fulfilled the 10 per cent. requirement of Lincoln's amnesty
