Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by EDWARD MCPHERSON, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the District of Columbia. PREFACE. This Hand Book is a reprint of the POLITICAL MANUALS OF 1866, or 1867, AND OF 1868, and, on the suggestion of others, has been put in this as the preferable form for use in the Presidential campaign, for which it is cepecially designed. Besides the political data naturally falling within its scope, it will be found to contain the celebrated Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions of 1798 and the National Platforms of 1852, 1856, 1860, and 1864, all which are b storical monuments of a past which it is instructive to study. The collection of Votes and Documentary matter of every kind, bearing upon current politics, will be found large, and, I hope, complete-my purpose having been to gather and combine every essential fact involved in the discussion of pending issues. The Tabular Statements at the close of the volume will be found suggestive and of immediate value; and the whole, it is hoped, will meet the want it is intended to supply. TABLE OF CONTENTS. PART I--1866. .....7-18 II. President Johnson's Orders and Procla- Respecting Commercial Intercourse-Trial and Punishment of the Assassins of Abraham Lincoln-Arrest of Jefferson Davis, Clement C. Clay, and others-To re-establish the Au- thority of the United States in Virginia- Equality of Rights with Maritime Nations- The Blockade-Amnesty-Appointing Provis ional Governor for North Carolina, and other Insurrectionary States-Freedmen-Suppress- ion of Rebellion in Tennessee-Paroled Pris- oners-Martial Law withdrawn from Kentucky -Annulling the Suspension of the Habeas Corpus-Declaring the Rebellion Ended-Ap- Proclamations of Provisional Governors- Elections of Conventions and Ordinances thereof Enactments of Legislatures-Tele- grams of President Johnson and Secretary Seward respecting the Rebel Debt, Colored Suffrage, Anti-Slavery Amendment, Admission to Congress of Senators and Representatives elect-President Lincoln's Letter to Governor Hahn, March 13, 1864, on Colored Suffrage, and X. Votes in the House of Representatives on Political Resolutions.......... ..................................................109-114 On Public Debt-Punishment of Treason- Representation of lately Insurrectionary States -Elective Franchise in the States-Test-Oath -Test-Oath for Lawyers-Endorsement of the President's Policy-Withdrawal of Military Forces-Legal effect of Rebellion-Duty of Congress-Writ of Habeas Corpus-Thanks to the President-Recognition of State Govern- ment of North Carolina-Trial of Jefferson IV. Legislation Respecting Freedmen......29-44 XI. Votes on Political Bills.........................1.1.4.-1.-1.- In North Carolina-Mississippi-Georgia-Al- V. President Johnson's Interviews and Remarks to citizens of Indiana-Nashville VI. Annual, Special, and Veto Messages of President Johnson, with Copies of the Ve- toed Bills, and the Votes on them...........64-84 Suffrage in District of Columbia-Extending the Homestead Act-Habeas Corpus--West Vir- |