18                The Maryland Constitution of 1864.            [364

Office of the Union State Central Committee,

Baltimore, October 26, 1863.
To the President.

Sir:—A suspicion having taken possession of the minds of many
loyal Union voters of the state of Maryland, that the election
about to take place on the 4th of November, will be attended with
undue interference on the part of persons claiming to represent
the wishes of the Government, I am induced, by what I know to
be the desire of a large number of our people, and in furtherance
of applications daily made to me, to ask most respectfully, that you
would place me, as Chairman of the Union State Central Com-
mittee, in possession of your views upon this subject, in order that
they may be communicated to loyal voters throughout this state.

I will beg you to believe, Mr. President, that it is with no doubt
or distrust on my part, as to what will be your response to this
letter, that I ask this favor at your hands; but simply to satisfy
a large class of persons who believe that an expression of opinion
on your part, would not be without its benefit to the people of the
state, in promoting what we all desire, a fair expression of the
public voice.

I am, with great respect, your obedient servant,

Thomas Swann,
Chairman of the Union State Central Committee.

The President replied on the next day as follows:

Executive Mansion, Washington, D. C,

October 27, 1863.
Hon. Thomas Swann.

Dear Sir:—Your letter, a copy of which is on the other half of
this sheet, is received. I trust there is no just ground for the
suspicion you mention, and I am somewhat mortified that there
could be a doubt of my views upon this point of your inquiry.
I wish all loyal, qualified voters in Maryland and elsewhere, to
have the undisturbed privilege of voting at elections; and neither
my authority nor my name can be properly used to the contrary.

Your obedient servant,

A. Lincoln.

Major-General Robert C. Schenck had been placed in
command of the Middle Department, Eighth Army Corps,
on December 17, 1862, with headquarters in Baltimore,
and had been most active in his support of the National
Government, as well as in using severe and stringent
means to suppress all traces of disloyalty. This, of course,