Ducktown Tenn. June 17 / 69

Sen W. G. Brownlow

Dear Sir,

As I have ever looked upon you as the safest political leader of the state at all times before, during & since the war. And have endorsed nearly all your public actions both officially & otherwise, supporting you with my suffrage ever since I have been a voter, that is ever since I attained to the age of 21 as I have never been deprived of voting on account of having committed treason, voting for you whenever you have been a candidate for office. I still confide in your integrity, and trust the soundness of your judgment, which induces me to address you at the present. As the republican convention held in Nashville for the purpose of nominating a candidate for Gov. adjourned without effecting the design, and have become divided in opinion as to which, if either of the two, now in the field are the proper one for our next Gov. I would like to have your advice on the subject, which you think is most worthy if either, or both are worthy of the honorable position. As the Republicans in this country are desirous to vote for the right man if either are the right one and are at a loss to know how to vote.

As both candidates express themselves in favor of universal suffrage, a thing we believe in violation to justice. For we don’t believe the Rebs should be entitled to the franchise. We do not believe it is in accordance with your teaching.

Therefore we wish you council on the subject also what you think will be the consequence of universal suffrage in Tenn. provided it should be admitted in the state.

Please answer me soon as I am anxious to have your views on the things herein mentioned.

Very Respectfully Yours, L. H. Passmore.