Small as was the ratio of avowed Union men at the time, Mr.
Johnson argued with much confidence that Tennessee, freed from coercion, would adhere to the Union by a large majority of her total vote.

His faith was based on the fact that when the plain and direct question of Union or Disunion was submitted to the people in the winter of 1860-61, the vote for the former was 91,813, and for the latter only 24,749.
Under this new order of things, William G.Brownlow, better known to the world by his _soubriquet_ of "Parson" Brownlow, was chosen governor without opposition on the fourth day of March, 1865, the day of Mr.Lincoln's second inauguration.

The new Legislature met at Nashville a month later, on the 3d of April, and on the 5th ratified the Thirteenth Amendment; thus adding the abolition of slavery by National authority to that already decreed by the State.

The Legislature completed its work by electing two consistent Union men, David T.Patterson and Joseph S.Fowler, to the United-States Senate.
The framework of the new Government was thus completed and in operation before the death of Mr.Lincoln.

It had not received the recognition and approval of the National Government in any specific or direct manner.