THE Confederate Records OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA COMPILED AND PUBLISHED UNDER AUTHORITY OF THE LEGISLATURE BY ALLEN D. CANDLER, A. M., L. L. D. VOLUME IV. The Johnson Reconstruction. Governor Charles J. Jenkins. ATLANTA, GA. CHAS. P. BYRD, State Printer, PREFATORY CHAPTER. Upon the surrender of the Confederate armies under Generals Lee and Joseph E. Johnston, the President, Andrew Johnson, following the precedent established by President Lincoln in Tennessee, Arkansas and Louisiana, proceeded to reconstruct the government of the State of Georgia. He first issued a proclamation appointing James Johnson, of Georgia, Provisional Governor, and in this proclamation he prescribed the duties of the Provisional Governor and gave him instructions as to how he should proceed. Provisional Governor Johnson, in accordance with these instructions, issued a proclamation ordering an election for delegates to a convention of the people of the State whose duty would be to revise the Constitution or adopt a new Constitution preparatory to the re-admission of the State into the Federal Union. In the President's proclamation appointing Mr. Johnson he had prescribed the qualifications of voters in the election of these delegates. Provisional Governor Johnson faithfully carried out the instructions of the President, ordering an election at which delegates to the proposed convention were elected, and the convention adopted a Constitution which was approved by the President of the United States and ratified by the qualified voters of the State. Under the provisions of this Constitution an election was held for Governor and members of the Legislature. At this election Charles J. Jenkins, one of the |