The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-11-02
Major GEN. Blair.

We invite the attention of our readers
to the following just and noble senti-
ments of General Blair, delivered before
large meeting of the citizens of st.
Louis, such sentiments from the brave
and patriotic-from men who have en-
perilled their lives in the cause of the
Union, are worthy of being read and
remembered, as follows:
FELLOW CITIZENS: Weeome together,
tonight, not only to protest against the
denominations of the so-called new Con-
stitution of Missouri, but to heartily en-
dorse the reconstruction policy of our
noble President, Andrew Johnson. The
same party, or faction rather. that has
inflicted this infamy upon Missouri, is
the one that opposes and assails the pol
icy of President johnson. We have to
contend with many of the men who as
sisted, directly or Indirectly, to inaugu-
rate a great and wicked rebellion, and
now that the rebellion is crushed and
peace concluded, would renew and per-
petrate the strife for sinister and selfish
purposes.
The policy of President johnson is the
same as that of his lamented predecessor,
the noble patriot, Abraham Lincoln; it
is brief, pointed and Ineligible to the
meanest comprehension. If you wish to
see the identity of the two policies, you
have only to read the instructions of
President Lincoln to Gen. Banks, in Lou
isianna, Gen. Steele, in Arkansas, and
Andrew johnson, in Tennessee. It pro-
claimed amnesty and renewed citizen
ship to all who would heartily renOunce
treason, take the oath of allegiance, and
accept the abolition of slavery. 1t re-
cognizes the States as rebellious, but not
seceded-at war with the National Gov
eminent, but by no means separated
from it. The war over and the national
authority restored, this policy would
leave the separate States to manage their
own domestic affairs as before the war,
including the right to regulate suffrage.
The Radical party was opposed to
MIR. Lincoln, as it is now opposed to
President johnson. One year ago they
took the name of Radical Democrats
and headed in this State by such men as
Gov. Fletcher and Hon. III. T. Blow,
helped to inaugurate the Cleveland Con-
vention. 1t is unnecessary to add that
they were badly defeated in both their
projects. 1t is also within the memory
of Missourians that Fletcher bitterly de-
nounced President Lincoln in speech
at Barnum's Hotel, only one year ago.
sItis time now, my friends, to organize
a party whose first principle shall be to
stand by the principles of humanity and
conservatism enunciated in the policy
and proclamations of President johnson.
The policy of the Radicals, or Destruc-
tives, or Jacobins, as you please to call
them, is essentially cruel, bloody and
utterly destructive to all free govern
ment in the South.
Confiscation, as well as disfranchise-
ment, is penalty sought to be inflicted
upon all ex-rebels by the super-loyal
Radicals Admitting that conlfiscation
may be literally just, as applied to lead
ing rebels, let me say that it is the most
demoralizing of all measures of retrih,1.
tive justice. The confiscation that nm MN,
ishes one rebel is likely to make or on
courage half dozen rogues or rascals
The Government receives absolnteIv
nothing as the fruit of confiscation. The
whole proceeds slip into the rockets 81
provost marshals, attorneys, treasury
agents and other party hacks, many Of
whom are no better than the man fhev
unlIe TO despoil of his property. | have
seen something of the practical workings