The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1868-09-17
Letters of the Candidates.
PEACEoR, W. Arr
WASHINGTON. June 80, 1868.
,Olonel JAMES o. BROADHEAD

DEAR COLONEL: In reply to your
Inquiries, / beg leave to say, that l
leave to you to determine, on CONSUL
tation with my friends from Missou-
ri, whether my name shall be present.
ed to the Democratic Convention, and
to submit the following as what i
consider the realTand only issue in
this contest.
The reconstruction policy Of the
Radicals will be complete before the
next election: the States so long ex-
cluded will have been admitted, NJ gro
suffrage established, and tho carpet
baggers installed In their seats IN both
branches of Congress. There is no
possibility of changing the political
character Of the Senate, even II the
Democrats should elect their Presi-
dent and majority of the popular
branch or Congress. We cannot,
therefore, undo the Radical plan Of
reconstruction by congressional ac-
tion; the Senate will continue q bar
to Its repeal. Must We submit to itp
How can 1t be oyerthtown? 1t can
only be overthrown by the authority
of the Executive, who is sworn to
maintain the Constitution, and who
will fall to do bis duty II he allows
the Constitution to perish under a
series of congressional enactments
which are I'M palpable violation of its
fundamental principles.
II the President elected, by the
Democracy enforces or permits others
to enforce these reconstruction acts,
the Radicals, by the accession of
twenty spurious Senators and fifty
Representatives, will control both
branches Of Congress, and his admin
istration will be as powerless as the
present one of Mr.. johnson.
There Is but one way to restore the
Government and the Constitution,
and that is for the President elect to
declare these acts null and void, COM
pei the army to undo its usurpatlons
at the South, disperse the carpct-bag
State governments, allow the white
people to reorganize,their own goY-
ernments, and elect Senators and
Representatives. The House Of Rep
IesentativesWill contain amajority of
Democrats from the North, and they
will admit the Representatives selec-
ted bv the white people Of the South,
aud, with the cooperation Of the
President it will not be difficult to
compel the Senate to submit once
more to tie obligations of the CoDsti-
tuition. 1t will not be able to with
stand the public Judgment ifdistinct-
ly invoked and clearly expressed on
this, fundamental issue, and 1t is the
sure way to avoid all future strife to
put the issue plainly to the country.
repeat, that this is the real and
only question which we should allow
to control us Shall we submit to the
usurpations by which the Govern
ment has been overthrow or shall
we exert ourselves for its full and
complete restoration9 It's idle tJ talk
Of bonds, greenbacks. gold. the public
credit. What can a Democratic Pres
ident do in regard to any Of these.
with a Congress in both branches
controlled by tho carpet-baggers and
their allies? He win be pOwerleSs to
stop the supplies by which idle
negroes are organized into political
clubs-by which All army 10 main
tanned to protect these yagabonds In
their outrages upont the ballot. These,
and things like these, eat up the reve-
nues and resources of the Govern
ment and destroy Its eredit--make
the difference between gold and green
backs. We must restore the Consti-
tuition before we can restore the finan-
ces, and to do this we must have a
President who will execute the will
OF the people by trampling i2to dust
the usurpations Of Congress known
as the reconstruction acts. Iwish to
stand before the convention upon this
issue, but it is one which embraces
everything else that is Of value in its
large and comprehensive results. 1t
is the one thing that includes all that
is worth a contest, and without 1t
there is nothing that gives dignity,
honor, or value to the struggle.
Your friend,
- FRANK p. BLAIR.