Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-10
GEN. FRANK r. BLAIR AND THE
DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION.

The following letter from Gen BlaiI
possesses more than ordinary interest il
the light Of his nomination for the Wee
Presidency by the Democratic Nationa
Convention
WASHINGTON, June 30.-CoL. JAS. Q
BRoADHEAD: Dear Colonel-In reply e
your Inquiries l beg leave to say that
leave you to determine, on consultation
with my friends from Missouri, whether m
name shall be presented to the Democratic
Convention, and to submit the following
as what consider the real aud only ISSUE
in this contest.
The reconstruction policy Of the Radi
Gals will be complete before the next cleo.
ton; the States, so long excluded, will
have been admitted negro suffrage estab.
lished, and the carpeI-baggers installed il
their seats in both branches of Congress
There is no possibility of changing the po
litical character of the Senate, even if the
Democrats should elect their President
and majority of the popular branch
Of Congress We cannot, therefore, un.
do the Radical plan OF reconstruction
by Congressional action the Senate will
continue bar 10 its repeal. Mnst we sub
NIT to it? How can 1t be Overthrown? II
can only be overthrOwn by the authority
of the Executive, who is sworn to main.
tain the Constitution, and who will fail tC
do his duty if he allows the Constitution
to perish under series Of Congressional
euactmenls, which are in palpable viola.
lion of its fundamental principles.
6 fba D.o,.,to,,f oIanfo1 -, Al
eracy, entOrces 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 administers
ton will be as powerless as the present one
of Mr.. johnson.
There is but one way TO restore the gov
eminent and the Constitution, and that is for
the President elect to declare these acts null
and void compel the army to undo its
usurpalions at the South, dispense the car
pet-bag Stale governments, ALLOW the white
people TO reorganize their own govern
ments and elect Senators and Representa-
lives. The House of Representatives will
cOntain a majority Of Democrats from the
North, aud they will admit the Representa-
liYes elected by the white people of the
South, and with the cooperation of the
President il will not be difhcnlt TO compel
the Senate to submit once more TO the obi
cations of the Constitution. 1t will not be
able to withstand The public Judgment. il
distinctly invoked and clearly expressed,
on this fundamental issue, and it is the
sure way to avoid all future strife 10 put
this issue plainly Ia the country.
repeat that this is the real and only
question which we should allow to control
US: Shall We submit 10 the usurpatiOns by
which the government has been OyerlhroWn,
or shall we exert ourselves for lis fall and
complete restoration? 1t is idle to talk of
bonds, greenbacks, gold, the public faith
aud the public credit. What can a Demo.
cratic President do in regard to any of these,
with a Congress in both branches controlled
by the carpet. baggers aud their allies? He
will be powerless 10 stop the supplies by
which idle negroes are organized into po-
lilical clubs-by which an army is main.
tanned to protect these yagAbOnds 10 their
oulrages upon tue ballot. These, and things
like these, eat up the revenues and resour-
ces of the government and destroy Its credit,
make the difference between gold and green
backs We must restore the Constitution
before we can restore the finances, and 10
do this we must have President who will
execute the will Of the people by trampling
into dust the usurpations of Congress,
known as the reconstruction acts. l wish
to stand before the convention on this issue,
but il is one which embraces everything
else that is of value ia its large and com
prshensive results. 1t is the one thing
that includes all that is worth a contest,
and without it there is nothing that gives
dignity, honor, or value to the struggle.
Your friend,