The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-17


upon the close of the war aud the state OF the
country. The sentiments of that meeting
concerning the freedmen we're expressed in
the following resolution, WHICH was unaui-
mously adopted, and which, alike from its
politics and its grammar, might naturally be
supposed to be Mr.. Blair's own compositions
'ResoFcd That we hold this truth to be self
evident, that he with whom we can trust the
fulet TO the life of the nation, we can Ike
wise entrust the ballot to preserve II; and we
invoke the CO operation of the Federal and
STATE Governments, and the people throughout
u e Union, to use all lawful means to establish
q system of suffrage winch snail be equal aud
Just to ali, black M well as white"
1t seems clear that if the Republican party
had recognized the ambitious General as a
leader, or had even taken the reasonable aud
necessary pains to meet his views of his own
Importance he would never have been heard
of as outside of that organization. But there
is no doubt hat the Republicans treated him
with Indifference and distrust, and are now
suffering the natural penalty for their trepass
uIon his sensitive feelings.
His bid for a nomination by the Democrats
was publicly made. Had he not sought for
this be would be no object for political criti-
cism now. Or bad he, after openly humila-
ting himself, by fssifyiDg his whole past
record been dismissed in quiet contempt by
the Democratic Convention, the Republicans
might well afford to leave him still to silence
and such reflections as he is competent to make
for himself But he is the candidate of
great party, nominally for the second Office,
but practically for the first in the country.
The doctrines on which he was nominated,
therefore, however unpleasant in themselves,
must be examined.
Mr.. Blair's letter to Colonel BrOdhead, of
June So 1865 has already appeared in the
EUtniBg Post. This letter was written for the
Convention, as setting forth what Mr.. Blair
considers 'the real and only issue in this CON
test, )" and as thus constituting his claim to a
nomination. In accepting him as a candidate
the Convention accepted his letter as a state
ment of principle. 1t is, as a Southern paper
in his interest has rightly claimed, as much a
part of the Democratic platform as if it had
been embodied therein.
The issue made by Mr.. Blair is simple. He
shows that reconstruction is nearly complete
on the Congressional plan; that, if he is
elected, Congress, or at least the Senate, will
still be Republican, so that the reconstruction
laws cannot be repealed; and therefore insists
that the President must usurp the power of
nullifyipg those laws, and by force "disperse"
the State Governments now established.
This, it cannot failed to be noticed, is a far
worse doctrine than secession. The doctrine
| of a majority of the Democratic party in 1860,
| that State might withdraw from the Union,
| has given thus country much trouble loss, aud
| expense, which, if most of that party had
been true to the Constitution, could have been
saved. But the doctrine of that party in 1868
| is far worse.
But such war is frightful prospect for
| this country. 1t would not divide section from
section, but would rend families would fortify
every house against its neighbor, would make
all our streets scenes of battle.
The election of Francis p. Blair would be the
approval by the people OF his desire to turn
our political canvass into bloody war; to
make party differences of opinion the sufficient
reason for deadly personal enmity. 1t would
be the adoption by the United States of Gov
ernment by assassination and violence, instead
of government by law.
A State, seeding, left the federal Govern
ment in its integrity and vigor. But Presi-
dent, declaring war against Congress and
against ten States allied with Congress-, would
divide the Government itself.
1t is true, the contest would be unequal.
When the Executive makes war ON the legis-
lature, the final triumph is pretty sure to be
on the side of the latter. This is especially
the case where he represents tyranny, and
they stand for equal rights. The precedents
of Charles |. and Louis XVI. are not likely to
be varied now.
Were he elected, and successful in his plan
he would be above all law, the military die
tator of the land. Were he elected and ye
unsuccessful, still the attempt to carry out
views wouldscost the country more than the hii
former Rebellion.
There is no straning, no exaggeration, il
this statement of Mr.. Blair's position. Here
are his words-
! 1--WE cannot. therefore, undo the radical plar
| of reconstruction by Congressional action tht
| Senate will continue q bar to its repeal. Mus
| we submit to it? How can IL be oVerthrown
1t can only be overthrown by the authority o
| the Executive.
"Tnere is but one way to restore the Govern
ment and the Constitution, and that is for tnt
! President elect TO declare these acts null an(
| at the South, disperse the carpetba State Gov
| ernments, allow the W hite pc ople to reorganiZ
therown Govern men Is and el ect Sena, ors ant
| Representatives"
Whether the writer of this atrocious Ian
guage knew what he was saying is beside tn
question. Probably not; it is at least less dis
agreeable to suppose that he was in state o
even more than usual excitement at the time
than that the former soldier of freedom ha
become deliberate traitor. But he has no
retracted the letter. and if elected, is pledged
TO carry it out.
Whether the Convention that nominated
him knew what they were doing is also besid,
the question. Probably not; it is not attrbu
ting to them excessive patriotism or fanatca
devotion to principle to assume that they
knew the Democratic masses of the country
too we'll to ask them to vote directly for trea
son or rebellion.
But taking the most favorable supposition
Suppose the letter not to have been writer
early in the morning, and suppose the nomi
nation to have been made without reference
to it, thOughtessy, by worn out cOnven
tion, still the letter has been written as
pledge, the candidate was Immediately nomi
mated upon IL, and under the force of thes