The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-08-03
WILL you HAVE CIVIL WAR.

This question Is pertinent. Itcomes home to
every man in the country, and no one, In the
light OF existing facts and In full view Of the
political situation, can fail to see Its perth
nency nor can he ignore the signiaoaney Of the
prospect at this time.
The master issue OF the campaign, as things
now stand, Is, war or peace. Vote for Blair
and Seymour, and secure their triumph, and
you have war; vote for Grant and Colfax, and
you have peace.
This is no false alarm, but q veritable state.
ment Of patent truth, made evident by the
principles, policy, and teachings OF the So
called Democratic party. 1t Is announced in
the Democratic platform by F. p. Blair, jr.,
and by Wade Hampton, that the reconstruc-
ton acts Of Congress, under which seven States
have been organized, and under which they
have assumed their harmonious relation to
the General Government" are Of no validity
they are revolutionary, unconstitutional, and
void" Mr.. Blair has pointed out in his letter
what course is to be pursued in the event that
himself and Mr.. Seymour are elected. He has
declared what Democratic House will do,
and defined the powers and duties OF the Pres
ident, and has shown how the Senate 10 to be
"COMPELLHD" to ratify the action OF the House
and the policy and doings of the President.
These reconstruction laws arc to be wiped
out"
The Democratic party accept all this, and Its
newspapers and orators not only do not deny
what is affirmed above, but actually sanction
and approve what Is foreshadowed, and dis.
tinctly declare that such is the programme OF
the party. We say, therefore, that 1t is perth
nent to inquire, will you have war or pcacel
We know how easy It Is to assume that laws
passed by Congress are Unconstitutional, and
therefore null and void; but the simple as
sumption that laws are unconstitutional does
not make them so, neither does this assump-
ton mako these statutes nugstory, nor re.
lease them from their binding force till their
unconstitutionality is determined by the only
tribunal authorized to decide in such matters.
Every reconstruction law of Congress WAS
passed in pursuance Of plain constitutional
provisions, and are, therefore, until set aside
by the Supreme Court, laws to all intents and
purposes. Any person who will take the
trouble to read article LIST, section 18th of the
Constitution will see that we are right in this
Affirmation,
Those, therefore, who propose to overthrow
these lawasin any other way tha an by the peace.
full method which the Constitution itself
points out, are clearly revolutionary. Such
are Frank Blair and Horatio Seymour; and
the Democratic party which proposes to elect
these men Ia itself = party OF revolutionists
and anarchists, and to vote for 1t and with 1t
is to vote for anarchy, bloodshed and civil
war. These are not assertions, but truths
made certain by the Democratic platform, by
the sayings, declarations and avowals of DEM
ocratic newspapers and orators everywhere
in the country, north as well as south.
Wewould have tho American people know
to just what sort of an entertainment they are
invited by this sham democracy. They are
the men who would revolutionize on every
occasion when anything Ia done that they car
call unconstitutional, provided such revolu.
ton should or could place them In power.
They are the men who would have revolu
tionized in Mr.. Jeterson's time, because he
purchased Louisiana, an act confessedly out.
side Of the Constitution; SO also again, when
the bill establishing a United States bank wal
enacted, in the judgment Of some unconstitu
tional. Then again, when Texssw was admitted
by joint resolution, another act outside tn,
Constitution. So, also, all along during thu
late war every act by which we put down thu
rebellion was declared unconstitutional, AM
these very people then, as now, thrcatene,
revolution, and had they had the power the,
would have revolutionized then; give the
the power now and let them succeed in elect
Ing Seymour and Blair, and they will deluge
our land in blood to gain power and spoils.
We say again that vote for Seymour and
blair Is vote for another civil war.