The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-07-14


right, or interfere with its exercise, is
a hagrant usurpation of power which
can find no warrant In the Constitu-
ton, and if sanctioned by the people
will subvert one form of Govern
ment." They declare that the inter-
ference of Congress with the
suffrage IN States that have been
in rebellion, though that inter
ference may be absolutely necessary,
as we have found it to the recon
struction of the States, is unconstitu-
tional, and that no justification can
be found for it, and that it will sub
vert our form Of government. This
Convention has called upon the rebels
of the South to regard these govern
ments organized by the authority of |
acts of Congress, by the people of |
these States, as usurpations, uncon-
.stitutional, and it has thereby invited |
them again to Instruction and rebel |
lion. That is what that resolution |
means. There is where the Demo-
cratic party has placed itself and its |
candidates, that there shall be no ac-
quiescence in the action of Congress.
but that continued resistance is and
shall be their policy. They have Ee-
there shall be no peace, but the war
other policy for that party unless it
acquiesces in our work. If it does not /
accept these reconstruction acts, there
can be no policy but that of resist
ance and a renewal of the war.s
They declare these reconstruction
acts to be unconstitutional and void.
Iu 4 -
gard them; they have no authority
Rand may be resisted by any one with
impunity. That may not be the Lam
guage of this resolution, but it is the
substance and meaning of it. And
/ In consequence of this it received the
Endorsement and the appreciation of
| the hundreds of rebels who were in
that Convention from the South; men
who organized the rebel government;
men who organized and led the rebel
armies in battle. This, then, is the
iesue-a continuance of the war, a
renewal of the rebellion, because it is
either that or it is submission and
| acquiescence to what has been done.
| But, Mr.. President, we are not left
to grope for the meaning Of this Con-
YentIon. We are not left to seek for
it by inference. We have the letter
of General Francis 7. Blair, written
| [ believe less than a week ago, and
this letter has been endorsed by that
| Convention this afternoon by his NOM
ination as their candidate for Vice
| President. 1t is as much part of
their platform as if il was incorpor-
ated in it, for the ink was hardly dry
lie 4 i L L
nation. / repeat, sir, that this letter
is part Of the Democratic platform.
| General Blair, whatever you may say
| of him, is bold, outspoken man, and
he spoke the sentiments of that
Convention. He says, upon these
sentiments / want to stand before
the Convention" Upon these senti-
ments he was nominated. Therefore
| say that the language OF the Demo-
cratic Convention Of New York to
the whole country is war, resistance
by force of arms to Congressional
legislation. the overthrow by force of
arms of the governments that have
been erected-in the rebel States under
the laws enacted by Congress, the
continuance of this rebellion, contin-
uance of this struggle, in a somewhat
different form, but still the same
struggle, contending for the same
principles.
1t is now announced formally, not
at Montg 1mery, not at Richmond, but
at New York. The country need not
be at loss to understand the charac-
ter of the contest upon which we are
entering. It is not of peace and ac-
quiescence. of consolidation, whereby
the ravages of war may be repaired
but 1t Is new announcement Of the
rebellion under somewhat different
circumstances, but under circum-
stances formidable, dangerous and
solemn.
Let the country look the struggle
in the face. Gen. Blair has said truly
that all that is said about greenbacks
and bonds and the question of finance
is mere nonsense. The great issue is
the questioned overturning the new
State Governments by force. The
restoration of the power of the rebels.
govern ment, in those States, and
all the rest is leather and prunella."
We owe a debt of gratitude to Gems
Blair for his franknoss. There need
be no deception practiced now, and
{
issue presented substantiallyto US, but
that of the future peace of the coun-
try. If Seymour shall be elected upon
that platform he stands pledged to use
the army of the United States for the
purpose Of overturning the govern
ments that have beer established in
the South by the whole people, and
by that army to place the power back
again into the hands of the rebels.
They were with them in that Convex
ton, with him in that Convention.
They have given to them their coun-
sci They have endorsed EIr. Sey-
mour. Their Convention and all have
endorsed General FrankP. Blair.
q I know that we shall be told in the
Northwest that they intend to have
the same currency for the Govern
ment and the people,, and for the
bondholder and the laborer. They
will proclaim taxation of the bonds
as the great issue upon which they
expect to get votes-that will all be
nonsense. The great issue and the
whole contest, and we have the sol
emn declaration of their candidate
for Vice President to that effect. will
be the renewal of the war and to
overturn the State Governments that
have just been established under the
acts of Congress- General Blair has
\ relieved the Republican party of
great deal Of labor. He has unmasked
| the enemy with whom we have to
DEAL and he has. placed before the
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