New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-08-30
EX-SENATOR JOHN s. CARLISLE OF WEST
VIRGINIA, FOR GRANT AND C0LFAL.

The following is an extract from the let
ter OF Ex-senator John S. Carlisle, o
West Virginia, to which we have before re
ferred Mr.. Carlisle, it will be seen, wa;
strongly opposed to the Congressional
measures of reconstruction, but like Chic
Justice Pearson, of North carolina, Judge
Rives, of Virginia, Hon. G. N. Weston, o.
Maine, Hon. P. H. Slb,ey, Of California
General Sweitzer, of Pennsylvania, Judge
Suddiford, of New York, Ex-Governor
johnson aud Senator Hill, Of Georgia, he
sees that there is NOW no way out Of
our difficulties but by the election of the
Union candidates.
The patriotic thinking men Of the coun-
try, irrespective of old party lines, are
rapidly arriving at the same conclusion.
Mr.. Carlisle says:
My opposition to radtcalism is we'll known.
| That | would have saved the Union party
from it, if it had been in my power, is also
well known. So great was my opposition to
the ultrsism of Congressional legislation,
and so sincere my convictions, that, rather
than abste the one or surrender the other
gave up my place in the Senate, and for
| time lost the confidence of my Union
friends. had hoped and expected that the
action of the New York convention would
have entitled its nominees to the support of
Conservative Union men. Had its mem
bers pledged themselves to the main
tenance of the right of local self
government in the States, as secured
by the constitution, nominated as their
Presidential candidate man of undoubted
Unionism, who believed in the right of the
government to protect itself, and enforce its
lawful authority, I should have voted for its
nominees This was not done. On the con.
trary, 1t is my opinion that Hendricks was
defeated because he is not believer in the
right of secession. The war record of Han.
cock defeated him. Mr.. Valandigham's
patriotism nominated Seymour, and crushed
the aspirations of the Chief Justice. The
friends of the lost cause" triumphed over
the Unionism Of the Convention, and the
strife of the battlefield is to be renewed to
be fought out at the bollot-box. As much
as am opposed to the Radical legislation
Of the last six years, am more opposed to
dlsunion. So long as we are one people
vicious legislation may be corrected, even
constitutional amendments may be abol.
i,hed, and constitutional liberty preserved;
but once divided into separate States,
under different governments, liberty and
prosperity, peace and good govern
ment, are lost forever. Grant will re
ceive no support from secessionists or
their sympathizers; they are all to be found
in the ranks of the party supporting Mr..
Seymour. The conservatism of Republi-
canism nominated Grant. The Rsdicalism
of Democracy nominated Seymour. If the
Supreme Court shall decide, as the Demo.
cracy hold it will decide next winter, the re-
construction legislation of Congress uncon- |
stitutional, it will doubtless be for the |
reason, among others, that. the State has the |
right, free from Congressional interference |
or executive dictation, to form for Itself its |
own constitution, provided it be Republi- |
can in form. If this be SO, the governments |
created by the constitutions of the seeded |
States, under the laws of Congress, are null |
Titles, and have no legal existence; the |
governments created under executive dicta- |
ton must share the same fate, and these |
States will be RENTED back to the |
governments created by the constitutions
adopted by each after the passage of |
their several ordinances of secession and |
the Reputation of their allegiance to the
Constitution Of the United States. In this I
with an Executive who thinks |
with the late President Buchanan, that the
government of the United States can not use
force against the people of a seeded State
10 compel obedience to its lawful authority, |
will not disunion be fact accomplished, |
and will not the war have been fought in
vains 1t is impossible, in the limits allowed
BY the press to communications of this sort,
TO do more than briefly refer to a few con-
siderations that have brought my mind to
the conclusion to which l have arrived.
may have occasion, before the election, to |
enter fully upon the yindication of nay pro
posed action. This, If done, | shall do be-
fore the people who have heretofore honored
JOHN 8. CARLISLE.