The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-08-13
Mr.. weston's Letter.

from all participation in the peradious, dark,
and revolutionary plots with which the lead.
ers OF the coppcrheAd Democracy would en-
yifoa us.
The following letter from George NJ. wes-
toni esq, will be rend by all our readers, and
we need make no apology for giving It room
thus promiscously in our editorial columns.
Mr.. Weston 40 well known In Washington
aad throughout the country as one Of the
most, ifnot the most, able and powerful holit-
icAI writer's In the United States He holds .
trenchant pen. CIV. ... i'ths a'lA1A. -
q In the early days OF the Republican party,
and during Its progress, Mr. wsaton contrib
utei some OF the mort able political papers
which were produced, papers which were po-
tcutisl and eminentiy infuential in moulding
the opinions Of men. Aseampaign documents
the contributions Of his pen took theSlead
and were sought after and read by all. D" D.
For severaiyear Mr.. Weston was the leading
editor OF the REPUBLICAN, and his editorials
were read and appreciated by thousands, aud
admired BY all for their ability, force, perspe-
Guilty, and dfrectness. Ft
Mr.. Weston, as he says IN his letter, did not
believe in the reorganization policy Of Con-
gress In some OF Its main features, but he had
too much good sense 10 ever believe. In or
accept that twaddle and nonsense that the acts
passed by Congress were or are uneonstitu-
tional. .... ......r.s Cd
Two years ago Mr.. Weston was the Demo.
cratic candidate for Congress In the Fourth
Maine District, and has since and up 10 the
July convention acted with that party. II
win be seen by this admirable letter that he
docs not propose to follow the revolutionary
lead OF Frank Blair.
This letter was addressed to personal friend
In North Carolina II places the issue dis
tinctIy before the country, and cannot fall TO
do great goodi
BANGOR, ME- August 3, 1873.
On. ]. NJ. woRTH, AsBBoRo', N. Oh Dear
Sir: During my visit of last winter TO your
state, I observed with anxious attention every
construction policy of Congress. what saw
and what heard confirmed, as you well know,
that conviction Of its serious errors which
efrort to prevent It's adoption by the country.
witnessed, with q pain and soiieitude OF
which rather restrained than exaggerated
m
ment OF which had been placed In the hands OF
the Glasses OF the least intelligence, and hay.
order and the advancement Of material pros.
perity.. All my. reflections on the spot
strengthened my belief that uniyeral amnesty
sh ould have gone handin!hand with universal
suffrage at the south, and that II the protec.
tion OF the rights of the blacks required that
they should be armed with the ballot, the pro-
that The numerical merit sseendsney Of the WHITES
should not be nullihed by disfranehi sements,
aud especially not by such sweeping disfran-
ehisements as are contained In the rcconstruc-
tion acts OF Congress.
But in practically dealing with Affairs we
must take things as we find them. This re-
construction policy Of Congress, strenuously
Ia an accomplished fact. The effects Of IL may
be modified by events and the policy itself
may be softened with the gradual subsistence
OF the passions connected with the late strug-
gle. But overthrown II cannot be, except BY
revolution and another civil war, and the is
sues of the pending Presidential canvass are
ssy oSe a al ot the whetSer he
country Is ready for so desperate a remedy as
that for any grievances which exist.
The candidate Of the Democratic party for
the Vice Presidency, and who, II elected to
that office, will ind between himself and the
supreme executive power only the frail bar
rier Of single life in his letter Of the 3oth Of
June last, declared:
"There is but one way to restore the Gov
eminent and the Constitution, and that is for
the President elect to declare these acts 1.-THE
econstruetion actsl null and void, compel the
army TO undo its usurpatons at the South,
dispense the carpct-bag State governments,
allow the white people to reorganize their
own governments and elect Senators and Rep,
Iesentatives, We must have President who
will execute the will Of the people by tramp
ling into dust the usurpations OF Congress
that this Ia the real and only a question which
we should allow to control us. wish to stand
before the Convention upon thia issue, but il
is one which embraces everything OF value In
Its large and comprehensive results"
Mr.. Blair does not oyerstate the magnitude
| OF the consequences involved In his presenta-
| tion as IA candidate for the Vice Presidency,
| and contingently for the Presidency, on such
| an issue as that Indeed, II is impossible for
could remain as to the purpose Of the iesdefs
| OF party nominating such a'man and on the
\ basis OF such declarations, II Is removed BY
the platform which they have adopted, In
| az revolutionary, uHconsfiiuftopaI, null asd
poid," thereby expressly justifying and in.
Wiling revolutionary resistance to them, As
fitting origin In their committee on resolti.
| lions, in Gen. Wade Hampton Of s. O., and he
has told US how they were received In that
| body:
I "Fhen proposed that every single member o.
the committeeman The pdrmesi men IN q pers IL,
men Of the HoriA-came Jovtpdrd and SAID hsI
pould CARRY IT FORWARD TO THE END
What that "end', is, II requires no prophet
to forteli. New hecatombs of young mer
slain In battle, new connagrations OF cltiei
The assumption of the Democratic nj atforu,
. that the reconstructIon acts are hnuu dnt
! poid," has no shadow OF fact or law TO res
i without any civil goyernments which coui,
| be recognized as such, consistently with tn,
| result OF the late war, 1t Is plain that unles
the work OF reorganization was commence
\ within them by spontaneous popular move
ments, which were not possible without dan
gerous political commotions, 1t must hAv
, been commenced by some power outside o
them, and that power could be no other tina
the Government of the Union. So Presiden
| Lincoln Understood 1t. So President Johnsol
understood It, and he proceeded accordingly +
prescribe reorganization, regulating BY ex
ecutiye proclamation who should vote an
who should be excluded from voting in elect
Ing members Of conventions to frame consti