The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-07-10
GENERAL. FRANK T.. BLAIR DEFINES
HIS POSITION.


COl0nI JdS. O. BrOudhedd.
DEAR C0LoNEL:-In reply to your
inquiries, L beg leave to say that /
leave you to determine, on consulta-
ton with my friends from Missouri,
whether my name shall be presented to
the Democratic Convention, and to
submit the following, as what | con-
slider the real and only issue in this
contest.
The reconstruction policy of the Rad
icals will be complete before the next
election; the States, SO long excluded,
will have been admitted negro suff-
rage established and the carpet-baggerS
installed in their seats in both branch
es of Congress. There is no possibility
of changing the political character of
the Senate, even if the Democrats
should elect their President and ma
ijority of the popular branch of Con-
gress. We cannot, therefore, undo the
Radical plan of reconstruction by Con-
greSsional action; the Senate will con-
tinue a bar to its repeal. Must we
submit to it? How can it be over
thrown? 1t can only be overthroWn
by the authority of the executive, who
is sworn to maintain the Constitution,
and who will fail to do his duty if he
allows the Constitution to perish un-
der series of Congressional enactments
which are in palpable violation of its
fundamental principle.
If the President elected by the De-
mOcracy enfOrceS or permits others to
enforce these Reconstruction acts, the
Radicals, by the accession of twenty
spurious Senators and fifty Representa-
tiVeS, will control both branches of
Congress, and his administration Will
be as poWerless as the present one of
Mr.. Johnson.
There is but one way to restore the
Government and the Consultation, and
that is for the President elect to declare
these acts null and void, disperse the
carpet-bag State governments, allow
the white people to reorganize their
own governments, and elect Senators
and Representatives The House of
Representative will contain majori-
ty Of Democrats from the North, and
they will admit the Representatives
elected by the white people of the the
South, and with the cooperation of the
President it will not be difficult to
compel the Senate to submit once
IllOIC W lilG ODIlSdllOllo VI IllC SoIloll-
tuition. twill not be able to Withstand
the public judgment, if distinctly in
voked and clearly expressed, on this
fundamental issue, and it is the sure
way to avoid all future strife to put
this issue plainly to the country.
| repeat that this is the real and only
question which we should allow to con-
troll US Shall we submit to the usurpa-
M Enxynr,IonV1f hoe
been OVerthrOWn or shall we exert our
selves for its full and complete restor-
alton. 1t is idle to talk of bonds,
greenbackS, gold, the public faith and
the public credit. What can Demo-
cratic President do in regard to any of
these with Congress in both branches
controlled by the carpet-baggers and
their allies? He will re pOWerlesS to
stop the supplies by which idle neg
rOes are organized into political clubs
by which an army is maintained to
protect these vagabOnds in their out
rage upon the ballot. These, and
things like these, which eat up the
revenues and resources of the Govern
ment and destroy its credit, make the
difference between gold and green
backs. We must restore the Consti
tuition before we can restore the fl
nances, and to do this we must have
President who will execute the will of
the people by trampling into dust the
usurpations of Congress, known as the
reconstruction acts. | wish to stand be-
fore the Convention upon this issue,
but it is one which embraces every
thing else that is of value in its large
and comprehensive results. 1t is the
Gne thing thatincludes all that is worth
a contest, and without it there is moth
ing that gives dignity, honor or value
to the struggle. Your friend,
FRANK p. BLAIR.