The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-07-10

Somebody, somewhere, we do not know
when, had suggested =. p. Blair IS the Demo
cratic candidate tor the Presidency, where,
upon Mr., Blair sont 10 his friend the follow Inc
letter. II
We dd not deem It worth while to publish
this letter when Il first made Its sppesrsnce
but since he has been nominatcd Tor Vice
President by the Democratic party, we give
him the benefit which may result to himself
aud his party from his avowals;
wAsaIsoToS. June 20. 1865.
beg leave to say that leave to You to deter
mine, on consultation with my friends from
Missouri, whether my name shall be presented
the following, as what consider the real aad
only issue In this contest;
.rhe reconstruction policy Of tho Radicals
will be complete before the nest elections the
mitted, negro sufrrrye established, and the
earpet-basgers Installed In their seats In both
branches q Congress. There 10 no possibility
OF Snsusing Tie .SS5 o. ss sse hen
President and q majority OF the popular
branch OF Congress. We cannot, therefore,
undo the Radical plan of reconstruction by
congressional actionj the Senate will continue
a bar to its repeal. Must we submit to 1t !
How can 1t be overthrowni II can only be
oyerthrown by the authority Of the Executive,
and who will fail to do his duty II he allows
the Constitution to perish under series Of
Congressional enactments, which are In pal
pable violation of its fundamental principles
"If the President, elected by the Democracy,
enforces or permits others to enforce these re-
construction acts, the Radicals, by the aces.
sion OF twenty spurious senators and hfty
Representatives, will control both branches Of
Congress, and his administration will be AZ
powerless as the present one of Mr.. johnson
"There is but one way to restore the Gov
eminent and the Consultation, and that is foi
the President elect to declare these acts null
and void, compel the army to undo its usuIpa
lions at the South, disperse the carpet baG
| State governments, allow the white people tt
Senators and Representatives. The House o
| Representatives will contain q majority o.
Democrats from the North, and they will ad
people Of the south, and with the co-opera
ton of the President II will not be dificult tt
compel the Senate to submit once more TO the
obligations Of the Constitution. II will moi
| be able to Withstand the. public Judgment, Il
| distinctly invoked and clearly expressed, OIL
this fundamental issue, and 1t lie the sure way
to avoid all future strife to put this issue
@ repeat that this is the real and only ques
tion which we should allow to control US
Shall we submit to the usurpations by whiei
the Government has been overthrown, or shall
! restorationi 1t 10 idle to talk OF bonds, green
backs, gold, the public faith and the publ
credit. What can Democratic President Dc
In regard to any Of these, with Congress ii
both branches controlled by the carpet-bag
| gers and their allies He will be powerless 4
stop the supplies by which idle negroes ar
organized into political elubs-by which a
army is maintained to protect these yag sbond
In their outrages upon the ballot These, an
| things like these. eat up the revenues aud rt
| sources of the Government and destroy II
| credit, and make the difference between sol
and greenbaeks. We must restore the Const
tuition before we can restore the finances; an
| to do this we must have q President who vii
execute the will OF the people, by tramplin
| into dust the usurpations of Congress, know
| as the reconstruction acts. i wish to stan
| before the Convention upon this issue, but
Is one which embraces everything else that
OF value in its large and comprehensive RI
| that 10 worth contest, and without II Their,
10 nothing that gives dignity, honor, or valu
to the struggle. Your friend,
| FRANK p. BLAIR.n