Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-07-16
Gem. Frank p. Blair,s views.

Before the meeting Of the Convention in
New York Gen. Blair wrote to friend, and
published the following exposition of his views,
which are frank and explicit enough, it must
be Acknowledged, even by those who disap-
prove Of them;
The reconstruction policy Of the Radicals
vii! be complete before the next election; the
States, 50 long excluded, will have been ad-
mitted. negro suffrage established; and the
carpet-baggers installed in their seats in both
branches Of Congress. There is no possibility
Of changing the political character of the Sen
ate, even if the Democrats should elect their
President and majority Of the popular branch
OF Congress. We cannot, therefore, undo the
Radical plan Of reconstruction by Congressional
action the Senate will continue bar TO its
repeal Must we submit TO i'll How can 1t
be overthrown? 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 under series Of Congressional enact
inents which are in palpable violation of its
fundamental principles.
If the President elected by the Democracy
enlorces, or permits others to enforce, these
| Reconstruction acts, the Radicals, by the ac-
ceSsion Of twenty spurious Senators and fifty
Representatives, 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 Govern
ment and the Constitution. and that is for the
| President elect to declare these acts null and
void. compel the army to undo its usurpations
at the South, dispense the carpet-bag State
| Governments, allow the white people TO reor-
! ganize their own governments, and elect Sena-
tors and Representatives. The House of Rep
resentatves will contain a majority of Demo-
Gratis from the North, and they will admit the
Representatives elected by the white people of
/ the South, and with the cooperation of the
! President it will not be difficult 10 compel the
| Senate to submit once more to the obligations
| of the constitution. 1t will not he able to with
stand the public judgment, if distinctly invoked
| and clearly expressed on this fundamental Is
sue. and il is the sure way 10 avoid all future
strife to put the issue plainly to the country.
! repeat that this is the real and only ques-
| ton which we should allow to control u.s.
Shall we submit to the uSurpations by which
/ the Government has been Overthrown or shall
we exert ourselves for its full and complete
restoration 1t is idle to talk of bonds, green
backs, gold, the public faith. and the public
credit. What can Democratic President do
in regard tn any of these, with a Congress in
both branches controlled by the carpet-baggers
/ and their allies? He will be powerless to stop
the supplies by which idle negroes are organ
/ lied into political cubS-by which an army is
maintained to protect these vagabonds in their
OutrageS upon the ballot. These, and things
like these, eat up the revenues and resources of
the Government and destroy its credt-make
the differences between gold aud greenbacks.
| We must restore the constitution before we can
restore the finances. and 10 do this we must
| have President who will execute the will of
the people by trampling into dust the usurpa-
tions Of Congress, known as the reconstruction
/ acts. wish to stand before the convention
upon this issue, but it is one which embraces
everything else that is Of value in its large and
comprehensive results. It's the one thing that
includes all that is worth contest, and with
out il there is nothing that gives dignity, honor
or value to the struggle. Your friend,
FRANK p BLAIR.