Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-07-07
Gen. Frank r.. Blair's Views.

Before the meeting of the Convention in
New York, Gen. Blair wrote to q friend, and
published the following exposition Of his views,
I; which are frank and explicit enough, it must
be acknowledged even BY those who disapprove
OF them: - ...r...-.., III .s.,-q .rw
The reconstruction policy of tho Radicals
will be complete before the next election; the
States, SO long excluded, will have been admit
ted: negro suffrage established; and the carpet
bageers installed in their seats in both branches
of Congress. There is no possibility OF chang
ing the political character of the Senate, even
if the Democrats should elect their President
and majority of the popular branch OF Con
press. We cannot therefore, undo the Radical
plan of reconstruction by Congressional action;
the Senate will continue bar to its repeal
Must we submit to it? How can it be over
Ithrown2 It 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 q series OF Congressional enact
ments which are in palpable violation OF Its
fundamental principles. ,..''5 =. :. ,,
If the President elected by the Democracy
entorces, or permits others to enf0rce, these
Reconstruction acts, the Radicals, by the acces-
sion of twenty spurious Senators and htty kel2-
rescntatiyes, will control both branches OF Con
gress, and his administration will be as power
less as the present one OF MIR. johnson:
There is but one way to restore the Govern
mept and the Constitution, and that is for
the President elect to declare these acts null
and void, compel the army to undo its usurpa-
tions at the South, disperse the carpet-bag
State Governments, allow the white people to
reorganize their own governments, and elect
Senators and Representatives. The House OF
Representatives will contain majority OF
> Democrats from the North, and they will ad-
nit the Representatives elected by the white
people Of the South, and with the cooperation
Of the President it will not be difficult to COM
pei the Senate to submit once more to the OBJ
legations of the constitution. 1t will not be
able to withstand the public judgment, if dis
tinctly invoked and clearly expressed on this
fundamental issue, and it is the sure way to
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 us:
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 Pre- esldent DO
in regard to any Of these, with Congress in
both branches controlled by the carpet baggcrs
and their allies2 He will be powerless to- stop
the supplies by which idle negroes are organized
into political clubs by which ap army is m ain
tanned to protect these vagabopds in; their out
RACES uponthe ballot: These, and things like
these, eat up the revenues and resources Of the
Government and destroy its credit-make the
difference between gold and greenbacks. We
must restore the constitution before We can,
restore the finances, and to, 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 i wish to stand. before the convention
uron this issue, but it is one which embraces
everything else that is of value its large and
comprehensive results. It is the one thing
that includes oil that Is worth contest, and
without it there is nothing that gives dignity,
honor or value to the; struggle. Your friend,
.ao:I2iq:Gou 9a! a"i;;.. FRANK z. BLAIR.