Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-07-30
The Letter Of General Biar.

? General Frank L. Blairs recent let
ter on the Reconstruction question
will meet the approval Of every con
servative. 1t is the bold and earnes
declaration of one who intensely alb
bors the whole Radical system Of Re
construction. He very forcibly ex
PLAINS his understanding of the oatl
of the President to support the Con
stitation OF the United States.
WAsHINGToN, June 80, 1868.
Colonel James o. Broadhedd
! DEAR COLONEL In reply to your
inquiries, | beg leave to say that
leave TO you TO determine, on consul.
tation with my friends from Missouri
whether my name shall be presented
10 the Democratic Convention, and tc
submit The following as what | con
i'siuer the real ana oniy issue -thit
contest:
The reconstruction policy of the
Radicals will be complete before the
next election; the States 30 long ex-
cluded will have been admitted. negro
suffrage established, and the carpet
baggers installed in their seats in
both branches of Congress. There is
no possibility of changing the poliii
cal character Of the Senate, even il
tho Democrats should elect their
President and majority Of the popu-
lar branch Of Congress. We cannot,
therefore, under the Radical plan of
reconstruction by Congressional ac-
ton; the Senate will continue a bar
to its repeal, Must we submit to it 2
How can it be overthrown by the au-
thority 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 a
series of Congressional enactments
which are in palpable violation of its
fundamental principles.
If the President elected by the De-
mocracy entorces or permits Others to
enforce these reconstruction acts, the
Radicals, by the accession of twenty
spurious Senators, and fifty Represen-
tatives, will control both branches OF
Congress, and his Administration will
be as powerless us the present one of
Mr.. johnson.
There is but one way to restore the
Government and the Constitution. and
that is for the President elect to de-
clare these acts null and void, compel
the army to undo its usurpations at
the South, disperse the carpet bay
State governments, and allow the
white people TO reorganize their own
governments and elect Senators and
Representatives. The House of Rep
resentatives will contain a majority
of Democrats from the North, and
they will admit The Representatives
elected by the white people of the
Snnfh. and with tho OF operation of
the President it will not be difficult
to compel the Senate to submit once
more TO the obligations of the Consti.
tuition. 1t will not be able to with.
stand the public judgmentif distinctly
invoked and clearly expressed, on this
fundamental issue, and it is the sure
way TO avoid all future strife to put
this issue plainly in the country.
] repeat that this is the real and
only question which we should How
to control US; shall we submit to the
usurpations by which the Government
has b en- overthrown, or shall we ex-
ert ourselves for its full and complete
restoration 1t is idle to talk of bonds, |
greenbacks, gold, the public faith, and
the public credit. What can a Dem.
ocratic President do in regard to any |
Of these with Congress in both /
branches controlled by the carpet |
baggers and their allies 7 He viii be |
powerless TO stop the supplies by |
which idle negroes are organized into |
political clubs-by which an army is
maintained toprotect these vagabonds
IN tseir ouirages upon the 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
a President who will execute the will
Of the people by tramping into dust
The usurpations of Congress known
rs the reconstruction acts. wish TO
stand before the Convention upon this
ISSUE, as is is one which embraces ev-
else that is of value in its
arge and comprehensive results. IT.
S the one thing that includes all that
S worth a contest, and without it
here is nothing that gives dignity,
ionor, or value to the struggle.
Your friend,
ERANK u DTAID