Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-20
General Blsir's Letter.

In the following letter, which was first
published in the New York World, Gen.
Blair indicates the only practicable solu-
ton Of our situation, and how the United
States can escape negro domination now
fixed on it by the void acts of the usur-
pers. 1t is a significant fact that Gen.
Blair was nominated for Vice President
on the reception of this letter and in full
view of the issue it presents and the
course he advises. His nomination was
a clear Endorsement by the Democratic
Convention of the views thus set forth:
WASHINGTON. June 30.
Colonel James o. Broadhead;
DEAR COLONEL: In reply to your in
quiries, l beg leave to say that leave
to you to determine, on consultation
with my friends from Missouri, whether
my name shall be presented to the DEM
ocratic Convention, and to submit the
following, as what / consider the real
and only issue in this contest: The Re-
ctiou policy of the Radicals will
be complete before the next election
the States, so long excluded, will have
been admitted, negro suffrage estab-
lished, and the carpet-baggers installed in
their seats in both branches of Congress.
There is no possibility of changing the
political character of the Senate, even if
the Democrats should elect their Presi
dent and majority of the popular
branch of the Congress. We cannot,
therefore, undo the Radical plan of re-
construction by Congressional action
the Senate will continue bar to its re-
peal Must we submit to it? How can
it be overthrow? 1t can only be ever
thrown by the authority of the Executive,
who is sworn to maintain the Constitu-
ton, and who will fail to do his duty if
he allows the Constitution to perish under
series of Congressional enactments
which are in palpabe violation of its
fundamental principles.
If the President elected by the Democ-
racy enforces or permits others to en-
force these reconstruction acts, the Radi.
Gals, by the accession of twenty spurious
senators and fifty representatives, will
control both branches of Congress, and
0lb huululblTatlUn VIII Uo do
as 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 declare
these acts null and void, compel the
army to undo its usurpations at the South,
disperse the carpet-bag State Govern
ments, allow the white people to reor-
ganize their own governments, and elect
Senators and Representatives. The
House of Representatives will contain a |
majority of Democrats from the North,
and they win admit the Representatives
elected by the white people Of the South,
and, with the cooperation of the Presi-
dent, it will not be difficult to compel the |
Senate to submit once more to the obli-
cations of the Constitution. 1t will not |
be able to Withstand the public judgment,
if distinctly invoked and clearly ex-
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 as: Shall we submit to the usurpa-
tions by which the Government has been |
UT 5uail we eAeTt Ourselves |
for its full and complete restoraiion2 1t |
is idle to talk of bonds, greenbacks, gold,
the public faith, and the public credit.
What can Democratic President do |
in regard to any of these, with
Congress in both branches controlled |
by the caryet-baggers and their al |
lies2 He will be powerless to stop |
the supplies by which idle negroes are
organized into political clubs, 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 edit, make
the difference between gold and green
backs. We must restore the Constitu
ton before we can restore the finances,
and to do this we. must have
President who will execute the will
Of the people by trampliug into
duE. the usurpations Of Congress, known
as the reconstruction acts. / wish to
stand before the Convention upon this
issue, but il is one which embraces
everything else that is of value in its
large and comprehensive results. 1t is
the one thing that includes all that is
worth a contest, and without it there is
nothing that gives dignity, honor or
value to the struggle.
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