Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-07-22
What They Mean.

his letter of acceptance, and to this the
whole Republican party gives hearty as
sent
''Let Us have war; is, on the other
hand, the plain intimationof the Dempcratic
leaders and to this sentiment the faithful
are expected to respond.
Had the mana gers of the New York Con-
vention expressed this idea in their platform
in so many words, they could scarcely have
made it more distinct than it is. The reso-
lutions adopted by that body substantially
declare that the reconstruction of the Rebel
States, under the several Acts of Congress,
shall not be permitted to stand, but shall be
overturned, if need be, by military force, if
Mr. Horatio Seymour can be elected Presi-
dent. We regard, say they, the reconstruc-
ton acts (so-called) of Congress as such,
as usHrpatiOHS, and unconstitutional reUOlu-
ho nary and void" This means if it has
any meaning at all, that the Acts of Con
gress are of no binding effect-that they
can with impuuity be disregarded or set
aside-and thel eby the Rebels of the South
are invited again to engage in insurrection
and rebellion.
If;here could be any room for doubling
that this is what the Convention means, the
letter of Francis p Blair who was NOM
mated for Vice President, probably because
he wrote that letter, can not fail to give the
proper Interpretation of the platform and
the designs of the Democratic leaders That
it may be fully understood in all its bearing 5,
we append the letter entire. 1t is as follows
WASHINGTON, June 80, 1868.
Dear Cotoaei-In reply to your inquiries,
l beg leave TO say that | leave to yon to de-
termlna. on consultation with my friends
/ trom Missouri, whether my name shall be
presented to the Demo cratic Convention.
and to submit the following, rs what | con
slider the real and only issue in this contest:
The reconstruction policy of the r adj
Gals Will be complete before the next elec-
4 ton; the States so long excluded 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 political
character Of the Senate. even if the Demo
/ Gratis should elect their President and ma
/ loElty of the popular branch Of Congress.
/ We cannot, therefore, undo the Radical
! plan OF reconstruction by Congress sional ac-
tlon the Senate will continue bar to its
] ,aal = -. %
be overthrown? 1t can only be orerfhrorH
/ 6y the authority Of the Erecutjre sclto IS
s,cori, to maiataip the Constitution, aad,cho
0iH JdIi to do has duty II he dRo,cS the Con-
tHHt5on to PERISH pa'ier a series of Congress-
ioHGi egldctneHts tcIiici are IN p0IDGJEs rio
tHftOR Of ITS fundamental JJg.tHti,Iies
If the President elected by the Democ
racy elfOrces or permits 0thels TO ent0rcp
these ReconstrUction acts, the Radicals, by
accession OF twenty spurious Senators and
fifty Representatives, will control both
branches of Congress, and his administration
VIII be as pOwerless as the present one of
AIr. johnson.
There as bH one 5cay to restore the Cor
c1nnieat and the Consultations and that Is
for the President elect To declare these acts
nuH and r0id, compel the army to luadO its
usurDdtjoRs at the South, Gisprrse the car
pct-bag State Governments, dli0iC the achte
people to reOrgdRize their 0lcH Governments.
and elect Senators and Representatives..
The House Of Representatives will contain
majority Of Democrats from the North,
and they will admit the Representatives
elected by the white people of the South
and 1otth tie cooperation of the President It
tcIH not he deBfcuh 70 compel tie Senate to
submit once more to the oJH1ations of the
CoRSht'tt'oH. 1t viii not be able to with
stand the public Judgment, if distinctly in
voked and clearly expressed on this funda-
mental issue, and it is the sure way to avoid
all future strife 70 put the issue plainly to
the country.
Il repeat that this IS the real and only
question which We should allow to con
troi us: Shall we submit to the usurpations
by which the Government has been over
thrown, or shall we exert ourselves for its
tuIl and complete restoration 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 con
troled by the carpet baggers and their al
lies? He will be powerless to stop the sup
plies by which the idle negroes are organ
lied 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 revenue and
I'ctulNtS VI iit bON'sEHUcNJ alll destroy
its credit-make the difference between gold
and greenbacks. We must re store the Con
stltution before we can restore the finances,
and to do this we must have a President
who will execute the viii of the people by
trampllng into dust the usurpations of Con
gre,s, known as the Reconstruction acts. ]
wish to stand before the Convention upon
this issue, but it is one which embraces every
thing 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 digni
ty, honor or value TO the struggle. Your
friend FRANK p. BLAIR.
Colonel James o. Broadhead'
Whatever else may be said of Gen. Blair,
it is but candor to admit that he Is a bold
man, aud INDUCES in no prevarication. His
letter was-written as a condition precedent
to dissemination. Init he dcfnes his views,
and says. upon these sentiments l want
TO stand before the Convention :" and as he
was selected as one of its standard bearers.
it is only fair logical deduction that the
Conye yention was governed solely in its choice