Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-07-28
JOHN g. CoCKRELL, coouo.,
BENZ +. BEALL, secretaries
Gen. Blair's Letter of Acceptance.

Gen George ". 4Noryan, Chairman Conn
p,ittcc National Democratic C0mDenttom 4:
GENERAL-I take the earliest opportunity
of replying to your letter notifying me Of my
nomination for Vice President of the United
States by the National Democratic ConveD-
ton recently held in the city of New York.
[ accept without hesitation the nomination
rendered in manner so gratifying, and give
you and the committee my thanks for the very
kind and complimentary language in which
you have conveyed to me the decision Of the
Convention.
have carefully read the resolutions adopt
ed by the Convention, and most cordially
concur in every principle and sentiment they
announce. My opinions upon all of the ques-
tons which discriminate the great contend
ing parties have been freely expressed upon
all suitable occasions, and | do not deem it
necessary at this time to rciterate them
The issues upon which the contest turns are
clear. and cannot be obscured or distorted by
the sophistries of our adversaries. They all
resolve themselves into the old and ever re-
curing struggle OF few men to absorb the
political power Of the nation. This effort, I'M
der every conceivable name and disguise, has
always characterized the opponents of the
Democratic party, but at no time has the at
tempt assumed u shape so open and daring as
in this contest. The adversaries of free and
constitutional government, in defiance OF the
express language of the Constitution, have
erected military despotism in ten of the
States of the Union, have taken from the
President the power vested in him by the su
preme law, and have deprived the Supreme
Court of its jurisdiction.
The right of trial by jury and the great
IF ;uht no Of
safety for every citizen, which have descend
ed to US from the earliest traditions of our
ancestors, and which our revolutionary faith,
ers sought to secure to their posterity forever
in the fundamental charter of our liber-
ties, have been ruthlessly trampled under
foot by the fragment of a Congress. Whole
States and communities Of people of our own
race have been attainted, convicted condemn
ed and deprived of their rights as citizens
without preSentment or trial or witnesses, but
by Congressional enactment of &c post focto
laws, and in defiance of the constitutional
prohibition, denying even to full and legal
Congress the authority to pass any bill of at
tainder or &c post factO law. The same usurp-
ing authority has substituted as electors in
place of men of our own race thus illegally
attained and DISTINGUISHED host of ignorant
negroes who are supported in idleDess with
the public money and combined together to
strip the white race oftheir birthright through
the management of the Freedmen's Bureaus
and the emissaries OF cOnsprators 10 other
States, and to complete the oppression the
military power of the nation has been
placed at their disposal, in order to make
this barbarism supreme The military
leader under whose prestige this usurplng
Congress has taken refuge since the con-
demnation of their schemes by the free peo-
pie of the North in the elections of the last
year, and whom they have selected as their
candidate to shield themselves from the result
of their own wickedness and crime, has an
nounced his acceptance of the nomination
and his Willingness to maintain their usurpa~
tons over eight millions of white people at
the South fixed to the earth with his bayo
nets.
He exclaims, s'Let us have peace" sPeaee
reigns in Warsaw" was the announeeWe Mt