Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-10-29
Blair'S Letter to BHOadl8ad.
The Real Democratic
Hatformt
The Issues on Which the Candidates
Wish to Stand.

FHuOilS1eu III sAe y eW l Ork w Orid july
i3, 1865 The Democratic Convention
met in New York July 4, 1868. General
Blair was unanimously nominated by
that Convention after this letter had
been made public. His name was pre-
sented by the ex-rebel General Preston
of Kentucky, seconded by Gen. Wade
Hampton of South Carolina and then on
the call of the States he received the vote
of every delegate in the Convention.
The following is true copy of that let
ter read it Democrats, and see whether
his opponents have misrepresented it.
WASHINGTON, June so. 1868.
Colonel James o. Broddhedd.
DEAR COLoNEL:-1n reply to Your in
quiries, beg leave to say that leave for
you to determine, OH consultation with
my friends from Missouri, whether NV
name shall be presented 80 the Detfio-
cratic Convention, and to submit the fol-
lowing, as what L consider the real and
only issue in the contest.
1.-The reconstruction policy of the radi-
Gals will be complete before the next elec-
ton: the States SO long excluded will
have been admitted negro, suffrage es-
tablished, and the carpet baggers installed
in their seats in both branches OF Con-
gress. There is no possibility of chang
ing the political character Of the Senate
even If the Democrats should elect their
President and a majority of the popular
branches OF Congress. We cannot there
fore, undo the radical plan of reconstruc-
ton by Congressional action; the Sen
ate will continue i bar to its repeal
Must We submit to it? How can it be,
overthrown? Itcan 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 enactinents,
which are in palpable violation of its !
principles ~ rs 80
If the President, elected by the DEM
ocracy, enforces, or permits others to en-
force these reconstruction acts, the radi- 1
Gals, by the accession of twenty spurious
Senators and fifty Representatives, will Z
control both branches of Congress, and
his administration will be as powerless /
as the present one of Mr.. johnson.
I" There is but one way ofrestoring the I
government and the Constitution, and /
that is for the President-elect to declare
'hese acts null and void, compel the /
army TO undo its usurpations at the
South, disperse the carpet bag State
allow the white people to
their own governments and
slect Senators and Representatives. The
House OF Representatives will contain a
majority of Democrats from the North,
md they will admit the Representatives
'lected by the white people of the South
mo with the cooperation of the Presi-
lent 1t will not be difficult to compel the Z
senate to submit once more to the obli-
cations of the Constitution. 1t will not
'e able to Withstand the public judg-
nent. If distinctly invoked and clearly
on this fundamental issue, and
8 as the sure cOdy to dUOid all future strife
o put this issue plainly before the country.
L repeat that this is the real and only
question which we should allow to con-
roi US: Shall we submit to the usurpa-
ions by which the government has been
verthrown, or shall we exert ourselves
Or Its full and complete restoration? 1t
. adIe to tdH of bonds, gTeea6dcks, gOLG,
ne Pu0ttc Jatth and the public credit
What can Democratic President do in
egard to any of these, with Congress
q 1oth branches controlled by the car
et-baggers and their allies? He will !
e powerless to stop. the supplies by
,hich the idle negroes are organized into
olitical clubs-by which an army is
to protect these vagabonds
their outrages upon the ballot. These
nd things like these eat up the revenues
nd resources of the Government, and
estroy its credit, make the difference
etween gold and greenbacks. We must
estore the constitution before we can
store the finances; and to do this we
lust have president who will execute
le will of the people by trampLing into
Ast the etsurpdtioRs Of Congress, knolCn1
s the Reconstruction acts I IRISH to
and before the ConUention upon Mis
sue, but it is one which embraces every
ing else that Is of value in its large aud
results. 1t is the one
ling that includes all that is worth
'ntest, and without it there is nothing
lal gives dignity, honor, sor vai0e to the-
ruggle. Your friend,
FRANK p. BLAIR.