The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1868-09-10
Letters Of the Candidates.
WASHINGTON, June 30, 1868.
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DEAh NoLoNEL' III Icply 10 your
inquiries, | beg leave to say, that
leave to you to determine, on consul
tatlon with my friends from Missou-
rl whether my name shall be present
ed to the Democratic Convention, and
to submit the following as what
consider the real and only Issue in
this contest.
The reconstruction policy of the
Radicals will be complete before the
next election the States so long eX-
cluded will have been admitted, n( gro
suffrage established, and tire carpet
baggers installed in their seats In both
branches of Congress. There is no
possibility of changing the political
character of the Senate, even il the
Democrats should elect their Presi-
dent and 4 majority of the popular
branch of Congress. We cannot.
therefore, undo the Radical plan of
reconstruction BY congressional ac-
tion; the Senate will continue u bar
to its repeal. Must we submit to it2
How can it be overthtown 1t can
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 II
series of congressional enactments
which are in palpable violation of its
fundamental principles.
Ii the President elected by the
Democracy cnforoes or permits others
to enforce these reconstruction acts,
the Radicals, by the accession of
twenty spurious Senators and fifty
Representatives, will control both
branches Of Congress, and his admin
istration WILDE us powcrless rs 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, COM
pei the army to undo its usurpations
at the South, dispeysc the carpct-Jag
Stare governments, allow the white
people to reOrganizc their own gov
cmmcnts, and elect Senators and
Representatives. The House of Rep
rcsentativcswill contain majority Of
Democrats from the North, and they
will admit the Representatives selcc-
ted by the white people of the South,
and, with the co-opperation of the
President, it will not be difficult to
compel the Senate to submit once
more to Tie obligations of the Consti-
tuition. 1t will not be able to with
stand the public judgment, ifdistinct-
ly invoked and clearly expressed Oh
this fundamental issue, and it Is the
sure way to avoid all future strife to
put the issue plainly to the country.
/ repeat, that'this is the real and
only question which we should allow
to control us: Shall we submit to the
usurpations by which the Govern
ment has been Overthrown, or shall
we exert ourselves for its full and
complete restoration? 1t idle to talk
of bonds, greenbacks. gold, the public
credit. What can Democratic Pres
ident do in regard to any of these,
with Il Congress in both branches
controlled by the carpet-baggers and
their allies? lie will be powcrless to
stop the supplies by which idle
negroes are organized into political
clubs-by which an army is main
tanned to protect these yagabonds in
their outragcs upon the ballot. These,
and things like these, eat up the reve-
nues and resources of the Govern
ment and destroy its credit-make
tho difference between gold and green
backs. We must restore the Consti-
tuition before we can restore the iinan-
ces, and to do this we must have y
President who will execute the will |
OF the people by trampling into dust
the usurpations of Congress known
us the reconstruction acts. wish to
stand before the convention upon this
issue, but it 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 contest, and without it |
there is nothing that gives dignity,
honor, or value to the struggle.
Your friend,