Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-09-11
THE WAY TO WAR.
From Harper's Weekly.

HOW q DoiHOJfdtiC Sut1ooS ~ thC StCC-
ton would occasion civil war is easily
seen. General BLAIR does not hesitate
to avow it. Congress must be wholly
disregarded. The Supreme Court must
not be invoked. The President must
usurp all powers of the Government and
act alone. He must be a CAESAR. ''Be.
cause" says General BLAIR in his letter,
''If the President elected by the Democ-
racy enforces, or permits others to enforce,
these Reconstruction acts, the Radicals,
by the accession oftwenty spurious SEN
ators and fifty Representatives, will con-
troll both branches of Congress, and his
administration will be as powerless as the
present one of Mr.. JOHNSON" Force IS,
therefore, the only alternative.
IF Mr.. SEYMOUR be elected, after this
loud and reiterated declaration by his
party that his election will mean forcible
overthrow of the present State govern
ments in the Southern States, the result
is evident. He would officially declare
those Governments void. He would then
be irnpeached and probably convicted.
But the Democratic party, victorious at
the polls, with the whole rebel force jubi'
liant and ready, would dispute the SEN
tence, and rise against its execution.
Meanwhile in the Southern States, the
new Democratic State organizations sum-
moned by the President would be form
ed. They would dispute the State au-
thority with the present incumbents.
The President would recognize the new
claimants and order the army to their
support, and to ''trample in the dust"
the others. They in turn would appeal
TO Congress, already engaged in conflict
with the President. Meanwhile the
Representatives and Senators sent from
the new State organizations would arrive
in Washington, and in concert with the
other Democratic members would be rec
ognized as Congress by the President.
But indeed, long before this event
civil war would be ravagiug the
country, and WADE HAMPTON. and
ROBERT TooMBs, and Howell CoBB,
and the old rebel chiefs who say with
ALBERT PIKE, ave do not love and will
not pretend to love that Union, though
we have agreed to obey the laws of the
conquerer," would gladly behold in des
olating war and ruined republic the
fullness Of their revenge.
This is the real issue. 1t can not be
denied, for the Democratic party exult-
ingly declares it. 1t can not be eyaded,
for the experience of the last few years
has taught us that we have rs desperate
and dangerous elements as any country
at any time. 1t is the relapse of the re,
bellion, and relapse of disease is often
fiercer than its original attack. There
was never moment when the utmost Of.
fort of every faithful citizen was more
Indispensable than now to salvation Of
the country. On the one hand i. Gener-
al GRANT, with bis moderation, his firm
ness, his tried patriotism, his singular sa-
gacity, his signal illustration of the finest
qualities of the intelligent American and
with him SCHUYLER CoLFAx, who has
never said word or done an act that
can inspire the least distrust, and who is
in full accord with the best and most
peaceful and progressive tendencies Of
the country. They are the candidates oil
those who would do the best that the
circumstances allow; who would recon
struct the Union upon equal rights, who
would neither ostracize nor revenge. who
would exasperate the jealousies of no race,
but who would neither betray the tried
friends nor the pledged faith of the coun
try. They are the candidates of the
great body of citizens of proven patriot
ism, intelligence, industry, and of a
peaceful mind obedient to law. On the
other hand is Mr.. SEYMOUR, plausible
/ politician, for whose success the rebels in
arms prayed four years ago; who prefer
red that the Union should perish rather
than slavery, and who declared the sue.
cess of the Government to be as revolu
tionary as that of the rebellion. With
him is General BLAIR, whose remedy fol-
the situation is the naked sword. They
are the candidates of all who hate the
Union and who sought and seek its dis
honor; of those who thought the war a
crime. and demanded that the Govern
ment should yield TO the rebellion; Of
those who would break the public word
to the public creditor; of those who
would put the late slave, always loyal,
under the feet of his always rebel master
the candidates of the ignorant and law
less every where in the land.
/ Let every man be alert. There is no
doubt of the issue or of the candidates.
And when once they are understood
there is no doubt of the country and of
the result.