Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1868-07-17

the second division of the sixth corps of
the army on the 9th of August, 1868, to
march to New York where they were sta
toned for several weeks to prevent tho
democratic friends of Horatio Seymour
from threatened violent opposition to the
draft that had been ordered by the national
government. And this brigade, let it be
remembered, was composed of Nermonts
brave soldiers, among whom were some of
our Brattleboro boys. Such Is Horatio
Seymour's public war record wkile Gov
ernor of the State of New York, and he is
put forward rs the standard bearer and fit
ting representative of the democratic party.
We do not care to question the propriotv.
and fitness of this selection.
The war record of Frank p. Blair Is very
different from this. In that great struggle,
and especially at the commencement, he
did good service in the Union cause, and
for this he has our hearty thanks. But his
recent letter written before his nomination,
stating his views, and foreshadowing tho
course he would have the incoming admin
istration pursue, is well worthy of serious
consideration. AS Seymour's war record
is his political death warrant, so we think
Blair has signed his own political death
warrant in the letter given below:
WASHINGTON, June 3d. 1865.
Cot. James o. Broddhead
DEAR COLONEL I'm reply 10 your in
quiries, | beg leave to say that | leave you
to determine, on consultation with my
friends from Missouri, whether, my name
| shall be presented to the Democratic Con-
vention, 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 back 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 a
majority of the popular branch of Con-
| gross. We cannot, therefore, undo the
| radical plan of reconstruction by Congress
| siOnal action; the Senate will continue a
bar to its repeal Must we submit to ii
How can it be overthrown? 1t can only
be overthrow by the authority of the Ex-
ecutive, who is sworn to maintain the Con-
stitution and who will fail to do his duty
if he allows the constitution to perish I'M
der n series of Congressional enactments
amental principles.
If the President elected by the Democrat
CIV enforces 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 administra-
ton will be as powerless as the present one
of Mr.. johnson.
There is but one way to restore the gov
eminent and the constitution, and that is
for the President elect to declare these acts
null and void, compel the army to undo
its usurpations at the South, dispense the
carpet-bag State governments, allow the
white people to reorganize their own gov
ernments and elect Senators and Repre-
sentatives. The House of Representatives
will contain a majority of Democrats from
the North, and they will admit the Repre-
sentatives elected by the white people of
the South, and with the cooperation ofthe
| President il will not be difficult to compel
| the Senate to submit once more to the OBJ
| legations of the constitution. 1t will not
be able to withstand the public judgment,
| if distinctly invoked and clearly expressed
on this Fundamental issue, and it is the sure
way to avoid all future strife to put the is
| sue 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 government has been over
thrown, or shall we exert ourselves for its
| full and complete restoration? 1t is idle to
talk of bonds, greenbacks, gold, the pub
lie faith and public credit. What can a
| Democratic President do in regard to any
| of these with Congress in both branches
controlled by carpet-baggers and their al
lies? He will be poweress to stop the sup
| plies by which idle negroes are organized
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 resources and
revenues of the government and destroys
its credit, and make the difference between
gold and greenbacks. We must restore
the constitution before we can restore the
finances, and to do this we must have q
President who will execute the will of the
people by trampling into the dust the
usurpations of Congress, known as the re-
construction 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 re-
suits. 1t is the one thing that includes all
that is worth a contest and without ii there
is nothing that gives dignity, honor or val
ne to the struggle.
| Your friend, FRANK T.. BLAIR.