The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1868-10-29
. si~tterssf the Candidates.
PEACE OR WAR!
LII n.fA
wAsnHsros. June -. 1868.

= Colonel JANEs Q, PHoArrxAD
DEAR uotoSgL: IN .cply 70 you'
lnsairies, rFg Ra*e 20 sa.,'s-thsa
leave TO yoa sodetsrnine' on consul
'tAtion with my friends from Missou'
ri, whether my name shall be present
ed to the Democratic Convention. and
to submit the following ~ what Z
consider the real and only issae In
this contest
The reconstructiOn policy Of the
Radicals will be complete before the
next election the States so long ex-
Rluded will Lavo been admitted, NJ gre
suffrage established. and tlie carpet
baggGs anstailedin their seats ir both
Branches Of Congress. There is nc
possibility Of changing the political
character Of the Senate, even II IhC
Democrats should elect their PresI-
dent and q majority Of the popular
braRch OF Congress. We cannot,
therefore, undo the Radical plan VI
reconstruction by congressional ac-
ton; the Senate will continue a bar
VeTts repeal. Must we submit to III
How can II be overthtownf IL can
only be oserthrown by the authority
Of the Executive, who Is sworn 10
snaintaln the Constitution, and who
will fail to do his duty af he allows
the Constitution TO perish under n
series Of congressional cnaetments
which are In palpable violation Of Its
fundamental principles.
& the President elected by Slie
Democracy enforces or permits others
70 enforce these reconstruction acls,
the Radicals, by the accession Of
twenty spurious Senators and nay
Representatives, will control both
branches Of Congress, and his admin
istration will be as powerless as the
present one Of Mr.. johnson.
TheSc isbGt one way to restore the
GoxernmeEt and the Constitution,
and TINT Is for the President elect to
declare these acts null and void, COM
pei the army 10 undo It's usurpations
at'the South. dlspsrse the carpet-bag
State governments, allow the white
p~opie 70 reorgsnize their own gov
enments, and elect Senators and
Representatives. Tbe House Of Rep
Iessntatirsswiii eontaan . majority Of
Dsnoerats from The North, and they
viii admit the Representatives selec-
ted bv the white people OF tic south,
and, with the co-opperation Of the
President, twill, not be diileu.l to
compel the Senate 10 submit once
Iaore TO TIE Obligations ofthe ConitI-
tuition. II win not be able 10 with
stand the public Judgment, ifdistlnc,-
iy invoked and clearly expressed on
this fundamental issue, and It u the
sure why to avoid all future strife to
pal the Issue plainly to the country.
I repeat that this u the real and
cDiy que2,ion which we should allow
20 ecntrol Us. Shall we submit to the
lsurpstions by which the Govern
ment has been overthrow, or shall
we exert ourselves for itS full and
complete restoration7 Itisidle t. talk
ofbonds, greenbaeks gold. the public
credit. What teaDa Dslaocrs.!c Pres
ident do III regard 70 any ei these.
with a CongrCSs In both branches
controlled by the Carpet-baYgers and
their alllesI He will be powerless TO
stop the supplies By which Idle
negroes ara orgAnize@ into political
clnbs--by which an army Is main
talned to protect these vagabonds ir
their outragcs upon the ballot. These,
and things like these, eat up the reye-
nues aud resources of the Govern
nient and destroy Its credit--Make
tlie difference between gold and green
backs. Se must restore the Consti-
tuition before We can restore the finan-
ces, and to do this we must have a
President who will execute the will
OF the people BY trampling into dust
the usurpations of Congress known
% the reconstruction acts. / wish to
stand before the convention upon this
Issue, but 1t Is one which embraces
everything else that Is of value in its
large aud comprehensive results. 1t
Ia the one thing that includes all tha,
Is worth a contest, and without Il
there 10 nothing that gives dignity,
honor, or value to the struggle.
Your friend,
FRANK P. BLAIR.
WASHINGTON, D. G., May 20, 1868.
General JOSEPH r. HAwLEY,
Presiden, National Union Republican
Convention
II formally accepting the nomina-
ton of the National Union Republl-
Convention of the 2!st of May in
slant, It seems proper that some
statement Of the views beyond the