Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1868-07-22
General Frank p. Blair's Letter.
WASHINGTON, JUNE 80.
Colonel Jas. O. Broadhead.

Colonel jas. U. Broadhedd.
DEAR colonel: In reply to your inqui-
ries, | beg leave 10 say that leave to you
to determine, on consultation with my
friends from Missouri, whether my mare
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 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 charac-
ter of the Senate, even if the Democrats
should elect their Prenident and majority
of the popular branches of Congress We
cannot, therefore, undo the Radical plan Of
reconstruction by Congressi onal action; the
Senate will continue bar to its repeal
Must we submit to it How can it b9
overthrow ? 1t can be oveIthrown by
the authority of the Executive, who is
sworn to support the Constitution. and who
will fail to do his duty if he allows the
Constitution to perish under a series Of
Congressional enactments which are in pal
pable violation Of its fundamental prlnci-
plies.
If the President elected by the Democ-
racy enforces or permits others to enforce
these Reconstruction acts, the Radicals, by
the accession twenty spurious Senators and
fifty Representatives will control both bran
ches of Congress, and his administration
will be as powerless as the present one of
Mr. Johnson.
There is but one way to restore the Gov
ernment and the Constitution, and that it
is for the President elect to declare these
acts nul. and void. compel the army to un-
do its usurpations at the South, disperse
the carpet-bag State governments, allow
the white people to reorganize their own
governments and elect Senators and Repre-
sentatives. The House of Representative
will contain majority of Democrats from
the North, and they will admit the Repre-
sentatives elected by the white people Of
the South, and with the CO operation of the
President it not be difficult to compel the
Senate to submit once more to the obliga-
tions of the Constitution. 1t will not be
able to withstand the public Judgment, If
distinctly invoked and clearly expressed,
on this fundamental issue, and 1t is the sure
way to avoid all future strife to put this is
sue plainly to the country.
repeat that this is real and only ques-
ton which we should allow to control US:
Shall we submit to usurpations by which
the Government has been overthown, or
shall we exert ourselves for its full and com
plete restoration. 1t is idle to talk Of
bonds, greenbacks, gold, the public faith
and public credit, What can Democrat
President do in regard to any of these,
with a Congress in both branches controll-
ed by the carpet-baggers and their allies !?
He will be powerless to stop the supplies
by which idle negroes are organized into
political clubs-by which an army is main
tanned to protect these vaga5onds in their
ontrages upon the ballot. These, and
resources ofthe Government and destory its
credit, makes the difference between gold
and greenbacks. We must restore the
Constitution before we can restore the fl
nances, and to do this we must have Pres
ident who will execute the will of the peo-
pie by trampling into dust the usurpation
of Congress, known as the Reconstruction
| acts. wish to stand before the Convcn-
ton upon this issue, but il is one which EN-.
braces everything else that is of vsue in
its large and comprehensive results. 1t is
the one thing that includes all that is worth
a contest, and without it there is nothing
that gives dignity, honor, or value to the
struggle.
Your friend,
| FRANK p. RLAIR.