The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1868-08-04
Blair's Infamous Letter.
HIS REVOLUTIONARY PLATFORM.
THREATENS REVOLUTION. "a
/ THE DEMOCRACY ENDORSE HIM.
THREATENS REVOLUTION.
WASHINGTON, JUNE 80, 1868.


-.t. WASHINGTON, JUNE 80, 1868.
COL James O. Broadhead: Dear Coloncl-In
reply to your inquiries, I beg leave to say that
/ leave to 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.
Tho reconstruction policy of the radicals will
be complete before the next election; the States
so long excluded will have been admitted, me-
gro suffrage established, and the carpet baggers
installed in their seats in both branches of Con-
gress. There is no possibility of changing the
political character of the Senate, even if the
Democrats should elect their President and q
majority of the popular branch Of Congress-
We cannot, therefore, undo the radical plan of
reconstruction by Congressional action: theSen-
ate will continue bar to its repeal. Must we
submit TO it? How can it be overthrown? 1t
can only be overthrown by the authority of the
Executive, who is sworn to maintain the Con-
stitution and who will fail to do his duty il he
allows the Constitution to perish under series
of Congressional enactments, which are in pal>
pabe violation of its fundamental principles.
If the President elected by the Democracy
enforces or permits others to enforce these re-
construction acts. the radicals, by the accession
Of twenty spurious Senators and fifty Represet-
taives, will control both branches Of Congress,
and his administration will be powerless as
the present one of Mr.. johnson. @--sE-a-
There is but one way to restore the Govern
ment and the Constitution, and that is for the
President elect to declare these acts null and
void. compel the army to undo its usurpatons
at the South, disperse the carpet bag State Cow
ernments. allow the white people to reorganize
their own governments and elect Senators and
Representatives. The House of Representatives
will contain majority Of Democrats from the
North, and they admit the Representatives ell
ected by the white people of the South, and
with the cooperation of the President it will
not be difficult to compel the Senate to submit
once more to the obligations of the Constitution.
1t will not be able to withstand the public judg
ment, if distinctly invoked and clearly express>
ed, on this fundamental issue and it is the
sure way to avoid all future strife to getthis is
sue plainly to the country.
l repeat that this is the real and only ques-
ton which we should allow to control US
Shall we submit to the usurpations by which
the Government has been overthrown, or shall
we exert ourselves for its full and complete
storation? 1t is idle to talk of bonds, green
backs, gold, the public faith and the public cred
it. w hat can Democratic President do in
regard to any of these with Congress in both
branches controlled 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 vagabonds in their OUT
RACES upon the ballot
These, and things like these, eat up the reve-
nue. and resources of the Government and de-
stroy it's credit, make the difference between
gold and greenbacks. must restore the
Constitution before we can restore the finances,
and to do this we must have President who
will execute the will of the people by trampling
into the dust the usurpatons of Congress;
known as 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
suits. 1t is the one thing that includes all that
is worth contest, and without it there is moths
ing that gives dignity, honor or value to the
Struggle -G-s2- e - tlsE
st-rrse5a Your friend. FRANK r. BLAIR.