The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-07-23
THE ISSUE OF THE CAMPAIGN.

When the Democratic party constructed and
enunciated their platform, 1t was thought that
the financial issue was TO be, on their part the
rallying cry Of the campaign. 1t 10 now evil
dent that this subject is entirely subordin-
nted to the one leading issue, the overthrow
OF the reconstruction work OF Congress, or II
need be, TO effect this purpose, the overthrow
of the Government itself in favor OF rebel and
copperhead rule.
Frank Blair announced in his Broadhead
letter the real purpose, the one single aim Of
the party. Mr.. Blair says:
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 usurpa.
lions at the South, dispense the carpet-bAg
state governments, allow the white people TO
organize their own governments, and elect
Senators and Representatives."
Again, he says:
al repeat that this Is the real and only ques-
tion which we should allow to control US
Shall we submit to the usurpations by which
shall we exert ourselves for Its full and COM
plete restoration 1t is idle to talk of bonds
Sreenbaeks, gold, the public faith, and the pub
five look to what is going on in the South,
we see that this is the only issue which they
the unrepentent rebcls-think about or talk
about. Their newspapers and their orators
talk OF the overthrow OF the newly recon-
strueted States, and nothing else ; and their
people are jubilant over the idea that the eIec-
tion Of Blair and Seymour saves to them what
they have been accustomed to look upon as
"the lost cause"
We copy the following from the Augusta
(Ga) Chronicle. In a leading editorial, that
paper says:
"These 'mOngsel things are to be wiped out,
and constitutional governments are to be re-
established again in the ten Southern States
IL Is, therefore, the duty Of every man who
loves his State and his race-who loves liberty
and the government OF law aud order-to work
manfully and hsrmoniously with his fellow
citizens against all Influences and Movements
the present illegal and fraudulent State gov
ernments: Let Va protest against them and
work against them, and irown down any and
every one, no matter what his influence or
station in the past, who advocates the estab-
hshing OF mongrel governments and mongrel
tIon means this, and that II is wretehed sS-
pediency, and a wicked, sinful policy which
urges the acceptance of this condition Of AZ
ihlrs, 1t Is that policy which would sacrifice
everything here aud hcrc.f for the sake OF
temporary sxpediency. The great mass of
our people repudiate II. Their hands and
their consciences are CLEAR of the abOmina-
ton"
There you have 1t plain and nat. Seven o,
the whilom Confederate States have made
constitutions in accordance with the laws OF
Congress, constitutions which are in harmony
with the constitution OF the United States.
Their State governments are now organized
and are in working orderJ their Senators and
sentatives have been admitted into Con
gress. All this is to be overturned, these gov.
ernments dispersed by the military, and the
Senate, which may be Republican, compelled to
acquiesce In these violent proceedings. This
is the one issue Of the campaign, and II Sey-
mour and Blair be elected 1t is to be carried
out.
Mr.. Robert Toombs, who once threatened to
call the roll Of his slaves at the foot Of Bunker
Hill Monument, has recently made speech
at Atlanta, Georgia. His speech is published
In the papers. This rebel announced with his
usual flourish that "this shall be white mats
government and. he said that he hailed the
nomination q Seymour as the deliberate AS
sertion of that principle by the Democratic
party. He says that the platform laid down
In New York Is an "arraignment at the bar Of
the whole world of the Republican party,
whose acts for the last six years have shamed
human nature itself, and violated every prin-
eiple OF virtue and truth" This is what might
be expected from such wlnd-bag as Toombs;
Out his words are In full harmony with the
current OF Democratic sentiment, both north
and south. Toombs enuncIates the issue as fol-
lows; What these people call reeoR,tfueiioH
measures are null and rOid, and not Idio." He
moreover calls upon the people of the south
40 resiH them 10 The death"
1t Is not alone in the South that thi 8 spirit
lie manifest. The Northern eopperhcads are
equally rampant and violent In their notions,
though perhaps more cautious in stating
them. Still there are many who talk flip
PANTY, and some boldly, of repudiating all the
Republicans have done In the way Of recon.
struction. The harsngue of Mr.. Hendricks In
the Senate on Tuesday Is a clear indication OF
what the copperhead Democracy will do
should they obtain power. one OF our city
contemporaries has already announced that II
approves Blsir's letter-eyery word Of it.n
The Democratic platform means just what
these Southern rebels in the party say Il
means-nothing less, nothing more; and before
the campaign commences In earnest all the
stump orators and all the newspapers in the
party VIII be forced to take this position.
Elect Seymour and Blair, and carry out and
apply this doctrine and the war will have
been fought In vain. Every life given up In
the cause and In behalf of American liberty
WIN have been sacrificed for naught, and every |
dollar OF treasure will have been squandered |
to no purpose.