The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-04-08
General Rlair.s Views.

cupies,a high position in the councils OF
the country, as well as in the esteem OF
the Democratic party, and on these &C.
counts his views on the political Issues
of the day are worthy Of careful exam
ination, as well as from the fact that
he is one of those named in connection
with our next nomination for the Presi-
dency.
Without note or comment, therefore,
we lay before our readers the following
letter. from General Blair to an Ala
hama editor, commencing it to the care
full perusal of our readers, only re-,
marking that the writer is one oil lha'
class OF public men who always as
sumes his position squarely. and don
appear to tear to give his opinions utter
ance in language too plainly to he ms
understood:
W.sutsGroS Cr1y. March Is, 1871.
" N Cooks. Esq, Editor Montgomery
Mail: 80.
DEAR SlR-Yours of the llth inst
b.a inst been received. | am fiattered
by YOUR request that | should endeavor
to com pose the dead issue controversy
among our friends in the South, and |
might | e tempted to prefer my advice
to them il | thought it would be ef-
fective. But our people don't like to be
advissd. They prefer discussion and to
form their opinions on7Fublic questions
by that process. have contributed IN
that way, and | shall continue to DO so to o
the utmost OF my ability.
In my judgment the actual issue OF
the campaignis the broad one whether
we have, or are to have. Federal
Union on a constitutional basis, or an
absolute government, with power in the
hands OF those who possess 1t to pro-
long its own existence indefinitely.
This draws in review the past and con-
,inuing process by which the arbitrary
government of to-day has been estab-
lished and is to be maintained, and the
reconstruction acts and the amend
ments must necessarily figure IN tins
review but the question OF whether
thew went through the forms that en-
title them to be put on the statute books
is really an immaterial one. 1t does
not change the argument particle
whether the forms were complied with
or not, and it does not affect our ability
to put the government in the hands OF
the people, if we carry the election,
whether they are valid or invalid.
The manner in which these amend
ments were adopted, and the still more
significant measures passed and pro-
posed for their enforcement ought to
satisfy men Of all sections and parties
that liberty itself is at stake in the
coming conflict. No Thoughtful observer
of the present aspect Of public affairs,
who does not from timidity wllfully
shut his eyes to the conclusions OF his
reason, can doubt those who, to grasp
power, have subverted the organic law,
in defiance of the known will o! the
people, will fail to adopt any other
measures Of fraud or violence which
NAV be found necessary to maintain
them in the possession Of it, and that
our only security against new aid
greater violence than has heretofore
been practiced is by the timely awaken
ing of the people to the real
dangers which surround them, so that
a spirit may be aroused which will
overawe and disarm those daring enc
mics. Not to see, or to affect not to see
this danger, and to engage the public
mind in the discussion OF economic and
civil service measures, to belittle the
iron man who so lately brought that
Senate to his feet which had his prede.
cessor pleading at their bar, is to cry
peace when there is no peace, and 80
contribute to betray the country. II
our friends would unite in an earnest
effort 10 arouse the country all will be
well, and to this end it is only necessary
to let the people see what the real issue
is. Nor have l any fears that they will
fail to see it. They already see it, in
spite of the mistaken efforts Of some OF
our friends, who counsel what they
Think is policy, as if it was matter Of
convention among public men what the
issue should be and not matter OF
fact, which they cannot control any
more than they can the advent of the
seasons. They may not see 1t so plain
". either because they do not observe
sufficient or because they shrink from
it from feebleness and apprehension
Let us 90 to the people, fairly and bold
", and inooke their judgment upon the
record RadicaliSm has made for itseJ.
All the cvntrivances By 'ohich tie RAD.
Gals hare sought to trammel hepeople and
tortify themselves IN po'rrr ran thus be
efSctually swspt a,cay.
The difference among our friends to
which you refer are not serious. They
arise, believe, chiefly from the mis-,
taken idea that those who continue TO
asail reconstruction and the amend,
ments intend to abolish negro suffrage.
This is not the object, and it is very
inadequate view of the subject. This
suffrage really depends very little on
the amendments, because, among other
things, it has not accomplished the OBJ
iect of those who imposed it (Which
was to give them the control Of the
South, and they have begun themselves
already to dispense with it in the Dis
trict of Columbia, where it was first
started; but the States which have
adopted it do not propose to revoke 1t,
and will not, | am confident, unless,
after a fair trial, it is shown to be neces,
sary for a good government. The
fifteenth amendment will, in this event,
be easily disposed OF. for the Radicals,
who have already ceased to have a mo,
tive to maintain it, will have ceased to
cant on the subject ...
1t is not. therefore, to get rid OF negro
suffrage that we continue to assail and
.oc,,o 20 oo,uiasca in usurnqtiOns by