The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-04-05
LETTER FROM GEN. BLAIR.
WASHINGTON, March 18th, 1870.

has Just been received. i Sr battered
by your request that should endeaver
to compose the "dead issue" controversy
among our friends in the South, and [
might be tempted to profer my. advice
to them if thought it would De effective.
But our; people don't like to be advised.
They prefer discussion aud TO form
their opinions on public questions by
that process. I have contributed in
that way and shall continue to do so to
the utmost Of my ability.
In my judgment the actual issue Of
the campaign is the broad one, whether
we have q Federal Uuion on coustitu-
tional basis, or an absolute Government,
With power 10 the hands of those Who
possess it, 70 prolong its own existenes
Indefinitely. This draws in review the
pas. and continuing process BY which the
arbitrary Government of to-day has been
established and is to be maintained, and
the reconstruction acts aud the, amend
meuts must necessarily figure in this re-
view but the question of whether they
went through the forms that eutitle
them to be put on the statute book is
really an immaterial one. 1t does not
change the argument . particle, whether
the forms we're complied with OF 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 not.
The mann er in which these amend
ments were adopted, and the stnl more
significant measures passed and proposed
for their enforcement, ought to satisfy
men of all sections and parties that
liberty itself is at stake iu the coming
conflict. No thoughtful observer OF the
present aspect Of public affairs, who
does not, from timidity, wiIfully shut
his eyes to the conclusions of his reason,
can doubt that those who, to grasp
power, have subverted the organic law,
in defiance of the known will of the
people, will fail to adopt any other
measures offraud or violence which may
be found necessary to maintain them 10
the possession of it, and that our only
security against new and greater vio-
leuce than has heretofore been practiced
is by the timely awakening OF the peo::
pie to the real dangers which surround
them-so that a spirit may be aroused
which will overawe aud disimbark those
daring enemies. No. to see, or to affect
not to see, this danger, and to engage
the public mind iu the discussion OF
economic and civil service measures,
aud to belittle the iron man who Sc
lately brought that Senate to his feet
which had his predecessor pleading at
their bar, is to cry "peace when u he.e is
no peace" and so contribute to betray
the country.
If our friends would unite in an
earnest effort to arouse the country. all
will be we'll. And to this end it is
only necessary to let the people see
what the real issue is. Nor have any
fears that they will fail to see it. They
already see it in spite oftbe mistaken
efforts of some Of our friends, who
council what they think is policy, az
if it was a matter Of convention among
public men what the issues should be
and not a matter of fact, which they
cannot control any more than they car
the advent: of the seasons. They may
not see it so plainly, either because they
do not observe with sufficient attention
or because they shrink from it from
feebleuess aud apprehension. Let III
20 to the people, fairly and boldly, auc
Invoke their judgment upon the record
Radicalism has made for itself. All th'
coutrivauces by which the Radical.
have sought to trammel the people ane
fortify themselves 10 power can thus et
effectually swept away.
The differences among our friends t
which you refer are not serious. They
arise, [ believe, chiefly from the mista
ken idea that those who coutiuue t
assail reconstruction and the amend.
meuts intend to abolish negro suffrage
This is not the object, and It is very
inadequate view of the subject Thi'
suffrage really depends very little on sh'
amendments; because, among othe'
things, it has not accomplished tht
object Of those Who imposed it (uhjc.
was to give them the control Of ths
Sou.h), aud they have beguu, them
selves, already to dispense With it in
the District Of Columbia, where It wa'
first started. But the States which have
adopted it do not propose to revoke il
and will not, am confident, unless aftel
. fair trial it is shown 70 be necessary
for q good Government. The 18Th
amendment will, in this event, be easily
disposed-o for the Radicals, Who have
already ceased 10 hsve Q motive Il
maiutaiu it, will have ceased to cant or
the subject.
1. is not, therefore; 70 get rid Of uegrt
suffrage that We continue TO assail ant
rsiuse TO acquiesee. In usurpations, b.
which, the ;,goverlneuts ot the peoPi'
have been, and will continue to be
vrested from them. The contest is no
to take svayaufrsge from the negroes
bat to preserve that wise distributor
of the powers Of Government, withou
which ali suffrage b but amockery. ant
| to present that control BY the nasioua
| functionaries Nhicb ID sdres 70 Great
imperial;sn, aedl will ineyitablg degrade
impossrssh Ahd snsaave the -toilfhi
| -.Is...Ar Rnnrz. ysraffK q IT