The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-01-25
NEW DANGER AHEAD.
Recent Developments OF Southern
Sentiment-Frank Blair's Revo-
Iutionary Programme.
Opinions OF an Able and Honest Ed
itOF

pOlltlcal OUTLOOK, rs lie mus II NJ the Ma
tlonal Capital:
WASHINGTON, January IS.
An impression Is dangerously prevalent
in the country that the rebellion having
been crushed, and the late rebel States re-
constructed, the considerations which
have for ten years sustained the Republl'
can party no longer exist in their iullness,
and that now the people may safely di.
vide upon the questions Of finance, taxa
ton, and that they may exercise large
degree OF liberty in voting for men. 1t Is
assumed that the party which carried on,
or sympathised with the rebellion, accept
the situation, and therefore the return Of
the Democratic party 10 power would
have no serious results. Accordingly
there is not only u disposition on the part
Of the patriotic people 10 relax their
efforts, but they seek to shower iavors
upon those who only u few years ago had
tile country by the throat threatening its
life. They measure the late rebels in their
own bushel, and think that because
Northern people would appreciate kind
ness and liberality, the Southern people
are equally impossible. Events, how.
eyer, are proving that this is a mistaken
theory. Those who have been reposing
in assumed security were doubtless startl-
cd by the report published this morning
Of General Frank Blair's speech before
the Missouri Legislature, In which he IN.
dorscd his celebrated Brodhead letter, dc.
clared the 18th and 10Th Amendments
unconstitutional, and gave notice that
whenever the Republican party should be
driven from power the laws passed in
pursuance of those amendments would
be rendered null and void. But for the
TACT that in face OF this speech, aud doubt.
less because Of the views therein express.
cd, he was elected to the United States
Senate, charitable people might conclude
that il was merely u Blairism, for which
neither Blair sober, nor the Democratic
party drunk or sober, should be held re-
sponsiblc. But, however Blair's utter.
ances may be regarded by over.confident
and over.charitable people in the country,
II does not surprise the leaders OF the Re.
publican party at the Capital. Blair
Is positive man and one who
is not deficient in candor. He
differs from other leaders, therefore in
that he speaks out, while they resolve to
do, but do not speak. Blair, notwithstand.
Ing his Brodhead letters, got the full
Democratic vote for the Vice Presidency,
and no onenow doubts If Seymour had
been elected that the threats made in that
letter would have been carried out. Blair,
Notwithstanding his revolutionary speech
in the Missouri Legislature, got the full
Democratic vote for the United States
Senate. Thus his sentiments were in.
dOrsed, and well posted men hero and at
the South are well satisfied that the Blair
platform lorcshadows the policy Of the
Democratic party II It should obtain pow.
or. The Southern Democrats arc II unit
in this respect, and they should control
the National Democratic party rs they did
In the anti.war times. This would be in.
cvitablt, no matter what individual Dem
oCrats might say or think. The whole
party, us such, would be swept into the
current, as 1t was, in its organized capGci.
ty, arrayed against the government during
the rebellion.
conversed last 'vcning will, Il we'll
known United States SenatOr-Onc who
stands high in public cstimatiOn-whO in.
formed me that the state Of affairs at the
South Is dcplorablc. The late rebels, Gu.
Outraged TO hope that the Democratic
party Is soon to be in power, arc on the
Frank Blair wGr.path. lie received II let.
ter from prominent gentleman Of one of
the leading Southern Statcs-itI should
name the State, the name, which, for oh.
vious reasons, II would not be proper TO
print, would readily be guCssed-in which
It Is stated that il the Democratic party
should gain power he could not live in his
native State, and even now 1t is rs much
as lie can do TO remain. This man, rs !
have said, is prominent in the South, hay
ing occupied leading positions in politics
previous TO the war, and supported the re.
bcllion throughout. Upon the suppress.
sion of the latter he accepted the situation
and Is now in sympathy with the Rcpub.
lican party. LongstrCet, who acted in u
similar manner, is held in utter contempt
at the South. Ills services in tho rebel
army count for nothing, In accepting the
in good faith lie committed the
sin.
These are Illustrations Of Southern sen.
timent-not Of the lower classes, but of
those who create Gnd direct public opin.
ion.
A gentleman IS hero now who had an
interview with Andrew johnson few
days ago. lie stopped Mt Grcenvillc, and
was called upon by johnson. Since his
fall this man had not spoken to the Cx-
President, but the latter, having called he
received him respectfully. lie saysJohn.
son is greatly distressed in mind. lie has
been cut by the rebels on all hands, and
lie does not hesitate to denounCe the Dem.
ocratic party Of the South as n party of
traitors. My informant says johnson
would gladly get back into the Republi.
can party 1.-The could sec any way through
which he could pass,
In view Of these things, Republicans
everywhere should DO on their guard.
The mission Oi the Republican party, 1t Is |
very clear, Inns not been fulfilled, and II
never can be fulfilled so long as there is
an opposing party resolved 10 undo what
has been done under the head of recon-
The action Of the liberal Re.
publicans in Missouri should boa warning.
They united with Democrats in order 10
give rebels "their rights" What Is the
result? Frank Blair, the representative
Of the revolutionary party, in the United
States Senate! So II would DO IL war
Democrats or Republicans should aid in
restoring the Democratic party to power.
The 14th md 18th Amendments would be
Ovcrthrown, everything would be unset.
tied; the debt would DO repudiated;
finances unsettled; slavery virtually re.
stored, and We should have a new reign