The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-01-25
nj 5 S o U q /
Frank Blair on His Broadhead
Letter of 1868.

ST.. LOUIS, January II, 1871.
On Friday last res luton was in
troduced in the Lower House OF the
Legislature by Major Pope, of st.
Louis, endorsing the Thirteenth,
fourteenth and Fifteenth amend
ments to the Federal Constitution
and the reconstruction policy of the
General Government: and favoring
the payment of State and National
Indebtedness, according 10 the several
contracts upon which the Indebtedness
is based. Ine resolutions were deba-
ted during the morning hour, on
tridiy and Saturday, and continued
yesterday. 1t had bten stated that
The resolution Was introduced to force
Geaeral Blair, if possible, 10 sustain
his position taken III the famous letter
10 Coz onel Broadhead i'll 1858, and
upon which he was nominal ed IN the
National Democratic Convention, or
To recede / ON it. Yesterday Gen.
Blair, on motion to refer Major
Pope's resolution to the Committee
on Federal Itelalious, of which he
(Blair) is chairman, spoke to the ques,
lIor:, stating that he was IN favor CT
The thirteenth amendment, and the
South generally assented TO 1t; but
the reconstrucliuu acts he declared
unconstitunial, and referred To, the
decision OF the Supreme Court IN The
case of Cummings against the State
OF Missouri; also to the case OF Mul
li1an and Boa les, also tried by a
military commission i'll Indiana du-
ing the war Referring to his letter
to Colonel Broadhead, he used tue
following language:
'.Huu, sur, my letler which has been
referred to, coutended that the militia
ry should be made to undo their
usurp;.ti3ns. ut the South, l say so
still, and you have only to wltiidrIw
them aud their work will be undoue.
Applause. That carrion crow OF
carpet baggers who are gorged upon
the pluuder and drunk wIlil the biood
Of the vanquishe6 people Of The South,
viii disperse themselves IN an Instant,
if not sustained by the baynnets OF the
tederll Government. Ihere IS no
item III that letter that l take back.
| stand by it. l believe in the con
striIctiun given 10 the Constitution OF
the United States by the supreme
Court, that this reconstruction was
unconstitutional. My hope IN going
to Congress, ii should attain that
high position. is that may aid III
Withdrawing the troops tiom those
SouJheru States which are held there
to saddle upon that people q parcel oi
carpet baggers and scaiiawags, follow
ell by an ignoraLt mass oil negroes
and if the people OF the South who
have shown a disposition to ABIDE Ia
good faith by the arbitrament OF arms
renew their allegiance to the Govern
ment, they will be allowed 10 resume
self government among themselves as
we have done in Missouri, and whilst
may not expect 10 carry Win me
the gentleman from ST. Louis, stlll L
believe that we can surely and Ger
tainly count upon the co opPeratlon
OF this large body Of liberal men VINO
assisted us in relieving ourselves from
n similar tyranny in the state OF
Missouri"
Fhe speech concludes with a saw
noe assault on John B: Henderson,
part of whose career during the early |
part of the war, is not very delieately |
b andled. Ae lorgi~es,all past faults !
Of the gentleman, however, for the
position he took IN the impeachment
rial OF Andy johnson.
ELECTION OF GENERAL BLAIR
TO THE SENATE.
Both Houses Of the Legislature vo !