The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1871-03-01
wv 3BOROs
Wednesday Morning. March !; 1871 /
nk Bgaars Speech.

FranA. .BIaar's Speech.
A careful pcIusal of Blair's spee ch
in which, towards its close, he admits
that the fifteenth amendment sis com
pletc," and is now ca part of the law
Of the land,' convinces us most thor
oughly, that we are correct iu our im.,
preston that our government is COM
pletcly revolutionizod, and thorough
u, and beycnd horo of relapse,
consolidated aud nationalized. We
live in the first days of the AMERICAN
EMrIRr, whether we can realize it or
not, and call it by what name We please
the Republic, if it suits. Now had
Blair followed up his dcnuuciations Of
the Reconstruction policy, "force and
Fraud" of the Republican party, by
denying, when pressed by the qros
tion, that the fifteenth amendment is
legal and constitutional, there had
been tome hope, snpposing that he
speaks for the MOI thern Democracy,
Of reaction of public opinion, even
at this late day, which would restor
the government to its original Federal
character. But he shrinks back, and
bolts, just here a student of our DO
litical system would have preferred n
bold and de iant attitude. Why so 7
B.air Is no saint, nor a jurist, nor a
statesman. His is a popularity
hunting politician, and a tolerable
time-server, and he was simply afraid
to deny the validity of the fifteenth
amendment, as many learned law
yer would havo done, aud as every
man, not willing to accept of nation
istn and consolidation, it seems to us,
is simply obliged to do, for that
amendment does revolutiouize our
government. Whence this fear7 1t
is because, as we believe, Blair knows
the Northern people are not going to
60 Lack upon that amendment during
his opportunity for getting office. 1t
Is possible that the country may one
day reverse that amendment. A con-
tiuuation of Bowcns and White
more's as Congressman from the South,
and of frauds and populations and
incxpressible corruptions and villain
les in the State Governments of the
South, may yet bring the sober, Sec
ond thought. But not Immediately. ;,
Moreover. the carly predominance of
whites over blacks may so neutralize
the cnormities Of CONSTITUTION, aud,
so hide from tho North tho ipfamy of
its policy, that, 10 sclf-righteous com-
placency, it may never repent. Blair
at least seems to think 30. He saws.
the fifteenth amcndmo ont was accom-
plished by fraud and force" but it
"is complete, it is part of the law of
the lsnd"--that is, if VIC rightly in
terprct tho position, which seems to
US illogical and weak, reconstruction
throughout has boen Revolutionary"
but press mo, and am not prepared
to say again, rs in 1868, "null and
void" How this speech can help the
Democratic campaign for the next
Presidency, We oahnot see. Blair
says, it will do SO thus: The mis-.
chief is done, but the people will hold
the party responsible that have aopo
it. Now, is that be so, he is wrong in
not adding, and they will reverse it /;
for if tho people will do tho one, they
will also do the other. But this gen
Grafton have shown no signs that We
hayc been able to SOC, Of doing eth.
CT, and, therefore, Blair is mistaken,
and his speech'will do no good even to
Frank Blair. .nfs
In conclusion, we cannot under
stand a mans consentipg to the 6f.
tcenth amendment, with its thor
ongh revolution of our entire Fe leral
system, and its interesting, but to us
fearful and tremendous experiment
(f"r we insist that It is as yet only an
expcriment) of negro suffrage and
then vainly babbling about States
Rights" It seems to us weak and
We, on the contrary, are
prepared to try the revolutionary OK i
pertinent, to run tho consolidation
machinery, to oil it and watch it, and
let it do its best. But why 80 I Be-
cause we don't believe, in remed
fnr con aoidotion .Tkgeaa,na4. - -,