East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1866-09-06

tested ga proper state OF feeling"
be restored to their former rights an
privileges under the General Cover
ment, and that the national contr
over those States should be exercise
by the Government "until statistic
that they may, without detriment,
entrusted with their former righr
and privileges" / have herein brie
ly referred to those points of my test
mony, in reference TO which, throug
willful perversion, the public wer
liable to be deceived.
And now, Notwithstanding tn
prominence you gave to my testimo
ny, as reproduced in the Chronicle G
the 18th inst, under the caption
heading Of Custer Us. Custer &C., &c
&C., thereby conveying the idea tina
the view entertained by me then dif
fered widely from those now enter
tain. 7 desire. notwithstanding tn
fact that "there are none so blind al
those who refuse to see," to assur
you that there exists strict accord
ance between the opinions and senti
ments then expressed and now advo
Gated by me. And to prove that ny
suggestions set fourth in the testimo
ny referred to were in harmony with
the course since maintained by tn,
Administration, it will only be neoes
sary to refer to the fact that the au
thority of the General Government
has been continued in force in Texas
in the form of Provisional Govern.
ment until within very brief period
and that Texas, Of the Southei n
States, has been the last to elect State
officers and tc attempt to inaugurate
a State Government.
AS to the propriety of my course in
attending the National Union Con
vention, / recognize in neither you,
nor those you represent, the right to
question my motives. If satisfy my
God, my country and my conscience,
l achieve my highest aim that my
course has received the approval OF
the first, and will ultimately, if not
now, receive that of the second, is
evidenced by the hearty approval of
the third. As was so feelingly ex-
pressed by the distinguished states
man and patriot who presided over
the deliberations Of the Convention,
"peace hath her victories, not less
renowned than war; and along with
the many victories achieved upon
many a hard-contested field, by the
courage, fidelity and perseverance of
our noble and patriotic armies, and
in which l am proud to have been a
humble participant, l place as a
crowning victory the harmonious as
sembling of that Convention, COM
posed, as it was, Of representatives
from every State and Territory, men
who for years past have been OPP
posed in principles and policy, but
who, ooetins aside all prejudices and
personal feeling, assembled, intent
upon one purpose, and that purpose
to secure the peace, prosperity and
preservation Of the country. 70
achieve this grand purpose, it seemed
as if one and all were inspired by the
sentiment, Union, concession and
harmony-everything for the cause,
nothing for mon." And asa result
of their deliberations, the platform
and principles adopted by that Con-
ivontion may be expressed in six words
national integrity, constitutional
liberty, individual rights. Upon this
platform all who desire TO promote
peace, harmony iind justice throughs
out the length and breadth of our land
may stand. 49, g"
Those who desire to perpetuate
strife, discord and disunion will reject
it. Duty, as well as interest, demands
that this Government shall be nation
al TINS cannor' be as long as twonty-
four States legislate for thirty-six
States, and ten millions Of our citizens
are unroprosentod. The Constitution
makes each house of Congress the
sole judge of the qualifications of its
own members. 1t is not required by
that instrument, nor is it demanded
by any consideration Of right or JUS
tice, that the two Houses of Congress
should conjointly pass upon the quail
i6cations and claims of members of
either branch, and by no law or
principles of free government can one
or both Houses deprive an entire
State of that fair representation
which, under the Constitution, it is
entitled, unless by the exercise of an
assumed power. You can testify with
what earnestness 1 engaged in the
late struggle, with what earnestness /
fought until that struggle was de-
clared ended, the victory won. With
that same earnestness / still desire
peace, that peace for which our arm
les contended And now that the
national authority is everywhere re-
cognized, the doctrine of secession
forever settled, the public debt &C
knowledged, the rebel debt repudi-
ated, and peace, order and harmony
proclaimed in every State, it only re-
mains for Congress |" to receive to
seats therein LOYAL Representatives
from every State in allegiance to the
United States, isubject-to the constitu-
tional right of each House to judge
of the election, returns and qualifca-
tions Of its members. l,ss ,..
If q further vindication of my
course was necessary, / might refer
you to the proclamation of peace this
day issued by the President of the
United States. In that welcome doou-
ment the President distinctly states,
that by proclamation of April 2, 1866,
issued subsequent to the date of my
Testimony, there no longer existed
any armed resistance of misguided
crt;zens lto the authority OF the IJnited