The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-22
TIE PHnADELpH1A CONVENTION.
Letter from Major-GeneraI G.. A. Custer
TO y. w. Formey, ESQ.

Secretary United States Senate ;-Departing nom
what have ever considered q judicious custom,
deem IT not only appropriate but incumbent upon
me TO correct the false impressions regarding my
past and present position which at this time are
being so assiduousy disseminated throughout the
country by subsidized, unscrupulous, and fanatical
press. II is to be expected, in times like the pre-
sent. when a new political era is being inauRu-
rated-an era which is destined to remodel
ana develop the character of our political
structure-that the views and sentiments enter
tanned by men, themselves the victims of passion
and prejudice, will embrace wide and unlimited
scope, ana that, blinded by resentment, their judg-
ment beclouded, and impelled by malignant, un.
worthy, and most wicked ambition, none who
endeavOr TO interpose obstacle in their path,
who differ from them IN opinion can
hope to escape their vilihcation and ms.
representation. A few of the most extreme
radical journals have pretended to discover
an inconsistency between the views embraced in
my testimony before the Congressional Committee
on Reconstruction in March last, IN my present
action as delegate to the Philadelphia Convention
and supporter of the principles enUnciated IN the
resolutions and pratform adopted by that illus.
utous national and patriotic assembly, composed
of representatives ON every state and err1torv IN
the Union, and therefore the first truly national
Convention which has assembled our country
during the past SIX years. Prominent IN this mis-
representation and wlul perverson of truth IS the
organ controlled and edited by yourself; and were
1t not for the official position which you hold,
or anything emanatlng from you.
will not refer to the seditious and infammatory
epithets you applied to that Convention, of which
am proud TO have been member but will only class
them with your nsidous and wicked harangues pro-
ting of the Convention, in which you endeavored to
stir the passions of what you supposed a mob to
deeds fvloence and blood Neither will occupy
time in exposing your baseness in chaTacterizng
those gallant soldiers of the Union who took part in
the Convention as being influenced by any but the
govern the human will. Much less were they, as
you insinuate, tinctured with disloyaty. Such uu-
warranted unjust, and unprovoke ed assertions come
from you with bad grace when directed against
those who, during the entire war, have neeiy and
perpetuae the principles; of q constitutional Gov
eTnment which you are laboring TO destroy. What
have you done or accomplished to justify you, in
mallRnlnR and tradUcing those whose patriotism has
undergone the test of battle and is bey ond lmpeach
mentf
My sole object in addressing you now is to correct
the misrepresentations which have been made by you
and other radical journals regarding my testimony
concerning the conditIon OF one and portion of
another OF the Southern States. In the first place
you would have your readers believe that 1 had
submitted testimony in regard to the Southern
States as body, whereas testified with reference
to Texas and Western louisiana alone, and parLl-
cularly with reference to the former. Furthermore,
before giving my evidence i remarked to Senator
Williams, OF Oregon, who conducted the examina-
tiOn, that lexas had always been, more less,
garded as state In certain parts of which the
local or domestic laws had little or no power;
where citizens class were lawless, ungovern.
able, and uncontrolled by any other law than the
one that might makes right" Consequently,
the condition of affairs as represent ed by at that
time (seven months ago) coud not justly and wholly
be considered as result of the war, lnasmuch
the same condition, to certain extent existed
Who we're 1 1or cnnSo SS d
refer when stated that they accepted the
tion from motives entirely selfish" That large
number OF the citizens of IeXas, embracing the
most intelligent and prominent men of the State
men, too, who have been prominently engaged in
the Rebellion, accepted the situation IN good faith,
know to be true. That the condition of the loyal
men in that State would have been endangered by
the complete withdrawal OF the United States troops
do not entertain doubt; but the danger would be
shared by all classes.
1t Is universally known and conceded that the
anImosiy existing between the partisans on the
frontier of the Southern states bitter and
of the people North ana south. Owing to tue law
less character OF cons deraDle portion OF the popu
laton of Texas, regarded it at that time as beyond
the power OF the civil government, unaided ana
supported by military authority, to preserve perfect
peace and order within the limits OF the State.
with reverence to "that portion of the South
ern country in which have been," VIZ, Texas
and Western Louisiana, gave 1t as my deliberate
opinion that the people oil that section of country
were not at that time IN proper condition." and
had not manifested "a proper state of feeling to be
restored TO their former rights and privileges under
the General Government" and that the national
control over those States should be exercised by the
out deriment be Iusted with their former rghJs
and privileges" have herein briefly referred to
those points of my testimony, in reference to which,
through vii ltul perversion the public were liable TO
be deceived.
w,
gave to my testimony reproduced IN the Chronicle
of the 18th inst under the captious heading of
."Custer vs. Custer" ETC. ETC. etc., thereby conveying
the idea that the view entertained by me then
differed widely from those now entertain, de-
sire, Notwithstanding tine TACT that "there are
none so binu they who refuse to see" to assure
YOU thar there exists a strict accordance between
the opinions and sentiments then expressed
and now advocated by me. And to prove that my
suggestItEs set forth III the testimony referred to
were in harmony with the course since maintained
by the Administration it will only be necessary to
refer TO the tact that the authority OF the Genera
Government has been confined IN force in Texas in
the form of Provisional government until within
very bret PERIOD and that Texas OF all the Southern
States has been the last to elect State officers and
TO attempt to inaugurate State Government:
AS to the propr1etY OF my course in attending the
National Union Convention L recognize in neither
YOU nor in those you represent, the right to ques
fion my motives. If satisfy my God, my country,
and my conscience, achieve my highest aim; that
my course received the approval OF the first and
will ultimately, II not now, receive that OF the
second Is evidenced by the hearty approval OF the
third. AS was teeinSIy expressed by the distIn-
gulshed statesman and patriot who presided oYerthe
deliberations of the Convention, "peace hath her
victories none the less renowned than wars" and
along with the many victories achieved upon many
hardly contested field, by the courage, fidelity,
and ne reverence OF our noble and patriotic
armies and IN which am proud to have been an
humble participant, l place as a drowning victory
the harmonious assembling OF that Cohvehuon com,
posed as II was OF representatives from every State
and Territory, men who for years past have been
opposed to principle and pohcy, but who, casting
ASIDE ali preiudices and personal ieeng assembled
intent but upon one purpose, and that purpose tC
secure the peace, prosperity, ana preservation o.
the country. To achieve this grand purpose \
seemed II one and all were inspired by the sentl
ment, 'Union, Concession, and HarmOny-eVery
thing for the cause, nothing for men," And as
result OF their dehberaions the platform and prln
cples accepted by that Convention may be expressed
in Six words-National Integrity, Constitutions
Liberty, Individual Rights. Upon this platform al
who desire to promote peace, harmony, and justice