The Portland daily press., 1866-08-28
A Sudden Convention.

trjnes. They forget that gallantry on the
battlefield may and often does co-exist with
mental obtuseness in relation to political mat
tiers, and that man may have the talent to
command cavalry division superbly who
cannot discern the difference between two alb
stract propositions precisely opposite. More
over the new party must not forget that not
one in five hundred of the soldiers and Off
GERS of the Union army has shown his incon-
sistency by joining in the new movement
The few exceptions only prove the rule. The
latest and most talked of accession from the
military ranks to the bread and butter brig
ade is Major General G. A. Custer, who made
brilliant reputation under Sheridan. He
has been making himself prominent before
the public as convert to "My Policy" and
has gone west with Gen. M'Cook on stump
ing tour.
1t may not be uninteresting to know what
General Clusters opinions were on the sub
ject OF reconstruction in March last. He had
been in command of cavalry in Louisiana and
Texas for several months and had enjoyed
larger opportunities for observing the temper
of the people than any other single man. In
his sworn testimony before the Reconstruc-
ton Committee he states several important
facts bearing on the question, and is not at
all backward in giving his opinion. He says
So long as the policy of the government to
ward the Southern States seemed undeyeloped-
or unknown, the most submissive feeling was
everywhere prevalent, Those who had been
engaged in rebellion, particularly those who
hoH
being told, that they had forfeited every right,
even that of life. They regarded the course of
the government as magnanimous in the ex-
treme, and far more generous than they had
reason to expect After it was to be seen what
policy was to be pursued towards the leaders
and toward the Southern States generally they
assumed more defiant position, assailed the
government, assailed the measures of the gov
eminent, denounced the system of provincial /
governments which had been established in the
South, were opposed to the location of troops i
in their midst, and were opposed to the location
CT agents of the Freedmen's Bureau And this |
feeling continued to grow and manifest itself |
more strongly, day by day. think their oppo- |
sition to the government and loyalty is as OPEN
ly visible and as plainly manifest now as it was
in 1861. The majority, or at least o large pro- |
portion of those who have taken the cath Of |
allegiance to the general government, do not |
hesitate to assert that they do not regard it as |
binding, but maintain for some unknown rea-
son, that the oath has been forced upon them.
protection under it.
q. State your opinion as to whether or not |
the lenient policy which has been pursued to- |
ward the rebels has been beneficial to that conn
try or otherwise?
A. 1t is my opinion it has been very detri- |
mental, not only to that portion of the coun- |
Try, but to the entire country, and more imme- |
salateiy 70 the interests of the Union, and I'm |
ion men in the South. 1t has certainly pro- |
duced one result not intended nor contemplate |
ed. 1t has led the people of the South to for |
get the enormity of the crime they committed |
by engaging in rebellion, and thew are now en- |
deavoring to school themselves to the belief that
they are the party aggrieved and the general |
government the aggressor. To such an extent |
have they succeeded in thus educating them |
selves, that have no doubt, had they the pow |
er, they would arraign the government for sup |
pressing the rebellion.
: @. What do the people desire there as to the |
recognition of the State by the Federal govern |
ment' DO they expect or desire the reception |
OF their Senators and Representatives into |
Congress-?
A. The division of opinion is very clearly |
marked upon that question. The entire dis |
!oyal portion OF the inhabitants are very anx-
lous that the State should be Immediately re- |
stored to Its former rights and privileges in the
Union; that it should be represented in Con- |
gress and in other branches of the government; |
while the loyal portion of the inhabitants are |
equally anxious that the general government |
should continue to maintain its present con- |
troll over the State. In this, they say, is their
only safety, in which opinion most heartily |
concur
q. What. in your Judgment would have
been the effect as to the development of Union
feeling and strength in the State if there had
been up to this time military government ad-
equate for the protection of the Union people
IN the expression and advocacy of their Union
views and feelings?
A. Had military rule prevailed, 1 am conf
dent that the strength of the loyal party would |
have steadily increased, while the opposing
party would have undergone corresponding |
decrease, until, in course of time, treason would |
have become unpopular, and traitors would not |
be chosen as office holders. There is no dis |
guising the fact that loyalty at the South has |
become q by-word and reproach to those who |
have the courage to profess it, h
Y. Suppose an opportunity was offered to a |
majority of the people in Texas to secede with |
out war, do you suppose they would prefer to |
stay in the Union or go out?
A. think they would prefer to 90 ont
y. suppose the Federal government were to |
withdraw all interference in the affairs of the
State, into whose hands would the political |
power OF that country go?
A. 1t would at once be transferred into the
hands of the most prominent rebels OF the |
truth OF this do not entertain a doubt
y. what, IN your Judgment, is the best
poncy Tor the government to pursue in reference
testified?
A. do not regard the people in that portion
OF the southern country in which I have been
as in proper condition manfesting
proper state of feeling, to be restored to their
former rights and privileges under the General
government; and do not think they have been
sufficiently taught the enormty of the crime
they have committed by rehelling against the
Government think the Goyernment oucbt
to maintain control of those States that were
in rebellion until it is further satisfied that q
loyal sentiment prevails in at least a majority
OF the lnhabitants-that certainly does not ex-
list now; and when allowed representation none
but loyal men should be admitted as irenresen-
tatives. Five years ago the Southern peonle
voluntarily abandoned their rights and priyileo
es as states in the Union, and with their rights
and privileges they have forfeited their share in |
the General Government Having wa@ed
bloody, determined war for four wears 10 car
ry out their designs against the Govern
ment, and having failed up to the present
time to manifest penitent shirt fnr tho I
great crime committed against Tho ~,
ton, or to give proper and sufficient
guarantee for future good conduct. 7 CO..
not but give it as my opinion that ;ust
regard ior our national safety in time to come.
our obligations to foster and encourage thronrb''
out the Southern States a proper regard and
affection for the national authority. and To Give
support to who are and have been loyal. inner.
atiyely demand that the Government should
in rebellion until satisfied that thew NAV with,
out detriment be entrusted with their former
rights and privileges.
He further says;
hays Just paid considerable attention to
.ne ACTON of the Freedmen's Bureau in various
pp; OF the State, (Texas) and am firmly of
Sp,.on mat unless the present bureau or some
od creot Is maintained for an indefinite peri
~, great wrongs and an immense amount Of
naan Al !. would be entailed upon the freed
u e toa 1t exists there at present the bureau
or tbat y rnn,;ro, 20 90 all that might be done
There is much more to the same eCfaot r,1,;o,,
may be found on pages 70 to IS in partIv If
the report Of The Reconstruction Committee.
Now, if Gen. Custer will tell us, when he gets
on the stump, exactly what are the reasons