The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-08-25
Letter from Msjor General Custer

Major General G. A. Custer, so well
known as a distinguished United States
army officer during the late war, has
written letter correcting certain allie
cations in relation to his connection
with the Philadelphia National Union
Convention. General Custer expresses
his sentiments in clear and unmistakable
language. We quote from his letter as
follows:
AS was SO feelingly expressed by the
distinguished statesman and patriot who
presided over the deliberations OF the
convention. peace hath her victories.
none the loss renownedAthan war; and
along with the many victories achieved
upon many hardly contested field by
the courage, fidelity and perseverance OF
our noble and patriotic armies, and in
which l am proud to have been an hum
BILE participant, I place as browning
victory the harmonious assembling OF
that convention, composed as it was OF
representatives from every State and
Territory, men who for years past have
been opposed in principle and policy but
who, casting aside all prejudice and per-
sonal feeling, assembled intent upon one
purpose, and that purpose to secure the
peace, prosperity and preservation OF the
country. To achieve this grand purpose,
il seemed as if one and all were inspired
by the sentiment, Union, concession and
harmony-everyth thing for the cause, moth
| ing for men" And, as q result of their
| deliberations, the platform and princi-
| Piles adopted by that Convention may be
expressed in six words-national int.
| grity, constitutional liberty, individual
rights. Upon this platform all who de-
sire to promote peace, harmony and JUS
tice throughout the length and breadth
of our land may stand.
Those who desire to perpetuate strife,
discord and disunion will reject it. Duty,
as well as interest, demand that tais
government should be NATIONAL; this
cannot be so long as twenty-fonr States
leeislate for thirty:six States, and ten
millions Of our citizens are unrepresent'
cd. The constitution makes each House
Of Con gress the sole judge Of the qualit.
cations Of its own members.
1t is Lot required by that instrument,
Eor is it demanded by any consideration
! of right or justice, that the two Houses
of Congress should conformity pass upon
the qualifications and claims of mem.
bers Of either branch, and by no law OF
principle of free government can one or
both Houses deprive an entire State of
that fair representation to which, under
the Constitution, it is entitled, unless
by the exercise Of an assumed power.
You can testify with what earnestntso
engaged in the late struggle-with what
earnestness / fought until that struggle
was declared ended, the victory wen
With that same earnestness l s,ili de-
sire peace-that peace for which our
arms commended. And now that the ma
tional authority is everywhere recog
nized, the doctrine Of secession forever
settled, the public debt Acknowledged,
the rebel debt repudiated, aud peace,
order and harmony proclaimed !" every
State, it only remains for Congrcs to
receive to seats therein loyal representa-
tives from every State III allegiance to
tho Uuited States, subject to the cousti-
tutimal right of each House ~ j?hge OF
the election returns and qualifications OF
its own members"