The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-08-23
THE SOLDIERS.

Letter Of General Caster ON che Issues.
WAsHISGros, August 90 1865


- wAsHSorox August 20, 1861
J. W. FoRssy. ESQ.,, Secretary OF tho United States
Departing from whsxI have ever considered 4 iudi.
CLOS CUSTOM DEEM It not only appropr ate but incu-
bent upon me 70 correct the false Impressions regarding
my past and present position which al tins time are
being so assduousy disseminated through tho conn-
try by sabsidzed INSCRIPTIONS and fanatical press
Its TO be expected, In times like the present. when
new political ora Is being inauguraed-an which
destined to remodel and develop the character Of
tim 'nis entertained by men, themselves the
ctins Of passion and prejudice, will EN-
blinded by resentment, their Judgment bccouded ana
impced by malignant, unworthy aud most wicked anb
tlo none who endeavor TO nerpose obstacle in their
path. or who differ from them IN opinion hops
escape their Will caton and hsrepres entation. few
Of tie most extreme radical journals have pretended 10
In my mony before the Congressional Committee ON
Reconstruction, In March last aud in my present action
porter principles in the resolutions aud
pla form proclaimed and adopted by thar illus
irious national and patriotic assembly, composed
Of representatives from every State and Terri
toy IN tho Union, aud therefore the first
truly national convention which has ass M
bed In onr country during the past six years Prom-
nent In this misrclrcscn alton and wifu perverson u
truth s tho organ controlled and edited BY YOURSELF and
were IL not Tor tho official position which you hold
would not deem myself justified referring to you or
anything emanaiing from you will not refer TO the
sediious and niannaiory epthets you applied to thai
Convention, 81 wich am proud 70 have been a
Der but Will only class them with your insidous and
wicked harangues pronounced IN the city Of Phiiade-
endeavOrcd 10 stir tue passions Of what you supposed
mob to deeds Of violence and blood Neither will
occupy time in exposing your basencss In chaFaclerz ng
those gallant soldiers OF the Union who took part In the
convention being influenced by any but the highest
human VIII. Much less were they as YOU ins,ncate,
tinctured with disoyalty. Such unwarran,cd unjust
and unprovoked assertions come from you with bad
when directed against those who during the entire
war have freely and unselhshy pered Their lives 10 ro-
store, defend and perpeuatc the principles cons.
iiona sovornnont, which you are laboring destroy.
What have You done accomplished 10 justify you IN
maigning and traducng those whose patriotism has I'M
dergonc the test Of battle beyond
Ny sOe object in addressing you now Is TO correct the
misr pres nations which have boon made by you and
radical journals regarding my testimony concern.
ing inc condit on Of one and portion Of another or the
Southern States In the first place, you would have
your believe that had submitted testimony in
regard 10 the So hern SateSa body whereas tcsti-
fed with reference to Texas and Western Louisiana alone
ami particularly with reference tho former Further
more before giving my cvid nce remarked to Senator
Williams OF Oregon, who conducted the examination
that texas had always been less REGARDED as
state N cora parts OF which the local or domestic laws
mad little or NOT power; where cit2ons class
l3wiess, unS0vernabIe, and uncontrolled by any other
law than the one that might makes right 'Conse
4lcnty the condition OF affairs represented by
shat time scven months ago. could ,s,ly wholly
be considered AS result Of tho war. inasmuch the
same condition, to Certain extent existed beor, the
war Aud 70 that class OF population who were respon.
sibe 70: this condition Of ana re- did refer stated
that they accepted tho situation from motives
eatirey selfish = That large number Of the Citizens
oil Texas, embracing the most intelligent and prominent
men Of the State, men, too who had been prominently
faith know to be lruc That the condition OF tho loyal
mon In that siac would have been endangered by The
complete withdrawal OF the United States troops do
not entertain doubt, but tho dang would be shared
by all classes IL is university known and conceded
frontier u the southern States bitter and
rcientng than That existing between tho OF the
people North and SOUTH Owing 10 the lawiess cllarac
ter Of considerable portion Of The population OF Toxas
regarded at that time rs beyond the power OF tho civ
government, unatcd and unsupported by military
limits o. tho state therefore, In my testimony which
was given with 10 shat portion the Southern
iOuisiana-gave 1t my deliberate opinion that tie
people, oil thai SEXTON Of country at that ne
'.in proper condnion,' and had not man estcd "a
proper state OF feeling 10 no restored their former
rights AMI privileges under the general government,n
aud that the national control over those States should 10
excrc sod by the government "untl satisfied that they
may without detrmen be entrusted with then former
Iisrs and pIiyilceesn have herein br coy referred
through wilu pesyers,on, the public labo TO be
deceived. And now, notwithstanding the prominence
Io %,ome Of z tho ism Instant aa'oa under en-
tho cnptous heading OF "Cu.,er VS. Custcr''
&C. &c. &C. thereby Converting the idea sh.
widely from thosc now entertain, desire, notsyth
ssnd'ne tho TACT that there are mono SO blind they
Mo RUE 10 seq !: a..a.e &c. that thero EXISTS
thea expressed and now advocated by me. And 70
prove that my suggestions set forth In the ties mony
referred ~ IN harmony with the cource since main
tanned BY the Administration IL will Cny be necessary
10 refer 10 ths acs that the authority OF the General
form OF PROVISIONAL government until within very
brief period. and that Texas, ali the southern States
inauguate state government AS to tho propncty Of
my couIse in attending the National Union Convention
recognize in neither you nor IN these you rerresolt the
rgnt 10 question my motives II satisfy NV God, my
counlrs, and my cunscenc', achieve my h hest aim
That say cl,rse las 70 eived tho approval Of Inc lss
aud will ait nj .ry, " not row. receive that OF the
second, cvcec by the hearty approval OF tc third
A. was feengly expressed by the distinguished
statesman aud psr9 who presided over Tho deilbera-
fsng vaft al.
tie cSs renowned tlan wGs aud along with the mas,y
,ici,i ac eyed upon maas hardly contested field
and patriotic armies, aud which am proud 10 have
b en- an humble participant place ~ GROWING VIC
tory III. h m'nlous assembling 81 that CuDy lniinn, CON-
posed a. was % representatives. from every State and
Territory men who Tor ears past have been opposed IN
nepis and poiicy, but who CASTING asae al f.sufoe
ste ana that nse TO secure the rescc, prosperity
and lrsscrvet9n Of the country 10 achieve tsgrand
rpcse, y seemed ns " one und oil were INSPIRED ny
the r'ntment. "t'nion, Concession and Harmony
even ihing iur the cause, nothing Tor men.h And rs
rli " their tehc sti0ns the platform and principles
adopted b. ha, Convention may he Expressed Fix
vods-Nrtlonni integrity c"nstitsuopai Liberty In
diyidua Rights tpon Us plat orn an wro d-sro 70
len II sn s sd III lana @ss stand Those who f
dciic g pcrpe'nate anc, discard AMI disunion viii
governments should he National this cannot be long
a. twenty Tour State 'egIslac for thrtysix snios,
and ten millions vi our Fellow citizens upropsesent-
td The Constitution make each house OF Cpngr.
Tire cole Judge Of the guaiicat ons OF ia own
mcinbegs ~ - mt required Dy that i0dtrumcut,
nor In II demanded hy any consideration Q. right
justice that the 80 Of Congress should
inlly upon the qualifications aud claims Of noun
rs OF either branch; and nv law or principle Of
free gov rnmert both horsas deprive an en-
tro ate OF thai lair representation which, under the
constitution, Il Is ,ntci uni, y the exercise OF IN
assumed power You can lost ~ with What oanestDess
engaged " tho late struggle, with what catnestness
o au until aha. struggle declared ended, the VIC
tory WIN Witn thai earnestness sii desire
peace, that peace for which armies conendcd And
now that tho national authority everywhere recog-
n2cd The of esslon forever settled the pub
lie dohs acknowledged The rebel debt rcpudaiod. end
peace, order aId halnony proclaimed IN every state
only remains Congress " 10 receive 10 seats therein
loyal Representatives from csoy stat. IN alicgancc 70
tn uullcd states subject 10 the constitutional right OF
"a House TO Judge ~ tho election, returns and qus
IL atoms OF lts own members"
II a farther vlndrs;On o. my course was necessary,
mLf refer Won 10 the proiamasich a peace THIS day
uei hy TIE President 80 tho United states Ia that
welcome document the ,Ircsier. distinctly states That