The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-10-11
Custar on FOrhey and the Phila-
delphia Convention.

consistent with his past, and that
his views on Reconstruction had
been modified since his testimony
before the Congressional commit
tee on Reconstruction. Custar has
replied. We have not space for
all his letter, but give the follow
ing extracts:
TO John ", Eorney: .r..
A few OF the most extreme
Radical journals have pretended to discoy-
er an inconsistency between the views en-
braced in my testimony before the Con-
grcssiOnal committee on Reconstruction in
March last. and in my present action as a
delegate to the Philadelphia Convention,
and Il supporter of the principles enuncia-
ted in the resolutions and platform pro-
claimed and adopted by that illustrious,
national and patriotic assembly. composed
of representatives from every State and
every Territory in the Union. and there
tore the first truly National Convention
which has assembled in our country dur
ing the past six years. Prominent in this
Misrepresentation and wilful peNersion OF
the truth. is the organ controlled and edit
ed by yourself. aud. were it not for the Of
fetal position which YOU hold. would not
deem myself justified in referring to you.-
will not refer to the seditiouS and infiam-
matory epithets you applied to that Con
venton. of which | am proud to have been
member. but will only class them with
your insidious and wicked harangues pro-
nounced in the city of Philadelphia, during
the sitting of the Convention. in which you
endeayored to stir the passions of what you
supposed a mob to deeds of violence and
blood. Neither will l occupy time in eX-
posing your baseness in characteriZing
those gallant soldiers of the Union who
took part in the Convention, as being in-
iluenced by any but the highest noblest
and most patriotic impulses which govern
the human will. Much less were they, as
you insinuate, tinctured with disloyalty.-,
Such unwarranted, unjust and unprovoked
assertions come from you with bad grace
when directed against those, who, during
the entire war, have freely and unselhshly
periled their lives to restore, defend, and
perpetuate the principles Of constitution
al Government, which you are laboring to
DESTROY. What have you to gain in ma
ligning and traducing those whose patriot
ism has undergone the test of battle and Is
beyond impeachmentr ,
As to the propriety Of my course In at.
tending the National Union Convention,
recognize neither in you, nor in those you
represent, the right to question my motives
III satisfy my GOO, my country and my
conscience. / achieve my highest aim. That
nv course has received the approval of the
first, and will ultimately, if not now, re-
ceiye that of the second, is evinced by the
hearty approval Of the third. AS was SC
feelingly expressed by the distinguished
statesman and patriot who presided over
the deliberations of the Convention, "pcace
hath her victories, none the less renowned
than war" and along with the many VIC
tories achieved upon many hardly con-
tested field by the courage, fidelity, and
perseverance of our noble and patriotic
armies, and in which l am proud to have
been an humble participant, place as q
crowning victory the harmonious assem-
bling of that Convention. composed as II
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
personal feeling, assembled, intent but upon
one purpose. TO secure peace, prosperity
and The preservation Of the conntry. To
aschieve this grand purpose ii seemed as il
one and all were inspired by the sentiment
Union, Concession and Harmony--every-
thing for the cause, nothing Tor men, And
| as a result of their deIibetdtlons the plat
furm and principles adopted BY that Con
uention NAV be expressed in six words
National Integrity. Constitutional Liberty
Indiyidual Rights. Upon this platform ol
who dpsirp to promote peace, harmony ant
Justice throughout The length AMI breath o
our land may stand. Those who drsre Il
pcrpe,uate STRIFE, disc I'd and disunion vii
reject il. Duty, as well as interest, delnanl
| that tIris Government should be National
this cannot be so long as twenty.lour State
| legisIate for lhrt,.six Strtes; and ten million
of our fellow -citzens are unTepresented.-
The Constitution makes earh House OF Con
gress the ;ole Judge OF The qualifications
! its own members. 1t is not required b.
that instrument, nor is itdemand1d ny an'
consideration oI right and justice, maj tn
two Houses Ol Congress should renJ. lnll
pass upon the quail lira'Ous and claims
members Of either branch aud by no law o
! principle of lice government ran one o
both Houses depr xe an entire State Of tiia
lair representa- ion 10 which udfr The G'"
.ttution, it is emitted, unless he tAeT
rise of an assumed power, Yu 'tn .,.t'f
with vhu, e,rnrS,Jrss | lwghl un, n
,t,ugglp Was d-cateh rhtrd. he VI lor
won. VITA iha sam" er'n7r'mrs- Sti
desile peace, that peace its NhlEp "ui 49,"
is crnipned. And now iha he cat M
auhorily is every uDere recognz'd, tneI'"C
ri o. serFssi0m forever settled. the pm j
debt acEnnw jedg.d Tue rebel debt reputla
ted, aud peace, nniet. aud hsrm' ny pre-
claimed in every State, it only, remains fc
Congress to receive to seats therein, LoYA
representatives lrcn every State in aIlrgane
10 the United States, subject to the cons'l
tutional right of each hodse to judge OF n
elections. returns and qualifications oil II
G. A. GUSTAV.
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