The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-11-07

Senator Christiancy made O speech
in Detroit, on Tuesday evening. We
quote portion OF II. The letters read
are instructive reading for those Dem
ocratic papers who were so sure, after
his death, OF Gen. Clusters Democracy.
The Senator said:
1t is said war Demoents are intend
ing 10 vote for Tildsn and Hendricks.
He could understand how rebel could
but failed to appreciate the motive
which might prompt a war Democrat
TO such an action. He believed that IL
they understood the actual situation OF
affairs they would not do that. He
had two letters which he wished 10
read. They were from q war Demo
crat, and portrayed the feeling OF war
Democrat. The writer was dear to his
heart, one whom he had known init
mately, and whom he trusted and low
ed; one, in short, OF the most gallant
men that ever lived. whose life went
out only yesterday on that far away
and savage frontier, in glory and blood
Maj. Gen. George A. Custer. That
letter WAS written Is days after tho
Chicago Convention, and was as fol-
lows: Mla vg4
"The submission OF the rebels ia the
only peace commission we, as q free
people, can offer. and the only one
they, as rebels, are entitled ". i
favor peace, but the complete acknowl-
odgment OF our government must be
supreme. The only peace commission
favor is that sent from the cannon's
mouth-the only srmistice would Of
fer is ut the point of the bayonet. We
demand the unconditional recognition
of the supremacy of the Federal Gov
ernment, and propositions for peace
must come from the rebels. It's sad-
mes y propose an armistice now when
the rebellion is about to crumble TO
pieces. The government which would
not be entitled to the respect Of the
other nations Of the earth, or to the
protectioa Of its own people. Let the
people at the proper time (at the cleo
tom speak-let them speak SO that the
soldiers may know that Mt home they
are not looked upon as marauding hire
hpgs.'
Custer was a Democrat. true war
Democrat, and true patriot. He had
his first promotion from Mcclellan. and
IL any man would have been likely TO
love him for his personal qualities and
admire his worth it was Custer. But
I he could not adhere to him on such n
platform. The letter was published in
the Daily Advertiser, Aug. 10, 1874,
shd on the 2lst the Free Press COM
meuted on the reply, to which General
Custer wrote thus:
"The Free Press charges mo wial
barbsrity. But as the friends Of the
! Free Press in Richmond-the Wing
and Enquirer-haye paid me the same
compliment am becoming used to it.
The only difference is the southerners
tell some truth and the northerners
none. The Free Press says / burned
some dwellings, and in retaliation the
rebels cut the throats OF 60 OF nay SOL
diers. The truth is 1 burned some
dwellings because the rebels killed oHe
OF my men, and haven't lost man
since. hung a rebel spy few days
ago, and believe he was q more loyal
man than the editor Of the Free Press,
aud the claims OF the two 10 live under
the government are about equal.
That letter was from the man whom
the Free Press rightly denominated
the glorious and brave Custer, recent
ly. The speaker would not undertake
To decide the question whether the edi.
tor of tho Free Press had improved
any since that day, tut would leave n
to his hearers.