New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-08-23
PROVING TOO MUCH.

The secession writers IL the New YORK organs
of JEFF. Davis sometimes forgot, in their zeal to
serve their master, the dangers besetting that
method of argument which proves one point so
conclusiyely that it completely upsets general
theory. A letter-writer in the Wertd, who gen.
orally foreshadows Lees wishes, and always
aims TO aid his plans, is guilty of little
lapse of memory Of this sort in yes
to-days issue of that journal. which shows that
the adage, "easy as lying" not to be SO true as
its opposite, that Liars should have good
memories" lie would hardly venture to deny,
if asked, that in this summers campaign Lee
has met with some considerable losses, and that
his army is a good deal reduced in numbers;
vet in the face of that fact, he has the
temerity to announce that the rebel General now
has under bis command in Virginia an army of
I09, 900 men. which he is scattering about with
a most lavish hand, North and South, deeming
20, coo quite sufficient TO hold Grant in check
before Richmond. If Lee has any such army
now, it il certainly very small estimate to put
il at $50. 900 at the battle of the Wildorness and
if he began the campaign with so magnificent q
force as that, what becomes Of the Horids con-
slant assurance that the campaign Of Grant has
been sailurei If he has compelled Lee with
so large an army to fall back, beaten and beaten
ngain, day after day. and week after week, from
the Rapidan to Richmond, and 10 take refuge,
at length, behind his earth-works, then the
campaign, according to this writer's own figures,
has been most brilliantly successful. even though
Richmond be not yet taken.
Nor is this all that be proves In proving too
much against the constantly reiterated ssser-
ton of The Borid that Grants overland march
to Richmond was unwiso and disastrous Re
ferring TO the late movement Of Hancock and
Birney, north Of the James this letter-vriter
asserts that it has accomplished nothing
but to prove tho great strength Of the Rebel
works around Richmond; that those which
these Generals have attempted to carry, ore on
ly Outworks. ten miles from the city, and quite
inferior in strength TO those nearer tho town,
and on which the rebels rely for its safety
Now if this be so; if these intrenchments
are, as this writer would have us believe, abso.
lutely impregnable; il 20, 900 ore. as he asserts
quite sufficient for the defence Of Richmond; and
If, at the outset of the campaign, Lee had al
army Of $1,000 men on the Rapidan, what be-
comes again Of the Worlds argument that Gen
Grant should have adopted Gen. McClellan's
strategy, have approached Richmond by way Of
the Peninsula, and sat down before that city, if
be could, without rsking battle That I'M
doubtedly would have suited Lee, as part Of
his army could have awaited Grant behind these
formidable intyeachments, while be would
have been left free to go where no pleased
with the remainder. But it WAS precisely
this which Grant meant be should not
do. When he sat down before tho defencos of
Richmond, he meant that Lee should be squat
tod behind them, and 10 make sure Of il he attack
ed the Rebel General in front, and drove him BE-
fore him. Whom the World and its correspond.
cnt endeayor to prove the strength of these
defcncep, and the formidable numbers of the Rebel
army, they Offer the strongest possible just flea
ton Of the course pursued by Grant, in keeping
that army always before him as he approached a
Guy so strongly defended. hau Mcclellan done
the same. the Army Of tho Potomac under him
would never have buried SO many Of its brave
soldiers in the Chickahominy swamps; the bat
tie Of Cedar Mountain, and the second Bull Run
wou1 never have been fought Richmond
would have been ours-that is, supposing
Mcclellan ever wanted to take 1.-TWO years
ago; the Rebellion would now be talked of as
the late war so speedily and happily ended, and
the country would have been saved thousand
millions of debt, and two hundred thousand
lives, of its best and bravest
No doubt the defences Of Richmond are for.
mdable, but Grant may yet carry them; no
doubt Lee has an army Of considerable strength, |
though not so large as the Worlds correspond
ent would make it. But though, in overcsti-
mating the strength of both no unwilling
ly proves that tho objections made by such
writers to Grants plan Of the campaign were
made, not to Grants method Of approaching
Richmond, but to approaching it ut all, or to do
anything that promised to suppress tho rebel
lion, be shows that his purpose still is to hold