The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-06-05
THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR
PRESIDENT.

~
the selection of utensil. AS we are
not to have war, there is less fitness
in the selection of a general, than of a
statesman, as candidatefor President.
General Grant has been nominated
solely in consequence of his military
reputation. Waving, for the present,
the fundamental objection that the in
strumentis not adapted to the propos-
ed use, and that the Presidency, dur
ing the next term, will afford no scope
for the exertion of military talents,
we challenge inquiry into the grounds
of General Grants fame as a soldier.
We suppose none Of his friends will
seriously maintain that he is entitled
to be called great general merely be-
cause he has commanded great armies
much less because he had exposed and
lost in battle great multitudes of men.
His reputation rests upon the fact that
all his campaigns have been success
ful. But success against such adversar-
les Of Pillow or Pemberton in the
West is no very signal proof of abili-
ties, unless they commanded greater
forces which they did not. General
Lee was a more worthy antagonist
but General Lee was not conquered by
fighting him, but by exhausting his
resources. He stood on the defensive
for nearly year after Grant assumed
command in the East, although the
Confederacy was even then, when
Grant crossed the Raipdan, tottering
and well-nigh spent by three years
eXertiOn in a strenuous and unequal
struggle. 1t is certainly just to credit
Grant with the capture of Lee; but there
is debit as we'll as a credit side to the
account. What General Scott called
"the economy of life by means of head
work." will be sought for in vain in
the campaigns of Gen. Grant. His
successes have been won by prodigal
expenditure of his soldiers. In his
last and great est campaign he pitted
an enormous army against small one,
and sacrificed twice as many men as
Gen. Lee had under his command. 1t
is not justice but adulation, to praise
him as if he had conquered an army as
large as his own. 1t is not justice but
an affront to humanity to give him
as much credit as if he had achieved
the same result without such wholesale
sacrifices of men. The following is an
authentic statement of the respective
forces and losses of Generals Grant and
Lee between the Rapidan and the
James:
Grant on assuming command May +,
1864, had Of effective men besides the
reserve, when he crossed the Rapidan,
125,OOO.
Lee at the same date had an effective
force of $4,000.
Grants reinforcements up to the bat
tie Of Cold Harbor, June 3, were 97,-
900.
Lees reinforcements, up to the same
date, were $4,000.
Grants total force, including rein
forcements, were $4,000.
Lees total force, including reinforce
ments, was 10000.
Returns to their respective Govern
ments showed that when both armies
had reached the James, June 10, the
number Of Grants army that had been
put hOr$ Clu combat was, 1T 900.
Up to the same date, the number of
Lees men who had been put hOrs d"
combat was, 10000.
The two armies then met in front of
Petersburg.
We have been at some pains to as
certain and verify these figures, and
we vouch for their substantial accur-
acy. We shall take good care that
they do not escape the notice, nor slip
the recollection Of the country. We
cheerrulIy concede to General Grant
the merit of succe S; but it is right
that the country should know the ter
ribIe cost at which that success was
purchased.
The truest test of military genius is
the accomplishment of great results
with slender means.
Wecanrecall no instance unless Grant
be an instance) of a general who estab-
lished his title to be called great, other
wise than by succeeding against great
disadvantages either superior num-
bers, or cOnsummate abilities in the
commanders opposed to him, or form
idable physical obstacles. A man does
not prove that he possesses a giants
strength by overmastering an invalid
or cripple. a general does not estab-
lish his title to be considered great by
subduing an army One-third as large
as his own, and losing five of his own
men for every one that he disables of
the enemy.
We have had some experience be-
fore of running successful generals as
candidates for Presidency but their
achievements were, in this particular,
a great contrast to those of General
Grant. General ia ckson won his bril-
liant victory as New Orleans with 1000
men against British army of $4,000.
General Taylor had but about 5000
men at Buena Vista, and the Mexi-
cans twice or thrice that number. Gen
eral Scott had $500 at Cerro Gordo,
+ba NTavioonC - OOO Tho cnIandid !