The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1868-06-27
q. samuel esranf.

The people Of the United States we're
disposed to accord TO General Grant all
the honor, glory and renown claimed for
him by his most ardent admirers, simply
because he was the General Of the Union
forces in the late war Had he been con-
tent to confne himself to the discharge
OF the duties Of bis Office, the achievements
in war made by the force Of oycrwhelm.
ling numbers Of brave troops and mex.
haustible resources otherwise. might have
continued 10 be ascribed to his superior
military abilities, and he might have
lived an honored military chieftain and
left behind him reputation Of being one
of the first military heroes Of his age and
country; but now, nc having suffered
himself to be bribed by the bIandish-
inents and promises Of political hucksters.
and having entered into the arena of pol.
itics, and stopped to the most despisabIe
means to satisfy the extreme and iawIess
wing Of q radical, sectional and lawless
party; that he is in harmony with niggcr
suffrage, high taxation for the masses and
exemption for the rich, for subvcrsion of
the Constitution, and for military dicta-
iorship, and the utter enslavcment OF ten
millions of white citizens, in order to &C.
cure the votes Of 10000 niggers, the
people arc beginning to inquire into his
public AMI private history, and he must
now pass the ordeal Of public scrutiny !;
he must now stand or fall upon his own
merits; his military genius must be
measured By the truth of history. If the
history of his military operations shall es-
tablish the fact that be is gri at mill.
tarp hero of Superior abilities, we would
not pluck single flower from the wreath
with which the Radicals are seeking to
docraie his brow. No one claims any.
thing for him on the score Of statesman
ship, private worth, moral and social
qualities or relations In these respects
perhaps he DOES NOT COME UP TO THE
EDTToR OF TIE ENTERPRISE. His great
exploits as the General of the army is
urged in his behalf as his qualifications
for the Presidency. But let the truth Of
bis history speak, and then judge ye of
his merits Is military chieftain. At the
terrible and bloody battle of Pittsburg
Landing he was most shamefully whipped.
and bur for the timely arrival of General
Buel he would have been entirely routed
aud driven into the river In his march
to Richmond, he had more men slaught-
cred than the estimate number of Lees
army. So frightfnl was the havoc and
slaughter that tho dead bodies of 5000
of his men laid for six weeks upon the
battlefield of the Wilderness, food for
the birds Of prey Great generalship
does not consist in rashiy, foolishly rush
ing into the jaws of death
Beginning with Lees surrender, the
entire rebel force surrendered to the Un-
ion arms was ia ,223 men (See report
Secretary At the close of the War the
number of Federal soldiers in the service
was ] 100, ,000-1, 100, 900 having already
been mustered out of the service. (Same
report.)
Where was the great military skill dis
played in the General of the army 10 clos
ing the war; Did it consist in forcing
the surrender Of ia, men to his ar
mics containing |, 100000 men ?
General Grant, in person, received the
surrender Of General Lees army, q, ,S05
men, fSeeretary of Wars report }
There were 233, 200 men mustered out Of
the service Of the United States a. Wash
ington, up to July 9th, 1865. On July
10th the army of the Potomac still con-
sisted of 162,85l men (same report
Add these to those mustered out and we
have 3S6,05l men. With which Gene
raj Grant captured Richmond, Petersburg,
Lee and his entire army, which consisted
p ,805 men-ofter fighting it out on that
line all summer
Can one see any evidence of great mil
Iitafy skill in this? We venture to say
that there was not captain, or perhaps
corporal, in the service who could not
have have captured Lees army of 27 ,S05
men with the army of the Potomac
These are facts these are the figures.
Facts and figures arc stubborn things,
more stubborn than the General himself.
Draw your own conclusions.
Il