Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-18
HARLAN ON GRANT.
What the Iowa Senator Thought Of
Our Military President a Few Years

What the Iowa Senator Thought Of
Our Military President q Few Years
Ago.
Hon. James Harlan is a Senator of the
United States from the State of Iowa, and
as his term of Office is about to expire, he
is naturally very anxious about a re-elec-
ton, because if he should not be reelected,
what would become of his friend Pomeroy
and all the land grant and railroad jobs
Mr.. Harlan expects to win, because he has
the Administration "a. e., President Grant)
on his side. In order to get the President
to bolster him up, he has, of course, had to
become very Obsequious and subservient,
and to swear that Ulysses S. Grant is not
only the greatest President, but also the
greatest man the country has ever pro-
duced.
In consideration of an unyielding support
ON the San Domingo question and other pet
measures of the Administration, Grant has
thrown all bis influence in Harlan's favor.
1t is well known that he even persuaded
his pastor, the Rev. DR.. Newman, to write
letter to Iowa endorsing Harlan as a truly
moral man, and appealing to the powerful
Methodist denomination in the West to eX-
ert its influence to return him to the SEN
ate. The letter, it is true, had an effect ex-
actly the opposite of what was in
tended by the President, but the good
will was manifest. And this shows
what a forgiving spirit our President has.
1t will be reeollected that he forgaye
Admiral Porter for the mountain of atdse
which that old sea dog heaped upon our
great Ulysses, and he could not do less than
Afr "a nf
in the deep study and research for which
he is famous, could not have failed to find
in the Globe of not many years ago, a speech
made by Senator Harlan upon one Ulysses
S. Grant, who was then a General in the
army, with an important command in the
West. Harlan did not have the same good
opinion of General Grant that he now has
of President Grant.
The speech from which we quote may be
found on pages 2,036 and 2, 2,03T of the Con-
greeSiondL Globe, Part III, Second Session,
Thirty-seventh Congress. Senator Sher-
man gave occasion for the remarks by a
speech in defense of Ohio troops. We
quote from the Globe, as follows:
Mr.. Harlan.-Mr. President, so far as the
remarks of the Senator from Ohio may have
been intended to defend the troops of that
State from any just aspersions, have not
a word to say. They were well-timed, and
it was probably proper subject for the COD
sideration of the Senate, as their courage
had been called in question, as it
seems, by Senator from another State.
But that part of his speech which may have
been intended to bolster up the reputation
of Gen. Grant, l think may have an inju-
rious effect in the future, and hence ! arise
to repudiate every word he has said that
may have that tendency. From all l can
learn on the subject, l do not think Gen.
Grant is fit to command great army in the
field. Iowa had eleven regiments in the
field at the battle of Pittsburg Landing. He
can never make one of those men believe
that Gen. Grant is fit 10 command. l have
seen many of them, have cOnversed with
the officers and privates, and they
believe that our army was sur
prised. The Iowa troops
have been in battle repeatedly
under command of Gen. Grant; they
have no confidence in his capacity and fit
ness for the high position he now holds.
They regard him as the author of the use
less slaughter Of many hundreds of their
brave comrades in arms. 1t is not neces-
sary, nor is it right, to compel them 10 serve
under him. The speech of the Senator
from Ohio might, if unnoticed, induce those
in authority to continue him in the field. l
understand he has been virtually sus-
pended; that he Low really has no COM
mand; that each division and army corps
of the Western Department is under
the command of another General,
and the whole under the command
of Gen. Halleck; that Gen. Grant is
second in command of the whole, which is,
of course, merely nominal. In my opinion
he ought not to have multiplied thousands
of men placed in his hands after the record
which he has made. And the only practi-
cal tendency of that part Of the speech of
the Senator from Ohio would be to induce
the President to assign him an active COM
mand. This cannot consent to have done
in the presence of my eOuntrymen, manned
and slaughtered, as ! believe, through his
carelessness or incompetency.
But, sir, it is often as dangerous and as
wicked to praise the unworthy and incom-
petent as to detract from the meritorious.
If my convictions are correct, it would be
crime for me to remain silent, and suffer
influences to originate in the Senate cham
Der which may result in restoring general
to an active command whom | and the peo-
pie in part represent deem unworthy of
such trust.
Iowa has sent into the field about twenty
thousand troops. They have behaved, L
think, well on every battlefield where they
have appeared. As far as know, no Iowa
regiment has ever faltered in the discharge
of duty, however perilous. Their num-
bers have been reduced by the casualties of
the field and camp nearly one-fourth. They
give their lives with firmness to aid in re-
storing the supremacy of the laws.
But, sir, they believe, and believe, that
a large per cent. of this loss was useless, and
is Justly attributable to the earelessness or
inability of Gen. Grant. And he shall not,
with nv consent, be continued in command.
There is nothing in his antecedents to justi-
fy further trial of his military skill. At
Belmont he committed an egregiOus and
objectionable military blunder, which
resulted in almost annihilating an Iowa
regiment. At Fort DonelsOn the right
wing of our army, which was under his
immediate command, was defeated
and driven back. several miles from
the enemy's works. The battle was re-
stored by Gen. Smith, the enemy's works
were stormed, and thus victory was fairly
won. And so on the battlefield of Shiloh,
his army was completely surprised, as be-
lieve, from all the facts | can procure, on
Sunday, and nothing but the stubborn
bravery of the men, fighting by regiments
and brigades, saved the army from utter de-
struction. The battle was afterward restored,
and conducted BY Gen. Buell. and other
Generals, who came on the field during the
evening and night; and our forces ultimate
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