New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-03
HARLAN on GRANT.

tTb, AdmipistratiOnists are so partial to resur-
rectipr the sayings and dong of other people we pro-
pose 70 give them tre Of that sort Of thing once IN
while Herewith we print Mr. James Harlan's honest
opinion Of Grant when the aforesaid Harlan was IN the
United States Senate:
frou TIE Congressional Cob, May O. 1852
Mr. HaraR-Mr. Prcsi ient, 50 lar as the remarks or
che senator from ONO Oir. shermau) may have been
aspcrsiOns, have not "a word 10 say. But tlat
Iagt OF lis speech which may have been intended to
bolster up the reputation ol Gen. Grant, think may
have injurious effect In the future, and rise TO
nay SPSu'' have hat tendency. From ali I can
learn the subject do Lot think Gen. Grant is iii to
command great army in the leld. Iowa had II Teg-
nents IN the field at the battle OF PttsOuIg Lanulhs'
lie never make one Of those men believe that Gen.
Grant Is 1t TO command. The Iowa troops nave
been IN battle repeatedly under command OF Gen;
Grant; they have confidence IN ms capacity ana III,
ness for the high position he now holds Ihey regard
him the author Of the useless slaughter OF many
hundreds OF their brave comlcdes IN arms 1t is not
necessary nor Is right TO compel theu 10 serve e,
him. And the only practical tendency Of that
part OF the speech OF the senator from ONO wOnd DC 10
induce the PRESIDENT TO assign MN an aetNe CohliaHu:
This cannot consent TO have done IN the presence OF
my oOuItrymen, manned aud slaughtered as believe,
FhrOugn ms carelessness aud lhcoMpttehcS'
my convictions are correct, II would be crime Tor me
10 remain silent and suffer influences 10 originate III
the senate ChaIADeT WHICH lha! result IN restoring
General TO an active command whom ana the people
in part represent deem unworthy Of such "A trust.
Iowa has sent 10 the Held about 2D0O) troops. They
have behaved THINK Wei on every Odltt-nele where
they have appeared As far as l Know no Iowa regl-
ment has ever iateIed ia me dsehaIee ol autI now
perilOus Their numbers have been reduced by me
cave their lives with unuess 10 ald IN restorIs -" en-
UTemaey OF the laws. But SIR, they DelleNe ana Oe
leye that large per cent Of TINS loss was useless e
Is iustly attributable 10 the caieessness or lnapN OF
Grant @ shall Win cOhstut' NC t"ii-
ftnued in command. Tier. nothing IN ms autecedehs
20 Justify further trial OF is military SAIL AZ belmont
be committed egregious and unpJrdonabe military
blunder which resulted IN almost annlhdtlS an Iowa
regiment At Fort DOnesOn the rglt wing VI our army,
which was under his immediate command, WAS OeIeateu
md driven back several miles from the enelny's
works Tna battle was restored by Gen. Smltn,
The euemy'B works were stOrmed, ana thus Il
victory was finally Aud 80 on the
battle-ied of shiloh, hs army was completely sul-
rrsed BIS believe from all the facts eau procure, on
men fgntng by regiments and brgades saved the army
from utter destruction. The battle was afterward re-
stored and conducted by Gen. Duel aud OJhef generals
who came on the field during he evening anu night ana
ouf forces ultimately succeeded IN completely routing
the enemy Now, sir, with such record, those VINO
continue Cen. Grant in active command WILL IN my
opDOn carry their skirts the blood O thousands OF
faeir slaughtered country men VAN my CONVICTIONS,
can neither do myself silently permit TO be done
" 0kLttsi ---~ -S'Ss~s
Mr. Harlan is now one Of the most atjee admirers of
the General who in his Ouon in 1852 was incompetent
and mere Mfe-destrOyer who ought no longer to have
an active command The Grant CLIQUE hold that II be be
not great statesman, he great warrior, at least
Mr. Harlan who now edits The Washington Chronicle,
ought TO have some opinions this subject What are
tbeyY And he makes haste to eat dirt by saying that
his opinion about Grant wrong In 1862 is there not
reason 90 suppose his opinions ABOUT Grant IN 1872
equally untrustworrhyf