The Cairo daily bulletin., 1872-10-08
HARLAN ON GRANT.
from the New York Tribune.

From the New York Tribune.
The eadninistrationists are go partial to
resurrecting the sayings and doings OF
other people, we propose to give them
trlhe OF that sort Of thing, once IN while.
Herewith we print Mr.. James Harlans
honest opinion of Grant when the aiore-
said Harlan was in the United States
senate:
from the Congressional Globe. May 8. 1862.
"Mr. Harlan-Mr. President, 50 tar as
the remarks of the senator from Ohio Mr..
Sherlnan), may have been intended to de-
tend the troops Of that state from unjust
aspersions, l have not word to say.
But that part OF lis speech
which may have been intended TO bolster
up the reputation of General Grant, l
think may have an injurious effect in the
future, and rise 10 r-pudiate every word
he has said that may have that tendency.
From all l can learn on the subject do
not think General Grant is fit to command
great army in the field. Iowa had eleven
regiments III the field ut the battle ot fitts-
burg Landing. He can never make one of
those men believe that General Grant is tit
to command. The owa troops
have been in battle repeatedly under the
command of General Grant; they
have no confidence in his capacity
aud fitness for the high position he now
holds. They regard him rs the author of
the useless slaughter of many hundreds
of their brave comrades in arms. 1t is not
necessary, nor is it right, to compel them
to serve under him. And the
only practical tendency of that part of the
speech of the Senator from Ohio would be
to induce the president to assign Lin an
active command. This l cannot consent
to have done in the presence OF
my countrymen, MANNED and slsugh-
tered, as l believe, through his
care lessness and incompetency.
If my convictions are
correct, it would bs crime for me to re-
main silent, aud suffer influences to orig
mate in the senate chamber which may
result in restoring u general to an active
command whom l ard the people in
part represent deem unworthy Of such
trust
Iowa has sent to the field about 10000
troops. They have behaved l think, well
ON every battlefield where they have APP
peared. AS far as know, no Iowa regi-
ment has ever faltered in the discharge Of
duty, however perilous. Their numbers
| have been reduced by the casualties Of the
field snd camp nearly on--fourth. They
gave their lives with irlnness TO aid in re-
storing the supremacy of the laws. But,
sir they believe, and i believe, that II
large per cent. of this loss was useless,
and is justly attributable to the careless
ness of General Grant. And he shall not,
with my consent, be continued in COM
mand. There is nothing in his antecedents
to Justify further trial of military skill
At Belmont he committed an egregious
and objectionable military blunder, in al.
most annihilating an Iowa regi.
ment. At Fort Donelson the right
wing Of our army, which was un-
der his immediate command, was defeated
and driven back several miles from the
snemys works. The battle was restored
by General Smith, the enemys work.
were stormed, and thus victory was
finally won. And so on the battlefield OF
Shiloh, his army was completely sur
prlsed, as believe, 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 destruction. The battle
was afterward restored and conducted by
General Buell. and other generals, who
came on the field during the evening and
night, and our forces ultimately succeeded
in completely routing the enemy. Now,
sir, with such Il record, those who continue
General Grant in an active command
will, in my opinion, carry on their skirts
the blood Of thousands Of their slaughtered
countrymen. With my convictions can
neither do it myself or silently permit il
to be done by Others"
Mr.. Harlan is now one Of the most abb
ject admirers of the general, who, in his
opinion, in 1862 was incompetent and II
mere life-destroyer, who ought no longer
TO have an active command. The Gran,
clique hold that If he be not n great states.
man, he is a great warrior, at least. Mr.
Harlan, who now edits the Washington
Chronicle, ought to have some opinions
on this subject. What are they? And
ifhe makes haste to eat dirt by saying that
his opinions about Grant were wrong il
1862, is there not reason to suppose hi
opinions about Grant in 1872 equally un,
trustworthyg