Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-07-29
Grants Sayings.
NOTABLE EXTRACTS FROM HIS LETTERS,
SPEECHES, AND REPORTED CONVEX
SATIONS.

|
SPEECHES, AND REPORTED CONVEX
Stations.
The only eyes that general can trust
are his own.
do not believe in luck in war any more
than in luck in business.
A general who will never take chance
in battle will never fight one.
propose to fight it out on this line if il
takes all summer.-In the Wilderness, Mag
II, 1864.
This is republic where the will of the
people is the law of the land. l beg that
their voices may be heard-Letter to Pres
ident johnson, 1865.
The humblest soldier who carried mus
ket is entitled to as much credit for the
results of the war as those who were in
command.-Speech at Hamburg, 1878.
With people as honest and proud al
the Americans and with so much common
sense, it is always mistake to do thing
not entirely right for the sake of expedi
ency.
Although soldier by education an6
profession, l have never felt any sort Of
fondness for war, and l have never advo
Gated it except as a means Of peace
Speech IN London, 1877.
No theory of my own will ever stand il
the way of my executing in good faith any
order l may receive from those in authori
ty over me.-Letter to Secretary Chase
July, 1868.
The stability of this Government and
the unity of this nation depend solely on
the cordial support and the earnest loyalty
of the people.-Address to loyal citizens Of
Memphis, august, 1868.
There had to be an end of slavery
Then we were fighting an enemy with
whom we could not make peace. We
had to destroy him. No convention, ne
treaty, was possible-only destruction.
Too long denial of guaranteed right is
sure to lead to revolution, bloody revolu
ton, where suffering must fall upon the
innocent as we'll as the guilty.-Letter II
Governor Chamberlain, 1876.
If our country could be saved or ruined
by the efforts of any one man we should
not have country, and we should not now
be celebrating our Fourth of July.-Speecl
at Hamburg, 1878.
am not believer in any artificial
method of making paper money equal tc
coin when the coin is not owned or held
ready to redeem the promise to pay, fol
paper money is nothing more than promises
to pay Veto Message Of Currency Bill.
The truth is, am more of farmer than
soldier. l take little or no interest il
military affairs, and, although 1 entered
the army thirty-five years ago, and have
been in two wars, in Mexico as a young
lieutenant, and later, never went into tn,
army without regret and never retired
without pleasure.
feel no inclination to retaliate for tn,
offences of irresponsible persons; but if i
is the policy of any general intrusted will
the command of troops to show no quartz
or to punish with death prisoners taken il
battle, l will accept the issue.-Letter Il
Confederate General Buckner, 1868.
shall on all subjects have a policy tt
recommend, none to enforce against the
will of the people. Laws are to govern al
alike-those opposed to as well as those in
favor of them. Il know no method to Sc.
cure the repeal of bad or obnoxious laws
so effectual as their strict execution.-I
augural address, 1869.
recognize the fact that whatever there
is of greatness in the United States, or in
deed in any other country, is due to the
labor performed. The laborer is the author
of all greatness and wealth. Without
labor there would be no Government, or
no leading class, or nothing to preserve
With us labor is regarded as highly re-
spectable.-1o The Iron Founders ,Societu,
Birmingham, 1877.
Yours of this date, proposing an arms
tice and the appointment of commission
ers to settle on the terms of capitulation,
is just received. No terms except uncon
ditional and immediate surrender can be
| accepted. | propose to move Immediately
On your works. | am, very respect fully
your obedient servant.-I'o General Buck
ner, commanding Fort Donelson, Februar,
Is, 1862.
When was in the army l had ply
sique that could stand anything. Whether
| slept on the ground or in tent, whether
| slept one hour or ten in the twenty-four
whether had one meal or three or none
made no difference. l could lie down anc
sleep in the rain without caring. But
was many years younger, and | could moi
hope to do that now.
Nothing would afford me greater happi-
ness than to know, as believe will be the
case, that at some future day the nations Of
the earth will agree upon some sort of con-
gress, which shall take cognizance of inter.
national questions of difficulty, and whose
decisions will be as binding as the decision
of our Supreme Court is binding on u.s.
70 the International arbitration Union,
Birmingham.