Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-02-04
LIEUT.. GENERAL BENTON.

General Benton asked leave, on Monday the Isl
INST, 10 make an exposition, in vindicatiOn of tho
President, Tor having proposed the creation of the
office OF Lieutenant General.
Leave being given, Mr.. Benton proceeded, and
in tho course of his remarks said that i'm the early
part OF September the President sent for him, and
rendered him the appointment of Minister to France
which he decllned--At that time, therefore, there
could have been no design to make him his success
sor IN the Presidency by giving him opportunity
of acquiring fame by feats performed in Mexico
A few days after he (Mr b. went on visit to
the West from which he returned i'm November,
and, for reasons not now proper to be made known,
the President sent for him, and asked his opinion
as TO the future operation of the war.
Mr. Is. said he had been chairman of the Militia
~ Committee for quarter OF century-and had
been accustomed to confer with all administrations
upon such matters. He gave his plan to the Pre-
sident face to face, and afterwards reduced it 10
writing. Here it is, said he, holding it in his hand
but neither intend to read it or have il read for
do not belong to that school that would make pub-
lie plans for conducting war-even rejected ones.
MIR. Is. went on to say that the plan which he
presented required head to the army-one head
to the whole army-and the President was satisfied
with the plan, and the question was how to get il
executed 1t did not correspond with the ideas of
the two higher officers of the Army and it was not
the custom TO require General to execute a plan
he did not approve of.
MIR. BENTON then went on TO defend the Presi-
dent from the charge which had been made against
MN, OF intending to place mere civilian at the
head Of the Army. He (Mr. b. was no mere ci
william. In 1912 he was the military superior of
every General now in service. He had not men,
toned this fact before even to his nearest and best
friends In the Senate, and mentioned it now merely
for the purpose of rescuing the President from the
charges which had been made against him. The
Constitution, too, said Mr.. b. places person from
civil life at the head of the Army now. The Pre-
sldent is the Commander in-chief AS to the Lieut.
General. the place belongs TO nobody-it is a new
office.
MIR. b. said that President Polk was not the first
President who had offered him the command of the
army. In 1886, when there was prospect of a
war with Mexico, President Jackson had offered
him the command of the army in the event of the
war taking place. He scorned to mention this
thing, and only stopped TO do it now to vndicate
the President
Mr.. b. would now say that there were cases in
which he would not accept of the appointment of
Lieutenant General. He would have nothing to
do with tagging and moderate war-a war OF
mastery inactivity"-or a war OF line of posts
he would have nothing to do with such plans
he would not accept the appointment under such
circumstances. He would not say what his plan
was, but he might with propriety say that it con-
tanned provision for carrying on the war accord
ing TO the usages of civilized nations-that is by
living on the enemy invaded-by levyng contr-
buttons. Another part that pacific overtures
should attend our military operations. There were
two parties in Mexico. The first, which was nu-
mericaiiy superior. were for peace-the second. al
though numerically inferior possessed the snews of
war, and are in favor of war. His plan was adapt
ed to eacl-peace for the peaceablc, and the sword
for the other.