The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-03-17
From WASHINGTON.

From Washington.
Declination of Major General Benton.
The National IntelIigencer of Wednes-
day has the following announcement -
We understand that the Hon. Thomas H.
Benton, declines the appointment of Major
General in the Army, rendered to him by
the President and Senate.
For this step variety of causes are as.
signed; but generally concurring that diff
Guilty has arisen in relation to the powers
with which Mr.. Benton should he invested.
The Baltimore Patriot gives a somewhat
highly colorcd sketch of the manner of
the would-be generalissimo.
These are the rumors and reports from
Washington. We hear from gentlemen
Whowcre there yesterday, that there is much
dissatisfaction felt in the War Department
at the manner in which Major Gen. Benton
bore himself Mr.. Marcy was really at
loss how to conduct himself towards the
"august parsonage" and even Mr.. Polk
could ill conceal his uneasiness whenever
the newly made General entered the White
House. Those who have seen him "march-
ing" along Pennsylvania avenue say it is
."sight" which would justify all who are Gu.
rious in such to 60 to Washington to see.
| The "swaggger." the strut of consequence
the patronizing air, and the grand dignity,
which are all blended in him, show that he
feels he has united in his person all the
"powers" and all the "airs'' which belong
or attach to high plenipotentiary. The
Mexican generals have high reputation in
such things, but from what is said, it is very
certain that Major General Benton is a
match for them, in all that constitutes POM
posity. An interview between him and
Ampudia would be rare sight.
But there are whispers that if the new
General does not get off soon, he may never
Co. He carries matters now so hig oh that
another feather in his hat, or an extra but
| ton on his coat, may cause general revolt.
letter says: "You must not be surprised
fthcre is a flare up between gen. Ben
ton and Mr.. Polk. The former acts if he
were the President, and the latter seems to
be afraid of crossing him in any thing. Il
must have powers, sir. My plan requires it,
sir; and it must be carried out Just as it is
set down. This is what is reported the
new Major General saps to the President,
and all other functionaries, and unless they
all yield to him, there is no getting along
with him. The prediction now is, that If
Benton does not get off before the close of
the week, he will not 60 at all!''
A correspondent of the Baltimore Sun,
who is generally AT tait as to the State De.
partment, says:
The true General, in this matter, ap.
prehend, will be the Secretary of State, who
has already so far out-generaled the Mexi-
cans, that nothing is left for them to do but
to make peace and sell, on reasonable terms,
what they can no longer hope to recon-
quer by force of arms. But Major General
Benton insists, as understand, on being
commissioner-or rather minister plenipo.
tertiary and the envoy extraordinary to
Mexico, in order to make treaty Of peace
and amity with Mexico; and he may sue.
ceed in obtaining such an appointment. But it
would rather more than charity in Mr..
Buchanan, were he to allow Mr.. Benton to
finish "solitary and alone,' what Mr..
Buchanan has SO happily began-the aim
ne has had constantly in view, and to OBJ
tain which he has taxed all his ingenuity,
forecast and power. Mr.. Buchanan has
been the mediator all along in this matter
long before Mr.. Benton came to the sup
port Of the administration--and it is but pro-
per that the honor Of making peace and an
advantageous treaty shall be given to whom
| il is dueAT1u euique.
And again: ..r 3
1 Mr.. Benton, / believe, has not yet fully
made up his mind to accept the Major Gen
d eralship rendered him by the President, in, a