Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-05-08
From the Washington Tntclligencer. p ~
THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE
ARMY.

..... . ARMY.
While the whole country is filed with
rejoilings at the brilliant successes which
have distinguished the American arms, a
studied attempt is made by the adherenis
of the Administration, in some instances
boldly, and in others covertly, to snatch the
merit of these successes from those to whom
1t properly belongs, and claim it all for the
President and the Administration. To
this end, three or four formidable columns
made their appearance in 1.-THE Union" of
Tuesday evening. The Union, indeed, ev.
identity carries its purpose little further
than mere demand for praise, and honor,
and renown to the Administration. Its
commentator of the President, made in
the usual style of that paper--that is to say,
made by mere repetition and accumulation
of eulogstic words and phrases--is inter.
spersed, here and there, with hints not to
be misunderstood, that Mr.. Polk is again to
be presented TO the Democracy of the
country as a candidate for the Presidency
Oftbis we care little; and the country, we
presume, cares as little. But, for whatever
end or object the attempt is now made to
clothe the Administration, its head or its
members, with honors truly and deservedly
belonging to others, it is our purpose TO ex.
pose that attempt to the utmost of our
power. and to call down upon it the just in
dgnation of honorable men. If we can
prevent it, such birds shall not strut in bor-
rowed plumes.
Before proceeding to the consideration
of some particular occurrences, we have
one or two general remarks to make, by
way of preliminary explanation.
In the first place. then. it is known that
great majority, no doubt at least three
fourihs, of the eminent and distinguished
gentlemen in the army are Wings. Not, in
deed, that they take any part in political
contests, which their official station leads
them, not improperly, to avoid; but that
they are Wings in sentiment, Judgment
and feeling. They believe that, in general,
Wing principles are the true principles
of the Constitution, and Wing policy the
true policy of the country.
1t is still more generally known. indeed
it is known universally, that Gen. Scott, the
Chief in command of the Army, and Gen.
Taylor. who has distinguished himself so
greatly, are both Wings, Constitutional
American Wings, in all their opinions and
sentiments. .-.-..-.. .,......
In the next place, it is known that Gen.
Scott has already been once strongly sup
ported as Wing candidate for the Presi-
dency; and it is known, Also that after Gen.
Taylor's brilliant achievements last year on
the Rio Grande, a great many persons in
the country, some of them of much con.
sideration and influence, kn' wing the Gen.
eral to be sterling Wing, were quite dis.
posed to bring him forward for the highest
place in the gift of the people. f..
And, inthe third place, we have to say,
that after all the various speculations upon
the real motives which led the President
and his Cabinet to plunge the country into
this needless war, by far the most rational
conclusion is. that they were instigated by
half phrensied purpose Of gaining re-
nown TO themselves, by raising military
feeling in the country, and pushing it for
ward to combat and to victory.
But now comes the predicament. The
army is, essentially, a Wing army. Its
Generals are Wing Generals. If there
was to be fighting, they were to do it; if
there were to be victories, they were TO
win them. Was the Administration vain
enough and weak enough to suppose that it
would gather up for itself all the honors of
successful military operations, and obscure
the names of those eminent military men
who must be the Immediate agents and au.
thors of successful military achievements?
This was precisely the vanity and weak
ness, and the oblque and unjust purpose
which accompanied its purpose for war
Nv ar, necessary or unnecessary; war, for
our honor and Qualification; war, the mis-
fortunes of which, if there shall be mis-.
fortunes, may be ascrbed to others, and the
glory of which, if there shall be glory, we
can grasp entirely for ourselves" this short
sentence. in our conscientious belief, sets
forth truly the motives of the war, and the
real objects and purposes for which it was
brought on the country.
In short President. making-to secure the
succession to Mr.. Polk, or to some other
politician of the same stamp. by the acqui
si,ion of territory and Of military glory,
was the original, moving, burning, stimu-
lus, that led the administration to plunge
into war.
After these preliminary remarks, we now
proceed to show, by clear and connected
facts, that from the first, the conduct of
the Administration has been marked by a
ceaseless jealousy of the Wing Generals in
command of the Army
General Taylor has been the especial
object of this jealousy from the day on
which he drew his conquering sword in the
battle of Palo Alto. This can easily be
made apparent. In his annual message at
| the opening of, the last session Of Congress,
| the President speaks in terms sufficiently