Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-08-13

r. ""c" aiiu CutCUfHWS W.T..
therefore assisted to knock the unjust and pre-
posterous project in the head. But Mr. Polk
did not rest here. His own private and personal
interest, if not the interests of the nation, de-
manded that the Lieutenant General scheme
should be pushed in another form. He probably
had strong hopes that the scruples - the soon
scientious scrupes ~ of such astute political
trimmers as the Vermont representative of To-
cofocosm, might be satisfied by changing the
name of the transgresson; or, what is quite as
likely, he concluded that so innocent and unsus-
pecting a victim as Paul Dillingham; would be
apt to discover an essential difference "twixt
tweedle-dum and tweedle.dee." So, on the nth
of February, Mr.. HARRISON, from the Military
Committee, reported bill "making provision
for an additional number Of GENERAL OFFICERS ="
Uhree Brigadiers and tco Major Generals -
Benton and Cumming) To this bill the follow
| ing amendment was moved
"And be il further enacted, That the President is
hereby authorized and empowered at his discretion,
TO designate and appoint any general officer of the
| " rank of Major General, whether of the line by
breve, and phether of the regular army of col
unteers, WITHOUT REGARD TO DATE OF COMMISSION, to
the CHIEF COMMAND Of the military force Ofthe u $.
during TIE continuance Of the existing rdr Nth
| i" Merico"! !!
man 10 appreciate, that this euurt 10 clothe the
resident with discretionary power in the prcmi-
ses was more Objectionable in principle, and
more insulting and degrading to the gallant ve-
terms of the army, than was the attempt
to create the office of Lieut. General. Mr..
Paul Dillingham;, therefore, our readers may
imagine was found prompt to resist it.
All, creduous and inexperienced reader, YOU
know not the sofenng effect of Presiden.
tial longings after power and authority, upon
the tender sensibilities and flexible principles of
Mr. Paul Dillingham; On the Goth of February
the question on this amendment was taken. and
it was adopted. In the ncgatire in obdurate con.
sistency of principle and conduct, we find the
names of Messrs. CoLLAMER, FoorE and MARSH
OF Vermont, and where, think YOU, is recorded
the name of Pau Dillingham; In the affirma.
alive? No! In the negative? No! But pre-
cisely where you would look for the fragments
of an exploded soap-bubbe - NOWHERE!
The ingenious gentleman DODGED!! Like
the lrishman's pig, he was so speckled he could mt
be counted!
But the amendment was adopted and the bill
sent to the Senate for concurrence That hon
orable body, however, in contumacious disre-
gard of the wishes of Mr. Polk, struck out the
anti-rePublican section, and returned the bill to
the House for its further action. On the Sd of
March the question came up for decision -
WW the House concur vith the Senate in re.
Jecfmg the section authorizing The President 10
des'gnofe and assign one Of the Major Generals
to be COMMANDMENT Chief Of The Armyw The
yeas were 81 Mays lO5 Messrs. CoLLAMER.
fooTE and MARSH are found among the affirm
atires, and, 1--WE hardly expect to be believed but
the journal is before u.s. THE NAME OF PAUL
DlLLNGHAM Is RECORDED IN THE MEGA.
TIVE, and therefore Gin diametrical contradic-
ton Of his former rote) IN FAVOR of giving
the President the power to appoint Benton
ommander-in-Chef!!.
We close the disgraceful and humiliating re.
cord with a feeling of relief 1t is absolutely
painful to follow Representative of VERMONT
through a course of political action so utterly
shameless in its inconsistency and selfstultiii.
cation. We will only add that the nomination
of such man to the highest office in the State
vas proceeding in which those who brought
about consulted as little the reputation of the
candidate as they did the dignity and respecta-
'lity of the electors