Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-04-13

By this result, the country does not
dose the services Of Mr.. Benton, but he
remains in the high office of Senator Of
the United States, which he has so long
and honorAbiy gracsd. os
WASHINGTON CRY, March 10, le47.
Slr,-P!ease to receive, as a mark ui
my respect, ascoPy softhe following letters
which explain tie circumstances under
which ldecIine to accept the appoint.
ment of ma jorr general IN the army.
Respectfully, sir, your .obedient servant.
THOMAS FL. BENTON.
10 the Hon. Mr., Of the q. 5. Senate.
WAsHISGToN CRY March 6, Ie42.
.Sir--Witbout waiting for the form.
aIity OF being presented with the com
mission of major general iD the army Of
the United Uiaies think it right to in,
form you at once'that my acceptance or
refusal of that high appointmint will de,
pend entirely upon public and nation al
considerations, OF which you yourself will
I've the Judge Personally, I cans have
no wish for this Office; but it you believe
that gamble Of service TO the country, [
am willing TO forego all private consider
atlons-seParate myself from my family
uEder painful circumstances; resign IN,
place in the Senate, which is so dear to
me-and proceed Immediately to the the
atre otwar. My only stipulation would
be from the powers VIII CHI deem neces
sary to success: and those would be both
military and diplnmatic-ihe command of
ttfs army. and authority to sign prelimi
nerles ofPeace. .has~d upon terms pre-.
TiousIy approved by you.
beg you TO believe, sir, that nothing
selfish or personal dictates this proposed
etiPulation. There is no such thing in it.
1t proceeds from . thorough conviction.
that with q subordinate command. could
DO no good in the army; on the contrary,
that my presence there weuId be irnprop-
Grand mischievous; for am known, from
my public speeches, tn disaDproxe the
plans both of the late and of The presens
commander-(,he defensive policy of the
one, and the. San Iuan d'Uiloa attack of
The her)-and this being known my pres
eace would operate as an implied cen
sHrO 0nthe two generals and m;l ht make
me, in spite OF myself the nucleus of dis.
content and INSTRUMENTATION. The com.
mand OF the army, therefore, is the only
military position which could hold in
It. ''fs. go
Authority to conclude peace, or at
least to sign the prelminu,ies of peace, |
deem highly essential to success, as il
would enable tho commando rim chief to
take instant advantage OF all passing
events military or political, to close the
war. -
Furnished with these powers, am
willing to make the sacrifices, and TO in
cur the responsibilities Of this high com.
mand; but leave it to you, sir, for your
free and final deeision; considering il
IA national question and new one, OR
which there Is no commitment, on either
side, IN any thing that has pa ssed.
Whatever may be the decision, nv
thanks and gratitude will not be the less
to you tor your unsolicited nomination
OF rne to this high appointment, nor to
the Senate for its in slant and unaniuou>
confirmation oft. nor the House of Rep
resentativeS for its three timos virtual
election OF me to be the commandment
chiefof the army in Mexico.
Respectfully, sir, your friend and
Eel citizen.
81 THOMAS II. BENTON.
To the President.
WASHINGTON CITY. March 9, la47.
Sir,--I have given to your letter Of
the 9th inst. the consideration which its
importancs demands. In rendering to
you the appointment of msior general in
tho army, earnestly desired that the
country should have the advantage OF
your coReeded ability aud military knowl.
edge, your Intimate acquaintance with
the Mexican character, and your fanili.
arity with their language ond political
sondition.
immediately after your nomination a.
MajSr general had been unanimously
eosfrm"d by the Senate, carefully ex.
aminad the question whether possessed
the power todesignais you--ai iuuior
major-general-.-iU the chief Command oi
the army in theyfield. The result of. this
examination is, am constrained TO sny,
settled conviction on my nina, that
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