Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-03-27
From the Baltimore Patriot, Of the 10Th.
OF MAJOR-GENERAL
BENTON.

BENTON.
Our accounts from Washington yesterday were
that the President aud his new Major General
Benton were at loggeIheads, and that open
"fare up" between them was expected. We
learn this morning that the matter has come to a
crisis, and that Mr.. Benton has resigned! The
National lntelligencer thus announces the fact:
ave understand that The Hon. Thomas H.
Benton declines the appointment OF Major
General in the army, rendered to him by the
Presden. and Senate"
The causes Of this resignation are understood
TO be those noticed yesIerday-he claim put in
by Mr. Benton to be made supreme comman.
der-he "Grea. Bashew"-in all the operations,
whether civil or military, against Mexico, and
the unwilingness or fear Of the President in &C.
ceding to it. The Alexandra Gazette thus more
fully sets forth the matter:
| We learn from Washington that it is not yet
quite certain that Major General Benton will go
10 Mexico No doubt was entertained on the sub.
iec, up to Saturday last and our information that
he was about TO leave was derived from very
direct source. 1t appears, however, that the
President was unwilling to take the responsibility
Of acceding to General Bentons demands-one Of
which was that Generals Scott, Taylor, Butler
and Patterson should be recalled, and the supreme
command given to him-and submitted the ques.
ton to his Cabinet at meeting held on Saturday
The proposition was strongly opposed, especially,
it is said, by Messrs Walker and Marcy. and
after the display Of some feeling on the subject,
the Cabinet refused to sanction it and adjourned.
Gen. Benton it is said, adheres 10 his original de.
mands, as his ultimatum, and reconsideration
OF the decision OF the Cabinet has been asked
IL they adhere to their former decision it is proba.
Bile that Gen. Benton will at once resign, and
Mr. Senator Dix be appointed in his place. II
So il will be triumph Of the Cass faction Of
the party, and may lead 10 some changes in the
Cabinet. These are, however, all Washington
rumors.
We think Mr.. Polk has cause to be thankful
that Mr.. Benton has declined to accept the com.
mission which he rendered 10 him. There must,
we suppose. have been strong political influence
brought to bear, or some sort Of in(atuation pro.
duced by the pompous display made by Mr.. Ben.
ton in his celebrated "plan Of the campaign" Of
which he spoke in the Senate, or Mr.. Polk never
could have been induced, in the first instance, TO
desire to send Mr.. Benton 10 Mexico, either as a
commanding general or as negotiator There
was an absurdty about the whole scheme, which
struck every body as soon as it was mentioned;
and though the majority Of the House OF Repre-.
sentalives were drilled into sanction Of it, even
| tueJs SOboCiSIcit olulOSt cNeIy clso W
Presidents wishes, rebellcd against it when it
was first proposed. There must, then, have
been some sort Of influences operating upon Mr..
Polk, which he could not resist or surely his
own independence Of character, little as we es
TEEN he has, would have prevented bis lending
his aid to carry out what every other person, re.
moved from such influence, regarded as an alb.
surdity. Or it may be, that he was "charmed"
by the brlliancy OF the scheme. that was to bring
such glores to all concerned, so that, like the
bird which had been infatuated by the serpent,
he had no power for the time, to resist the spell
that was put upon him.
But the charm is broken, and Just in time 10
save him from the disastrous consequences which
must certainly have followed any attempt to carry
the scheme out. When the details come 10 be
fixed-when called upon TO sign the document
giving to Mr.. Benton the authority, military and
civil, which he had demanded and had all along
announced it was necessary he should have 10
give completeness and success to his scheme, Mr..
Polk shrunk-he was startled by the task that he
was set 10 do, and he hesitated. He advised with
his Cabinet, they would not urge him on; the
spell was broken, and the demands OF Mr.. Benton
were refused!
The result Of all this is, that Mr.. Benton re.
signs or refuses to accept the commission oil
Major General, and this mad scheme OF making
him Lieutenant General or Commandern Chief
Of the forces in Mexico, and investing him with
the powers Of lenipolenary 10 treat for or
buy peace-a scheme that was concocted last
November, and to the success Of which every
appliance OF the administration has been used
ever since-is blown up "sky high"
Mr.. Polk is to be congratulated on his escape,
for so it must be called, from the Missouri
Senator. With no practical military knowledge,
with mind self possessed Of its grea, powers,
and vain Of its own requirements, with temper
easily excited, and which would not brook con.
tradiclion even in the smallest matter. and with
no hold on the confidence or regard of the peo
pile, Mr.. Benton, Of all the men in the country
holding distinguished positions, was the leas,
qualified for such mission as he had marked
out for himself, even If such a mission is at all
practicable or polite. Mr. Polk is, therefore,
personally to be congratulated upon having got
clear OF him; and both he and Mr. Benton may
be assured. that men OF all parties will be glad
10 hear that TO other hands are 10 be committed
the negotiation or military operations in Mexico,
and that now they will look for an earlier peace
Than they could have hoped to have had from
any thing that Mr.. Benton might do or suggest
TO be DONE
In the article that we copy from the Alex.
andra Gazette, Mr.. Dix. Senator from New
York, is named as the person who may receive
the military commission which Mr. Benton has
given up. We do not know what qualifications
Mr.. Dix may have for such an Office but we would
suppose that he would be more at home in some
diplomatic character. Why not make him
commissioner, joining with him two others, men,
say, like Mr.. Crittenden and Mr.. Calhoun