Democratic banner., 1847-09-13

The Oregon BGttaHOn.-There appears
to be some difficulties yet unsettled in re-
~lation to the election of the Lieut.. Colonel
of the above named Battalion. 1t has been
several times intimated that there was a
fraud practised by the successful candid
ate, by promising to appoint bis staff officers
from amongst his supporters to insure his
election. As to the grounds for this or any
other charge against him, we know nothing.
We presume there will be an investigation
of the affair. We clip the followin, from
the st. Louis papers:
If what we hear from Jefferson City be
correct, TIE difficulty in regard to the Or
ganization of the Oregon Battalion is not
yet at an end. 1t is said, that the Governor
has received intinatiors that there was cor
ruption and intrigue in the election ofLieut.
Colonel of the Battalion; that, listening to
these suggestions, he has informed Lieut..
Col. Powell of them, and of TIE propriety
of his demanding en- investigation of the
charges. Failing to do this, he was told that
the Governor would consider himself called
upon to make an investigation ofthe matter.
The Governor, it is understood, is in the
interest of the unsuccessful candidate
[RcPublican.
The charges made in this case are such
as compel an investigation. We presume
LIT. Col. Powell will call for a Court of In
Iquiry, and if he does not, We should think it
the duty of the Governor to order one
[Union.
The following letter from Col. Benton
we find published in the st. Louis papers
ioflast week. Col. Benton it will be seen
is not the prosecutor, but the defender of
Col. Fremont.
o. Es!iSTON AND COL.F FREMONT.
BLUE LICK, KY, Sept. 3, ls47.
DEAR SIR: l thank you for your note of
the 10Th ultimo, and the paper enclosed
If the article to which you called my atten-
ton merely concerned myself, | should
leave it to do lis office, without saying a
word to lessen or impair its force: but as
the design is to %iniure Mr.. Fremont, by rep
resenting me as preferring charges against
him, and becoming his prosecutor, merely
to obtain a sham acquittal, | think proper
to say and to give you leave to publish it)
that | have preferred no charges against
Mr.. Fremont, and AVE not become his
prosecutor, but that I did send to the War
Office the charges made against him by
~lotherS, and gave the names of the supposed
writers as witnesses to prove what they
wrote, at the same expressing my disbelief
,,f 4I,;r 4rutL, ouI aeEi,,n u cOurT ,porf;ol
An article from the Missouri Republican
was one of those so sent; others, from other
papers, were also sent. Nothing was add
ed to them ortaken from them. The charg-
eS were cent exactly as published, and were
the charges ofthe p"kH hers and r~ritprs,
not mine, and it is they WHO arc ts be sum.
moncd to prove them. They (the writers
and publiSl!ers) will be summoned, and all
other witnesses that they want summoned,
and all the charges tried which they have
preferred or shall prefer, or which any 9TH
er person shall prefer.
The trial which | have asked for, is inten-
dcd to be a real one, and not a "flrce''or a
"schifr-nraShing," as the editor Of the Re
lp"bticGn supposes. 1t shall cover every
thing imputed or to be imputed against Col.
Fremont; and his accusers shall all be
witnesses.
If, under these circumstances, it becomes
a "5urce and embarrassing affair."" the
fault will be their own.
l am Iere with Mrs. Benton, for the bene~
fit other health, which is such as not to adj
init of my leaving her, to go on to Missouri
this tall. This must be my apology TO my
southern friends, whom l expected to visit
this month.
Yours, truly and respectfully,
THOMAS II. BENTON.
F. r, CONWAY, Esq, st. Louis.