Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-02-20

| uIeuidteiy aiter refusing the mission Il
France, went TO the west, was gone unit
the month Of November, and had no commu
nicaton Of any kind, direct or indirect; moi
upon any subject Whatever with President
Folk. This makes all safe again for two
months more.
| returned 10 this city in November
where my family was, and where Congress
was soon to meet. The day after my ar.
rival | called upon the President; and here
we approach the dangerous ground For
IN that first interview, he actually asked me
my opinion about the future mode OF con.
Quoting the Mexican war. For reasons
not proper now to be stated, but OF the va
lidity oil which the country will come dav
nave an opportunity of judging, the Presi,
dent saw mt TO ask me my opinion upon the
future mode Of conducting the war. This
| request did not strike me as being anything
strange or unreasonable; either unbecoming
IN him to make, or for me to comply with.
In my Senatorial capacity, was his cons,i.
tutionai ADVISER on many great questions,
those of peace and war inclusive. In my
political capacity, was the supporter Of his
administration, and ready to give him nv
opinion on any subject. AS chairman OF
the Senate's Committee on Military Affairs.
| and accustomed, in that character. to com.
muncste on military subjects with all I'D
ministrations for about quarter Of a centu-
ry last past, saw nothing in the nature Of
the request he had made 10 impicate either
OF US. He asked me for my opinion to the
luture mode of conducting the war. | gave
1t to him, first in speech, face TO face, and
afterwards in writing. And here it is. Tho-
ding up roll OF paper,] for chose 10 re-
tam the original tor myself while sending
copy to him. Here it is! and at the proper
time the public shall see il, but not now;
Tor do not belong 10 the school that makes
publication OF plans Of campaign-even re-
Jecied plans in time Of war. The President
approved the plan; and it so happened that
the nature OF the plan required a head TO
the army---one head to the whole bodv-to
unite and combine the whole into one har
monlous and consistent movement. |, so
happened, also, that enough was known
OF the ideas OF the two highest in rank oil!
the officers OF the army to know that their
plans were different; and it is a maxim Of
fundamental observance in war, that no
General is TO be required to execute a plan
which he disapproves. A new commander
became pensable; and as any new ma.
jor-general would be subordinate to all now
in commission, the solution of the difficulty
lay in the creation of new rank, superior
10 that OF major-general, and inferior 10 the
constitutional cOmmander-in chief. The ere.
alton o! the rank of lieutenant general, as
had been done in the year 1898, at the
time oi the expected war with France was
the solution of the difficulty. This rank
appeared TO be the natural and regular de-
rivation from the Presidents own political
and military character, and the proper con-
meeting link between him and the army. As
President, he was both the civil head of the
government, and the military head OF the
army. lie was commander lR.chef Of the
army and navy, and OF the militia or volun.
teers in service. They were all then in
service, and IN foreign country. He could
not 60 TO Mexico 10 command in person;
paramount duties required him to remain
here. He could not send orders from the
closet in this city. That was a folly OF
which there had been no example since the
time OF Prince Eugene 70! Savoy was oc-
cusiomed 10 return unopened, at the end
OF the campaigns, all the orders which the
Aulic Council was accustomed to send him
from Vienna. The President was bound
to command: he could not 90 10 command
in person; and he could not command from
Washington. The solution of the Difficult.
ty, which reconciled all contradictions and
permitted the exercise of all duties. civil
and military, was the Appointment. of mill
tary deputy--a egatus--a locum ,eRens-a
lieutenant to take the place of constitution
al commander-in chief in the field; to give
orders in his name, and to take the respon-
sblllty OF plans and movements while the
generals at the heads Of divisions or columns,
would only have the responsibility of execu,
ton. This, for reasons too well known to
require rehearsal in this chamber, it was
thought would be entirely agreeable to the
generals Of highest rank IN our army in Mex.
leo; 1t would secure their rear al home, and
leave them free 10 contend with the enemy
in front.
1t was not intended to diminish the fight.
ing vocation OF the two generals, but TO re-
conce and accomplish two desirable OBJ.
jects, namely, the execution Of the Presi-
dents plans, and the release of the major
generals from responsibility of plans and
movements. This was the view of the of,
fce OF acknowledgement: as 10 the proposed
officer, there was no breach OF military RUE,
law, etiquette, or proprlaty in the proposed
appointment. The office was original, and
belonged 10 no person. The President had
Il right TO nominate, and the Senate to con.
firm whom they pleased. Personally
would take no concern in il. only asked
the President to make known the name in
tended for the place to the members OF Con-