Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-08-13
The honorable Panl Dillingham; on the Lieut
General question.
Essen County,
DAVID IIIBBARD, Jr

Whatever may be the decision, my thanks an,
gratitude will not be the less ~" to the Hous
Of Representatives for its three times rrtual eecio,
Of me to be the CoMnANDER IN CHEF of The 4rnu i,
Merico."-Mr. Benton to Mr.. Polk-IIarch 6, lsl7
Immediately after your nomination as Major Gen
eral had been unanimously confirmed by the Senate
the poper to designate you,-a junior Major General
10 The CHlEF COMMAND Of tie drmy.'
Mr. Polk 10 Mr.. Benton--.Idrc Q, 1917.
The PRESIDENT HAD HOPED TO HAVE IT IN HIS POWER
TO PLACE HIM lBENToNl AT THE HEAD OF THE ARMY
Washington Union, March 10.
We place the above declarations of Mr.. Ben
ton, Mr. Polk and his mouth-piece, the Union,
on record so that there need be no dispute as
to the purpose for which the President SO peril
naciously sought to be invested with the power
to appoint Lieutenant General to supersede
TAYLOR and ScoTT in the command of the
Army. That purpose was to initiate the Hon.
Thomas II. Benton at the expense of the Mill
tary Service of the Country, and in contempt of
the claims and the merits of Generals TAYLOR
and ScoTT. In this we think we run no risk
Of being contradicted.
This purpose was disgraceful to the President
for two reasons: First, for having entertained it,
as mere partisan vancouver, regardless of the
injury its accomplishment would inhct upon
distinguished and veteran officers who had spent
their best days in their Countrys service and
second, because it was ANONYMOUSLY and re-
peated,y defeated by his own political friends.
The action of the honorable Paul Dillingham; on
the question of comforting this power on the
President was eminently characteristic of an
INSCRIPTIONS demogogue, in the abstract, and
of himself, in the particular instance. lie voted,
point blank, both for and AGAINST IT, and
DODGED IT.! And that, too, without cx-
hibiting the common sagacty of the dull bird
that hides its head in the sand, and thinks its
ugly body is therefore concealed The jugglery
is as transparent as it is contemplate Let us
see.
On the 4th of January, lS47, and while the
"bill to raise for time an additional military
force, and for other purposes was under con-
sideration, the President sent to the House a
Message recommending that provision be made
by law for the appointment of Ia Lieutenant
Generall to serve during the war;" and TO take
command Of all our military forces in The 6eld."
On the 9th of January, Jacob Thomson, n
Locofoco Representative from Mississippi, after
wards distinguished for his bitter hostility to
General Taylor, (whom he pronounced INCA
FABLE OF CONDUCTING A CAMPAIGN,') and who
moved the amendment to the resolution of thanks.
cEYsURIYG the gallant veteran for " the terms of
the captulation of Monterey" (roR WHICH GEN.
SURE LET IT DE REMEMBERED THAT Paul Dill
bingham VOTED moved the following amend
ment to the military bill above alluded to -
SEC. 3 And be il further enacted That the Presi-
dent shall be authorized by and with the advice Of
the Senate, to appoint Lieut. General. who shall
take command of our armies, and whose OF ser
vice shall continue during the war with Mexico"
On the 9th of January the question was taken
on the adoption of this amendment and Mr..
DMhagham's name, together with the names of
Messrs. COLLAMER, MARSH and FooT, is found
recorded AGAINST 1T. The painful anxiety
of Mr.. Polk to be clothed with authority to ''ieed
fat " the overweening vanity of Thomas II. BEN
ton, had not then enlisted the sympathy of the