Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1847-02-17
Lieutenant General.


dent, relative TO the creation of the Office
Of Lieutenant General. We ask for it
dispassionate perusal.
In Senote-Janaary 25.
Mr.. BENTON said The day
after my arrival | called upon the fresl-
dent; and here we approach The danger
Gus ground! For in that first interview,
he actually asked me my opinion about the
future mode of conducting the Mexican
war. For reasons not proper now to be
stated. but of The validity OF which the
country will some day have an opportuni-
~ of Judging, the President saw fit to ask
me my opinion upon the future mode of
conducting the war. This request did
not strike me as being any thing strange
or nreasonable-eiiher unbecoming 10
him to make, or for. me to comply with.
In my Senatorial capacity, was his con-
stitutional 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 my opinion on any subject. AS the
chairman Of the Senate's committee on
Military Affairs, and accustomed, in that
character, 10 communicate on military sub
iects, with all administrations for about
quarter Of century last past, ! saw no.
thing in the nature of the request he had
made to lmplicate either of us. lie ask
ed me for my opinion as 10 the future
mode OF conducting the war. | gave it to
him, first in speech, face TO face, and after
IL, Il hCp IyI IhntI
ing up roll of paper, for | chose 10 re-
tain the original for myself, while send
ing a copy to him. Here tbs! and at the
proper time the public shall see it, but not
now; for DO not belong to The school that
makes publication of plans of campaign
even rejected plans-in time of war
The President approved the plan; and it
so happened that the nature of the plan
required head TO the army-one head to
the whole body-to unite and combine the
whole into one harmonious and consistent
movement. Ii so happened, also, that
enough was known of the ideas of the two
highest in rank of the officers of the army
to know that their plans were different;
and it is maxim of fundamental obseTv-
ance in war that no general is 10 be requl-
red TO execute a plan which he dlsap-
proves. A new commander became In
dispensable; and as any new major-gen'
would be subordinate to ell now in com
mission, the solution of the difficulty lay
in the creation of q new rank, superior to
that OF major general, and inferior 10 the
constitutional commander in chief. The
creation of the rank of lieutenant general,
as had been done in the year 1898, at the
time of the expected war with France,
was the solution OF the difficulty. This
rank appeared TO be the natural and regu-
lar derivation from the Presidents own
political and military character, and the
proper connecting link between hum and
the army. As President, he was both the
civil head of the government anG the mil
itary head Of the army. He was com
mander.in chief of the army and navy
and of the the militia or volunteers in ser
vice. They were all then in service, anC
in a foreign country. He could not 60 tC
Mexico to command in person; paramount
duties required him to remain here
He could mol send orders from the close
in this city. That was a folly of which
that the Prince Eugene (of Savoy wa
accustomed to return unopened, at TIT
end OF the campaigns, all the orders whlc
the Aulc Council was accustomed to sem
him from Vienna. The President wa
bound to Command: he could not go (
8 Mexico to command in person; and n
could not command from Washington
The solution OF the difficulty, which re
conciled all contradictions and permitte
the exercise of all duties, civil and militia
~, was the appointment of a miltar
depuly-a legatus-a locumtenens-
lieutenant to take the place of the constitu
tional commander-n-ch in the field;
give orders in his name, and to take IN
responsibility of plans and movements
while The generals, at the heads OF div
sions or columns, would only have the res
possibility Of execution. This, for ref
sons too well known to require rehearsi
in this chamber, il was thought would
entirely agreeable to the generals Of hlgt
est rank in our army in Mexico; 1t woll
secure their rear at home, and leave theI
free to contend with the enemy in 'front.'
II was not intended to diminish the hgh
ing vocation of the Two generals, but
reconcile and accomplish two deslrab
objects, namely, the execution OF the Pres
dents plans, and the release OF the maJt
generals from responsibility for plans an
movements. This was the view OF tn
office of lieutenant general: as TO the pre-
posed officer, there was no breach OF mil
8 tary rule, law, etiquette, or Propr:eiy
Il