Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-03-19
TMR. BENTON AND THE MAJOR GEN

IMR. BENTON AND THE MAJOR GEN
ERALSHIP.
As there has been considerable said by our
Federal friends about misunderstanding sup
posed to have arisen between Mr.. Polk and
Mr.. Benton with relation to the Major Geaer-
al ship, recently rendered to the latter by the
President, we give the correspondence which
has taken place between Mr.. Polk and Mr..
Benton in regard to the matter. From peru
sal of this corresp ondence, it will be seen that
the most perfect harmony prevails between
the two gentlemen, although Mr.. Polk,
could not,I under the existing laws, make
Mr.. Benton the Commander-in-chief of the
whole army in the field. In this we think
Mr. Polk was right and, we also think, that
Mr.. Benton acted wisely in not accepting, I'M
der the circumstances, the high Office so unan-
limously confirmed by the Senate. Whether
the Administration was correct and judi
cious in the recommendation of a Lieuten-
ant General, who should be clothed with pie
nary powers, not only for conducting the OPP
erations of the war, but also for concluding a
peace, should peace be desired by the foe, has
been much discussed by the press, and by the
people of the Union We are clearly of opin-
ion that had Mr. Benton been clothed with
the powers mentioned above, it would have
| materially facilitated the termination of the
existing war. And we are further OF the o.
pinion that if it had not been known on whom
this Office was to be conferred by Mr.. Polk,
that it would have been created by the
Congress which has just adjourned. 1t was
known, that so soon IS the power was grant
| ed to the President, he would confer the Office
upon Mr.. Benton. To this fact alone do we
ascribe the failure upon the part of the Senate
to create the Office. Mr.. Benton has in that
body an opponent who would not desire to
| see him placed in so prominent position be-
fore the American people. We mean Mr..
Calhoun; for we feel equally convinced that
f had not Mr.. Calhoun opposed the measure, it
t would now be the law OF the land But enough
2 of this BY perusal of the correspondence
the reader will see that the best understanding
exists between the Executive and Mr. Benton.
MR. CALHOUN AND THE CHARLES
TONIANS.
On the 9th inst, the people of Charleston
gave Mr. Calhoun a public reception of the
warmest and most enthusiastic kind. A pub.
Had hot
= sundry resolutions, mostly relating to the sub.
: ject of slavery, and commencing Mr.. Calhoun
Re for his eminent ability and patriotism in stand
ing up for the rights of the South on tina
question in the late Congress, were passed
We like 10 see those friendly reunions be-
= tween representative and constituent. They
speak volumes for both parties. We admire
the great abilities of Mr.. Calhoun. We admire
his brilliant intellect-and we also admire hic
devotion to the interests of the South-par
y ticula,,y upon the two great questions of sa
= veIr III, lee trade. Nobody can award hin
, more credit than we are prepared to give hin
4 for his ability and devotion on these two all
important questions. But notwithstanding al
this, there are some things in the course pur.
sued by this " distinguished champion of the
South,' as his peculiar friends are pleased tc
!" style him, Of which we cannot approve. Ma
ny things, indeed, of which we are free tt
y confess we most decidedly disapprove. W.
will simply mention one or two Of them. W.
{ could never understand why Mr.. Calhoun re
{ fused to vote supplies in June, 1916, for car
l. rying on the war with Mexico. Nor can WI
Il understand why Mr.. Calhoun, through
u out the whole of the recent session of Con
> gress, did all he could to embarrass the ad
~ ministration, in its endeavors to carry on tn,
. same war. But the principal object we ha,
y in view when we sat down to write this shor
= made in his speech to the good people of tn,
Queen City, on the 9th inst, to wit that h,
% was opposed to the plan of bringing out thu
candidate for the Presidency by Convention
p" to be convened at Baltimore or any othe
place. Now we are aware that Mr. Calhoun
- was opposed TO Conventions before this, bu
we opine his reiteraton of this, his opinion
- at this time and under the circumstances, ha
u a deeper and more Interior object in view thai
!. most persons are aware of. We, for one
at have been a somewhat attentive observer Q
* MIR. Calhoun's movements since 1874, and w
y are of the opinion thst since that period h
Of has given several very broad hints of his de
ct sire to become Southern candidate for tn
a Presidency, whether Convention is held c
1t not. We have some recollection Of certai
n Convention held at Memphis, Tennessee. owe
e, which Mr., Calhoun presided, and at whic
re some seventeen States and Territories WEI
id represented The object of this Conventio
was avowedly for the purpose of concertin
We measures for the improvement of the Wester
be Rivers. We thought at the time that M
Calhoun, the stickler for strict constructio
p of the constitution, occupied rather nov
a position in presiding over thai Convention
IL The light now begins to dawn upon u.s. W
az read with considerable attention the able ar
a, ingenious report which Mr.. Calhoun submit