Tri-weekly journal. (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1847-188?, 1847-06-26

~c"s"ItS HC fCobuohto LIc"tCItoHI OCHCTui
scheme, change his course and become its lcarm-
est and most incorporating supporter
In our paper of Wednesday, we showed from
the Congressional Globe for the last session Of
Congress, that Mr.. Owen three several times
voted not only against this most unjust and I'M
righteous measure, but against showing it the
slightest favor, against extending to its friends
the ordinary courtesy, a fair chance of passing
it by their own votes, and that all at once he
wheeled to the right-about and became so tho
rough going and uncompromisinga support OF
the presidential scheme that he was willing to
sacrifice bill of great importance to the Ad-
ministration and the country rather than per-
NIT it to be shorn of this feature, but short
time before SO odious to him and we naturally
asked the reasons for this most extraordinary
cause. Reasons there must have been-grave
and potent reasons. And what were they
Had General Scott or Taylor done anything in
the meantime to deserve being superseded
The former had been busily engaged pursuant to
orders, in preparing for his attack upon Vera
orable victory of Buena Vista. Nothing in
this, surely, deserving Of sucha return! And
again thequestion recurs, why this total change
of front?
Letus turn to the Legislative records Of the
day and see if they will help us to solve the
question. When Mr.. Boyd, on the 26th of
February, proposed the Lieutenant Generalship
in the form in which Mr.. Owen voted for it,
Garret Davis, of Kentucky, got the floor, and
spoke as follows of the measure and the means
with which the executive was then working to
secure its success.
This is another measure to increase executive pow
or. The bill and amendments authorize the president
TO appoint two additional major generals and three
brigadier generals, and select any major general to
take the command in chief of the American armies.
The thrice-reected lieutenant general is thus BROUGHT
up in another form and with another name. The
upon Generals Scott and Taylor by Mr.. Polk and
his friends is ceaseless aud unsparing and il is
brought up again actively in the halls of congress
der new auspices, and the power which the ten addi
tiona regiments to the regular army have given the
president in the appointment OF three four hundred
officers. That project was early the session reject
ed by this house without division, and some weeks
afterwards by majority of thirty and if it is TO sue
ceed il will be by the corrupt of presidential pat
ronage That is the influence which now reigns and
rules. Controlled by it, the majority go systemat-
lcally adding TO executive power, whilst they are all
the while proclaiming themselves the only democrats
of the country In sober TRUTH the president is fast
I becoming monarch
Mr.. Schenk, of Ohio delivered himselfto the
same effect as follows:
He observed that the measure now presented was no
thing new. 1t was neither more nor less than the
old and oft rejected project of lieutenant general.
He then went into brief review of the reception and
treatment OF that executive proposal by this house
when formerly sent to 1t. But here il came back
again once more. He had heard it prophesied then,
that, though, apparently dead under heavy rejection
by yeas and nays would nevertheless be galvanized
! into new existance-woud come up by legislative
resurrection and would obtain vote Of a majority
here. He had not believed this then, but he be-
LEVIED itnow. Indeed he was prepared to see any
and everything when the president fit to recon-
mend it ohsequiousy carried by the house. He expect
ed TO and coffee taxeday and by the vote OF
his colleague (Mr. BrnkerhofD too, Notwithstanding
| his Examinations against il at the last session.
The measure was destined TO pass the house.
And this fact proved that if the President possessed
but half the military skill at conducting a war that
he did as drill sergeant in managing that house,
there was no need OF appointing any other command
er-n-chief. AT that business he had proved himself
perfect martinez He had found way to make
gentlemen here face to the right TO the left; nay
I to face right about, his word of command. An
intmation from the white house was sufficient,
The president talked about "conquering peace
he had conquered nothing yet, unless it were the
independence of that house. the credit of the country
the treasury, and the constitution, and he threat
ened before long, TO conquer the liberties OF the peo
pie.
!, 1t will be seen by the extracts that Mr.. Davis
answered our question at the time, and face
to face with Mr.. Owen and his associates, by
attributing their sudden change of action upon
this subject to the fact that the President had
recently (Feb. 10th) been vested with the pow
er of appointing some three or four hundred
additional military officers, and that he plainly
told them that if the measure succeeded it would
be by the corrupt use of Presidential patronage.
I Mr.. Schenk as plainly charged that they had
been "managed" by the President, and made
to face to the right, left, or right-about as he
commanded Now, when it is remembered
that the same bill which was to create a Lieu
tenant General Benton provided also fora Cap
tain Richard Owen, and that about the same
, time too, brother David stepped into his com
Portable $4,000 yelr, we think there will be
+ no difficulty in understanding what Messrs
) Schenk and Davis ment by such terms as g Pres
identia, management and ''the corrupt use O
!; Presidential patronage
The Judge and the Journal will find it a hard
matter to convince the people that their interests