Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-03-20

~ Uentea's OscDssseeNo. .
], has already been stated that Nj. Benton has
declined the sppointmento Of Major General in
the army. There hss bsen great deal ofspec.
ulatisarin the newspapers end elsewhere M re.
gsri to this wsstsr. The following cor.tspon.
dsncs will set the whole Of II satisfactorily Be.
fore the public. has iiroy y ''oT1E7 ~ ',sAs
Letter from M. Benton 10 nc President
$40 'N' i-a' WAsnixeros, March 9, ls46.
SiR-Without waiting for the form.li,y Of
being presented with the commission Of Mslor
General in the army Of the United States, I
think i right TO inform you q, once that my &C.
cepsance or refusal Of that high ,sppoiuunen,
will depend entirely upon public and nstional
considertiona Of which you, YOURSELF will be
the judge. Pereoaaliy can have no wish Tor
this ofiec but IL you believe that can b Of
service to the country, len willing 70 fasrgo
al private den,ious-separate myself from
my family. under paint0l circumstances resign
my place in the Senate, which ID 70 dear 70 me.
end proceed Immediately to the theatre Of .wsr.
My only stipulation would be for the powers
which ] deem necessary TO success !. and these
would b both military and diplomatc---,he
command Of the army and su,hority 10 sign pre-.
liminaries Of peace. based upon, terms previous.
ly approved BY you. los is yq1sB al 'o q.
| Seq yUu 10 believe, sir, that nothing sci.
fish OF personal dictates this proposed s,pala-
ton. There 10 no such thing in il. II proceeds
from thorough conviction that. with subord.
nate command, could do oc good in the army !:
on the contrary. thst my presence there would
be improper end mischievous; for an known.
from my public speeches, to disapprove the
plans. both d the late and Of the present con
maodes-shs defensive policy Of one and the
San Jnsn Of Uiloa attack o. the othsr; and this
being known, ny presence would opente % an
implied eensurs on the two generals, sod might
mske ,ne, in spite of myself, the nucleus Of die.
content end insubordination. The command Of
the srmy, Therefore, s the only military position
4 which conld hold 10 il. ,...t. 7.,,i,.,7 .s5 ,s
Authority 10 conclude peace. or st least 10
sien the pseiiminsriss Of peace. ! deem highly
essential tosuceess, o. il would enable ihs CON.
msnder.in.chief to take instant advantage Of oil
passing events. military ot political. to close the
wsE. 3r-l 81 ~ STsoih'FsA itsf A'fi1 -'as' Ga p
Furnished with theee powers. sm willing Ia
make the sacrifices. and 70 incur the fesponsi.
bilittes Of this command: bot leave Il to yoo.
sir, for your ftess and fas: decision considering
j, - national question. and . new one, on
which there is no commitment, on either side,
in any thing that has passed.
! Whstever may be the decision, my thanks
and gratitude will not Be the lees to you fos
your unsolicited somina,ioa Of me 10 THE high
sppoininen,, nor 10 the Senate tos ito instant
and unanimnns con6raaasioa Of IL. nor 10 the
House ot Representatives ios its three times vir
tusl election Of me tn be the commander in
chief ofthe army in Mexico. s5a aas @ q nt
Respectfully, sir. your friend and fellow citizen
/ a'zs '.'' ,a7 TnonAs Il, BEkrox
The Presidenf TO Mr.. Benton. sl -
4 ,- WxsaIsoros. March o. l647.
\ Sm-l have given to your letter Of the 6,l
instant the consideration which ito imPortanc'
demands. In rendering to you the sppoin,n.en
Of Major General in the army. I earnestly de.i
red tha, the country should have the adsan,ag,
Of your conceded ability sndmili,ary knowledge
your intimate scquaintance with the Mrxical
character, and yOur familiarity with their Ian
gusge and polifiesi condition. or
Immediately after your nomination - Majo
General had been unanimously Confirmed BY tn
Senate. carefully examined the question, whe
! ,her possessed the power to designate you
J junior M.jor General--,o the chief command Q
the army in the 6eld.. The resul, of this ex
|. smis.,iun is, ] am constrained 10 ssy. a seule
. conviction m my mind that such power has no
J teea conferred upon me BY the existing laws.
! am fully sensible Of the ex.i,ed ps,r, o,iss
} which could alone hsse induced you 10 mex
> the pstsoosl s,esiaees 10 which you would b
subjestsd in assuming even the chief comaan
, Of the srmy ia Mexico ind Q dolly sppsseiss
/, the ressons you ksve sssieued. sn.i which msy
fear, prevent you from secepsisg your sppoin
: ,aeot a. Msjor General. r. on further rene,
! ,ion. such should Be your dscision, shall lear
i. with deep regret ,,,,s 81. 49,. :, -,
lsn, sJ with high eTsideFs,ipa, very =
: specially ,ypsr obcdiss' ssry'ah., p,e, "a,
q - "a s.;,.s, y !, JAnss X Petn
= 70 Asjer cssspl J. u. sBsn.oa. washias'e
seote RI. 1sssss 70 ~ ryss;S.sa =
al wAsnsssssH. Tpssdsy Eseniag, March Q.
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