Correspondence Of he Ballimora SIN.

WAsnINar0N, Jan. Is, lsl7.
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" SAlls 81 iHNts


As predicted in my letter oi yesterday,
aud was generally expected, Col. Benton
made to day, personal explanation in re.
gard to the Lieutenant Gcneral-hip. Tho
Senate listened with profound attention.
the galleries were crowded to su.iocaion,
and Col. Benton spoke in voice so per.
leclly senatorial that It was searcu, audi
ble.


Col. Benton acknowledged. without hes.
iiaiion. and with becoming iiankness; that
he was indeed the man whom the President,
had intended for the Lieutenant General;
but that in this there was really liula To be
surprised or as,enished a.. Col. Benton
was, in 1912, Colonel in the regular
army, aud outranks all the Genafas now
engaged in the war against Mexico. un
dersland this 10 mean that Col. Benton
pould hare outnnked the Genctals now
commanding our army in Mexico, had he
remaia'd 10 the army. lie also denied
that in appointing him Lieulenan, General,
the President intended to appoint him bis
successor. he President he obsrrgeI
rendered to him the mission To France,
Tor which be thanked him then. and ior
which be would thank him now; but send.
ing 10 France, he inferred, was no means
of making him President Of the q. States.


As to the Lieutenant Genefalship, it had
been offered him by General jackson, in
case Of war with Mexico in l5iG, and tho
inference was, that what General Jackson
offered in 1886, Col. Polk could, without
impropriety, offer in 1916, under similar
circumstances. lie apprehended lhat iieS.
leo was divided into two pariios;--one lor
peace, and the other for war, 10 the hii.
Had he been appointed Lieutenant General.
he would have held out the olive branch 10
the one, aud made war on the other, uniil
it should have been wiling to treat.