The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-23 00:00:00

PRESIDENT LINCOLN ON THE SLAVE

QUESIION.

Major Jack Downing, writing from Washington, gives us
the following account of Mr. Lincoln's difficulties in regard
to this datnnosa hcereditas:—" Washington, June 15, 1862.
Surs,—l've been kinder sick sence I writ you last. The truth
is, this clymate in the spring is raely very weaknin to the
constitushin. Linkin, too, has been terribully anxus about
war noose, and the nigh approach of hot weather. But the
great E übj eck which the Kernel and I have been considerin
is the contrabands. What is to be done with 'em ? That's
the question, and Linkin says he would like to see the feller
that can tell him. One night Linkin got a big map, an he
sot down, and Now,' ses he, Major,' let's take a look at all
creashin, and sec ef ther aint sum place whar we kin send
these pesky kinky heds, and get rid of 'em." Wal,' ses I,
Kernel, I'm agreed.' So we went at it. First Linkin put his
finger on Haty. Now,' ses he, thar's an iland that jest suits
the nigger constitushin. Suppose they go thar ?" But,' ses
I, Kernel, they won't go, an ef they did, they wouldn't do
nothing." Wal,' ses he, no matter ef they wont trouble
us here enny longer." But,' sea I, ther's one more
resin. The iland aint large enuff to hold all the niggers---
four millions or thereabout.' Wal,' sea he, ther's
Central Ameriky—what do you think of that spot ?'
' Wal,' ses I, Kernel, that's a fine country, naterally. The
Creator fixed it up on grand skale, but you can't make a.
treaty with it enny more than you can count the spots on.
a little pig, when he keeps running about the hull time.
The truth is, you can't tell who'll be President of it from
one morning to the next, and the niggers you send ther
might all get their throats cut jest as soon as they landed.'
Wal,' ses Linkin, 'that's a slight objection. But
let's turn over to Afriky. Ther's Libery ; how would that
do, Major ?" Wal,' says I, Kernel, that country is about
the biggest humbug of the hull lot. Fust off, sum raly
good peepul thought it was going to amount to sumthin, but
after 40 years of spendin' money on it, there aint enny
more chanst of civilizin' Africky in that way than there is
of makin rifled cannon out of a bass-wood log. A few
dominys, who can't find enny boddy willing to hear 'em
preach, hev got hold of it, and are making a good thing out
of it. As for sending our niggers ther, why it would take
all the shippin of the world, and more money than Chase
could print.by steam in a year.' Wal,' ses Linkin, whar
on arth kin we send 'em?' Now,' ses I, Kernel, I've
got an idee of my own about that matter. I think they are
best off wher they are, and jest as they are, but ef you
must get rid of 'em I would send 'em all to Massa-chews-
its ! Peepul who are so anxus to have other folks overrun
with free niggers, ought be willin to share some of the
blessins themselves. So let all that are here in Washing-
ton be sent rite off to Boston." Yes, that might do,' says
Linkin, but then, ef they are entitled to their freedom, they
orter be allowed to go where they are a mind to." But,'
sea I, sum States won' have 'em at all, and they can't go
there. So, what's to be done ?" ses Linkin, I'll
tell you what it is, Major, this is an almity tuff subjek. I
know sumthin about splittin rails, and what hard work is
ginerally, but this nigger question has puzzled me more
than enny thing I ever got hold of before. Wad,' says I,
Kernel, I can explain the resen why.' Ses he,
Let's hear you, Major.' Well,' sea I, Ker-
nel, where do you carry your pockit-book ?' Ses he,
Wht on arth has that to do with the subjek ?' Ses I,
Hold on, you'll see.' Wal,' says he, I always carry it
right there, in my right-hand trousers pocket.' Ses I,
' Didn't you never have a hole in that pocket for a day or
two, and have to put it in sum other P' Sea he, ' Major,
I have.' Ses I, What did you do with it then ?" Wal,'
says he, I put it in my left hand pocket, but it kinder
chafed my leg there, cause it warn't used to it, and it also
felt mity onhandy. So I put it in my Bide cote pocket,
but every time I stooped over it would drop out. Then.
I put it in my coat tail pocket, but I was kept all the
time on the qui rivers, afeerd some pickpocket would
steal it. At last, in order to make it safe and
sure, I put it in the top of my hat under sum papers,
but the hat was top heavy, and over it went, spilling every
thing. I tell you I was glad when my pocket was fixed, and
I got it back in the old spot.' Now,' sea I, Kernel, that's
jest the case with the niggers. The minit you git 'em out
of ther place, you don't know what on arth to do with 'ern.
Now we've been here all the evening searchin over the map
to see ef we.can't find sum place to put 'em, just as you did
with your pocket-book. Put 'em wher they belong, anti then
you won't have no trubbil.' Linkin didn't see egaaxly Now
I was gwine to apply the story, and when he did he looked
kinder struck up. Wen I saw that I had made a hit on.
I follered it up. See I, Kernel, this Government
ain't cut of order, as Seward and Chase konteud. They
are only is vin to run it the rong way—that's what makes
all the trubbiZ. I wunce had a thrashing masheen, and I
sold it to old Jim Dumbutter, and after he got it he said it
warn't good for nuthiri—that it wouldn't run, &c. So I
went over to see it, and I vow if he did'nt have the masheen
all rong eend foremist. I went to work at it, and, after a
leetle while, it went of like grease, just as slick as a whissel.
You see old Dumbutter didn't onderstand the masheen,
and therefore he couldet make it go.' Sow, ses I, Kernel,
our Consdtushin is a Deramycratic mashee.n, and it's got to
be run as a Demmycratic masheen, or it woia't run at all
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konse-
kence is, the thing is pretty nigh smashed up. Cicinnati
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