Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-09-10
LETTER FROM MAJOR DOWNING.
To Mr.. Dmght-New York Duly Advertiser.

WAsHINGToN, August oo' 1000
Nv good old frirnd-Ever since we got "the
Government" back here from the Kip RaPs' we
have been as busy, as if we was all on Us COCK
ing hay Just afore shower.
tell'd you some time ago that ana the u,"e'
raj was 6ttin and jo,ntin the beams ana rai'ers
Of the message, but almost every da, some P'asy
new uotiun comes in from Mr.. Van BUREN, an"
some other Of our folks, and We have to chlzz'e
new mortices. and run new braces and string
pieces, 50 that begin to think it will look curl
Gus enuf when its done. The Glneral says he
don't care how it fronts, ony he is determined 10
show sharp corner to the NulIi6ers. We
shall have a good deal to say about the Grand
Tower; there is nothn since the 9Th Of January
at New Orleans tickles the GineraI half so much
Every time we talk about it, the Gneral gifts
rich, up, and says he," "Major, only wish
was so years younger, and then, says he, ''sve
me the Yankees east of Horse Neck, and I'D
like no better sport than to have notification all
over the rest of crestion."
When things don't 60 right, and the GIneral
pits a little wrathy, it only tell him the yam
KEGS are ready to back him. he is as firm as gran.
tie. 1t would make you crawl all over to read
that letter we writ to France, when we come to
here that the King there kinder shufled round
that bill we drawed on him He won't pay It
won't he?" Says he" Major, what do you
think of that:'' Why" says I. " Gineral. l
think its a nasty mean action-and darnatlon
rascalv one too. says l." WELL" says he'
- that's enuff "-and then we writ the letter.
its Just like Zekel BgeIow's speech, cuts,
shaves, and makes the hair ay-and il It don't
bring the money I'm mistaken.
If Mr.. Livingston had stay'd one week longer
in York. the GineraI was for sending me right
AZ of
" Two Poies" ready to take me.
The most curious part Of :. The Government"
hear, in to manage the Office seekers You see,
things amt now as they was afore Mr.. Van
Buren's time: then it was kinder divided round
among the Departments.
The Post Master GineraI appinted all the
Post Masters. and their folks Tnr Secretary of
the Treasury, appointed all the folks in the Gus
tom Houses, and all the folks who collected mo-
nev. These two had an everlasting batch Of
feIlers to appoint, and made them feel pretty con.
siderable bug, and then the War Secretary had
good slice in appointing the cadets, aud lngen
Agents, and all the contracts was kinder sIfted
round among the Departments; and so by the
time new President was To be mode. some OF
these Secretaries was a leetle bigger than the
President himself. Now this Is the way they
kinder jockled Mr.. Adams, who got 10 BIZ the
smallest man at Washington, BY letting other
folks plant his, corn. and do his huskin; aud
and afore he know'd II, his own field MAS all in
weeds-and theirs, well bowed, rich and clean
a. a whistle.
But things amt so now, we've got ony one
crib, and that's whappin one too, and ony one
DOOR to it; and when we she'll out our corn, We
take good care and know we'll who gsss it. and
where he is going to plant it; and that amt all
we make EN- agree about the Huskin FIohc, for
that's the best ont arter all:
The longer am in I" the Government" the
more larn. But l must allow, that Of all the
inventions I've hearn on Of Mr.. Van Buren's,
this i. about the sickest.
There IS onv one thing wantin, and thathe is
irving for pretty hard-and this is the Bank. II
he ony GIT that in the crib too, Virginny fen.
ces wouldn't stop our cattle.
Ony think what an everlastin raft Of fellows
we should have-all the Presidents and Cashiers,
and Clerks and Money Counters, about the crib,
from Do"ningyilie to New Queensland that
amt the best on't we would have branch along. |
side every post office, to keep our hostages SAFE !
| should like this wei. eDuf If was sartin
and the GlneraI and Mr.. Van Buren, was to be
here all the while, to keep goud Look out on
the crib door. But the Gineral talks Of goin
hum to put the Hermitage to rights; and am 10
the notion that Congress is eetle too strong for
the government, when the GineraI amt in it; and
shall go with him. l am eny most 'fas'd out
myself; and begin to think with the GineraI
have done enuf for the country.
We are Iookin for Amos Kindle now evry |
hour. He writ the GineraI t'other day, and ,
teII'd him my Bank Report" warn't true. and ,
that must have got loan Of Squire B,dde.
Now that is jist the way with some folks. What
they don't know they guess al; and its JUS, so
with old Miss Crane. who keeps the tavern this
side DowningviIIe-jist as sure any goes
BY without stoppIn. the old crItur says, there
goes so and SO, and has got no money too; and
he knows wouldn't trust him."
Howsumever, no one can make the Gineral
~ratby with me. He knows am the best friend
about him; whenever they get things in any kind
If twist, or a snarI. says he, " Major, do you
lnravel that I'm the big wheel. and you are
he smasher," says he; and then we just give Pc.
eg Bissel's churn a turn or two, and all is right.
You don't print my letters right-you git some
words wrong, and spell EN- most infarnaIIy. Jist
IN the printers saryed the GinersI's Ietfers too. |