Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-12-15

Saturday. :,
ALI advertisements appear in both papers, and
are inserted at the usual rates. -
MAJOR DOWNING.
To my old Eiisnd VI. DUisM Of the Ne" YORK
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6, 1884.
I suppose you have read the message long
afore this and begin to think the time amt far off
,ynen we shall all on US be called on to give the
Frenchmen a stirrn' up, for not paying US that
lust debt they owe US.
| wish could write French as well as can
American, for then I'D sit down and give Louis
Philip my notions about this business, for am
plaguily afraid he and his folks don't know as
much about the natur of this country as they
ought to know.-lfthey or any other nation, thlnX
that because ne differ in opinion here among
ourselves on home matters, we are goin to car.
nv our difference into foreign matters they are
war Amt kalkilated to bring much profit
70 any nation. especially TO our hauon as
10 profit and loss account in business OF this
natur.
The Frrnshmen owe us five millions OF dol
lars. and they must pay il, or we must try and
get il out on 'em il it costs FIVE times the sum-
The mode Of doing this, is for Congress to say
If Congress says, " pan q speIt,"i Tor one Oh lne
people am agreed. II Congress says, take French
property enuf to pay the debt, say agreed; and
then if the Frenchmen do any thing in turn that
looks like war; and Congress says go at EN-
nop boys" for one say, am ready."-and
IL any man may think he can do more good
at the head Of Brigade of Militia than can,
he is welcome to my sword and cock'd hat and
IN take his place in the ranks don't want a
better place to do my duty to my country than
that A.
think il is the duty now Of every man on this
point to drop all politics. Every man to be sure
has right to give his opinion in Congress ana
out Of Congress as to the best mode OF set
tin this business; but when once that Cong
ress has ordered what is to be done, then
my notion is for all parties to shake hands
and stand by the Government and II It
comes at last to the point and WAR Is THE
cord then of coat and 60 att, and have no dis.
putting among ourselves till we have thrasheo
the enemy.
If Congess should agree with the Gineral,
that the best;course, in case the Frenchmen don't
nav us, is to take French property on the ocean,
suppose the Frenchmen who lose their proper
ty, will think il mighty hard in US; well II they
do. they will understand exactly how our mer-
chants felt some 20 years ago when their proper
" was taken from them; it amt ia good tasted
dish any wey.
Howsomever, I have notion, that the best
way AFTER all to bring the Frenchmen to their
senses is to stop all trade with en- till they settle
all old accounts. This is pecib!e mode, and
they'll soon find out we can give up their rioons
and ruffies little be tier than they can give up
our cotton and tobacco; tits amazing to see how
much good solid articles 60 from this country to
France, and paid for in fashions and trash that
amt worth, when you come to look close into EN-
the expense of bringing out.
Some will say that our Cotton and Tobacco
will. 90 to France through other countries; well,
let 'em go so-the French cant do without 'em.
and will have to pay so much the more for 'em.
hot Gil be
and ribbons and gew gaws will come to US thro'
other countries, and if needs be will be called
" English or italian" or Swiss" or Span
ish but there Is a rod in pickle for all that-lf
| and the Gineral only come out with procla-
nation 10 our women and gals, and ask 'em to
drap all use Of French goods the jig will be up
with Frenchmen at once-they may deceive our
Consuls and Collectors, but they cant deceive
our gals, for they can tell French hat. French
ribbons and French hummery as far as you can
throw a club.
If any one thinks our gals amt got patriotism
enuf in 'em for this, when they come to under
stand the natur Of the business, they will be as
much mistaken as Commodore Hardy was last
war of Stonington. Some one went off and
told Hardy the yankees had but two guns but
had no flannel to make cartridges WITH and that
was true enut so he brought in his ships and be-
gan 10 blaze away, but as soon as our gals come
to hear ont they turned to, and afore IL O'Clock
there warnt a flannel petticoat lett In all Ston-
ington Commodore Hardy got the hull on 'em
about his ears in cartridges about the quickest
tell YOU And arter that, when any one would
tell him SIGH and SIGH place had no flannel to
make cartridges with, he'd scratch his head and
saw, but Pm afraid they have got gals and han-
mel petticoats, and that's about the same >.
don't mean to say nothin about home poll
tics now ill this French business is settled. My
spunk is getting up leetle about it-and don't
know but shall brush up what little | once
knowed Of that lingo, and tell the 'parley voos'
In their Congress sup chamber thing or two
perhaps they have forgotten about this country.
Your old Friend,
]. DOWNING. Major,
Downingville Militia. I'd Brigade.
The New York Courier relates the following
instance Of enlarged generosity:
t,>r N hut