Litchfield enquirer., 1837-07-20
JACK DOWNINGs PROpHEsY.


 made after the removal of the deposites and the commencement of General Jackson's Experiment. --those of Mai ior Downing ought not in these times to be overlooked. We therefore republish one of his characteristic letters, dated in 1883, a month or two after the public money was ordered to be taken out of one pocket and put into thirty or torty pockets all over the country. We can all see now, the truth of what the Major told the General - we've got too many pockets for our mon- ey'-and when we want it don't see how we shall find it.-Springfe1d Republican, WASHINGTON, November 12, 1888.
 have always been tellin the Gineral, as you know, that of all the troubles there were none so turf to git round as money troubles, and when such matters git in a snarl it was worse than tryin to s,raten a melitia line arter dinner. I was always afraid that we was gittin too many folks to handle the money, and Co be 6gerin at ths counts. Ever since was boy l always had a notion that the fewer hands in coun- tin the better, for the more you handle it, somehow, the less it grows. And then again tell'd the Ginerai, over and over aein, Don't meddle with the Bank says |; the money is safe emufr there, and one pocket,'' says I, Gineral, is better than twenty But you know when I was in New York with Zekiel Bigelow tryin to find out the cause of money bein scarce, and when Zekicl broke his watch showin me how the United States Bank worked among other banks, the folks somehow got round the Gineral, and the deposites were moved.
 have been looking out for trouble ever since, though was bound to stick to the Gineral, right or wrong, as l telIcd him I would. Tother day, when we came to that part of the message where we have te speak of money matters, we sent for MT. Fancy, our new Secretary ofthe Treasury, to bring in his accounts. He warn't quite ready, for he ain't so quick at siferin yet as he will be to rights so we waited for him a spell, and left place here and there in the mes- sage, jest big enuffto put in figures; and so last night the Gneral sent agin, and said he must have the Counts, ready or not ready and up they came, sure enuff, and not more than half cooked; but the Gineral won't wait for nothin when he's in hurry Now,' says he, Major, turn to and see how they stand with last year. And SD at it went, comparin all the amounts of out lays, the Gineral all the while smokin and thinkin pretty hard, with his feet upon the mantle. 6gered up the sums pretty quick, considerin there was good many on 'em called estimates; and when I got to the eend ont, Nov says l, 'Gineral, you know l lell'd you that we could get up and put down nullification in no time-we could turn out cabinet and appoint other folks we could send ministers abroad, and let 'em come home as soon as they pleased, and send other folks in their places, and give all full pay too-we could mock the United States Bank and Squire Riddle all into splinters-we could let our folks go on the Ingin lands in one place and drive them off in other places, and git up an lngin War and appoint new officers here and there and have new auditors to settIe' counts and let things go on in Ihe Post Office and Land Office pretty much to suit folks ,hcre-and instead of havin one bank for our money, scatter it about among the banks of our friends. All this we could do, and have done, and have taken the re- sponsbiIity too, and the folks like us the better for it; but, says 'when they cOme Co see uhat it aH costs there'N De trouble nOw IteU you,' says |.
 'Why, Major,' says the Gineral, what's the matter ain't the Government eco- nomicaI?' says he /: do you expect to make reforms without costin somethin Can you clear up swamps and cut ditches, and remove old stnmps without expense ? Yes,' says I, Gineral, that's all true.- But plague on't,' says I, it's ben goin on so now nigh upon five years; and,' says l, it keeps cos.in more and more, and we are nearer bein swamp'd and stump'd than ever-here,' says I, now jest look and see what the Government costs now, and what it cost when Mr. Adams was Pres ident; and that ain't the worst ont, says I, 'Our money is here, there. aud every a0here and don't sec hOw ioe shall find it Dhen zoe so0nt n.
 As soon as I meniion'd the amount of the sums l had 6gered up, the Gineral jumps up, and he did stomp about spell, 1 tell you-he smashed down his pipe, and it flew into more than forty pieces-says he, Major, ain't you mistaken 2 'No,' says I, there's no mistake about me, Gin eral.' Let he see them accounts says he; and he begun 10 feel for his spectacles, first in one pocket and then in anolher- for he had'no less than pockets besides his watch fob, and he couldn't find his spec iacles-says he, Major, have you seen my spectaclesY 'No,' says I, II han't- where do you keep 'em!' says l-' Why,' sa, s he, I used always to keep 'em in this side breast pocket, but havo been so pes-