Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-07-07

ties and the commencement oil Geneial
Jackson's "Experiment" those oil MAJOR
Downing ought not in these times TO be
overlooked. We therefore republIsh one oil
his characteristic letters, dated in 1888, a
month or two after the public money was
ordered TO be taken out OF one pocket and
nut into thirty or forty pockets all over the
country. We can all see now, the truth OF
what the Major told the General-"weve
got too many pockets for our money and
"wben we want it don't see how we shall
find it,"
Washington, 18th Nocember, 1888
HAVE always been telin the Gineral, as
you know, that of all troubles there was
none so tufr to git round as money troubles
and when such matters git in snarl it was
worse than to irwin TO straten a melitia line
arer dinner. was always afraid that we
was gittin too many folks to handle the
money, and TO be fgerin at the counts
Ever since was boy always had no.
ton that the fewer hands in countin the bet
ter, and the less you handle money the bet
ter, for the more you handle it, somehow,
the less it grows. And then agn telld
the Gineral, over and over agin, Don't
NEEDLE with the Banks" says | 'the mon
ey is safe enuff there, and one pocket" says
l. General is better than twenty" But
you know when was in New York with
Ezekiel Bigelcw tryin to find out the cause
of money bein scarce, and when Ezekiel
broke his watch shown me how the United
States Bank worked among other Banks,
the folks somehow got round the Gineral,
and the deposits was removed.
| have been lookin out for trouble ever
since though | was bound to stick to the
Gineral right or wrong, as teled him
would.
Tother day, when we came TO that part
of the message where we have to speak OF
money matters, we sent for Mr. fancy, our
new Secretary Of the Treasury, to bring in
his accounts He warn't quite ready, for
he amt 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 message,
Jest big enuff 10 put in tigers and so last
night the Gineral sent agin and said he must
have the counts, ready or not ready" and
up they came sure enuh, and not mole than
haf-cooked but the Gineral won't wait
for nothin when he's in hurry. Now"
says he, "Maor, turn to and see how they
stand with last year" And so at it | went,
comparin all the amounts of OUTLAWS, the
Gineral all the while smokin and thinkin
pretty hard, with his feet upon the mantle.
| 6gered up the sums pretty quick, consid-
estimates; and when got to the eend ont,
Now" says |, General, you know telPd
you that we could git up and put down null
ifcation in no time-we could turn out a
cabinet and appint other folks-we could
send ministers abroad, and let EN- come
home as soon as they pleased and send 9TH
er folks in their places, and give all full pay
too-we could mock the United States Bank
and Squire Bidde 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 Ingin War--and appint new
officers here and there--and have new au-
differs to settle counts-ond let things go on
in the Post Office and Land Office pretty
much 10 suit the folks there-and instead of
havin one bank for our money, scatter il
about among the banks of our friends All
this we could do, and have done, and have
taken the responsibility too, and the folks
like us the better for it; but" says "achen
they come 10 see phat IL all costs Mere'H be
trouble now tell you," says l.
why, Major" says the Gineral, "what's
the matter2 amt the Government econom-
ical ," says he "do you expect to make re-
forms without costin somethin? Can you
clear up swamps and cut bitches, and re-
move old stumps without expense ?" Yes"
says l. Gineral, that's all true. "But plague
ont" says |, tits ben goin on so now nigh
upon years; and" says |, at keeps costin
more and more and we are nearer bein
swamp'd and stump'd than ever-here."
says |, nov jest look and see what the
Government costs now, and what it cost
when Mr. Adams was President and that
amt the worst ont" says |, "our money is
here, there, and ererysohere; and don't see
ho,o'aoe shall find IL iohen zoe rant IT,"
AS soon as mentiond the amount Of the
sums l had figured up the Gineral jumps
up, and he did stomp about spell, tell
you-he smash'd down his pipe, and it flew
into more than forty pieces-says he, "Ma-
Jor, amt you Mistaken" NO." says |,
there's no mistake about me, Gineral. -
Let me see thetn accounts" says he and
he begun to feel for his spectacles, first in
one pocket and then in another-for he had
no less than pockets besides his watch fob,
and he couldn't find his spectacles-says he,
Major, have you seen my spectacles ~
mo" says l, 81 hain't-where do you keep
'em2" says I-"Why," says he ii used al.
ways TO keep 'em in this side breast pocket,
but | have been so pesterd lately must
have chang'd pockets" -'that's bad" says
!, "Gineral, especially" says |, "when one
wants thing in hurry. Now" says |,