The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1841-01-21
JACK DoWNING's LETTER.
Loo CABIN, NoRTH BEND, :
Dec. I'D A. D., l84O. 6

had Just as much as I could spring to, in
helping the Gineral read over petitions and
applications for Office. | ,honght, afore
things got pretty sarting that we would
carry the day, that these petitions came in
considerable strong: but ever since it has
been known that the Gineral had won
the battle, they have come in by bushel
baskets full. And the Gineral can telpem
Jest as quick as he sees the outside
OMEN. "Bless me-" says the Gin
eral one day wish Major, that dur
ing the last war, when Sometimes want
ed volunteers to follow me, that applica-
fions had been as numerous; but, howey-
er," says he, tive must fold up and
mark all these in regular order for there
is no telling yet how soon we may want
men to defend the country; and having
all these good names at hand, we can
send to them, and tell them that although
Icould not appoint them all as collectors,
and post,nasters. and land receivers, and
,narshals, and district attorneys yet
hope as they are all willing to serve the
country, they will answer to their names
at troll cali. And so am making out
q list, and if only the half on 'em toe the
mark then, we shall make quick work
against an enemy, when fighting times
come. The most on 'em are the rale
true blue democracy too,-for they say,
in their petitions, they once was all jack
son and Van Buren, men, but came round
in good time and voted for the Gineral,
and ever since then go the entire Cider
and Log Cabin, and no mistake. 1t is
rally curious to see how some folks meas
ure themselves, and get their friends to
back 'em, assuring the Gineral that in all
creation round he could not find better
man than this applicant for the Office he
asks, and about 500 ask for the same
Office. "Bless me, Major" says the
Gineral, ''how things have altered since
first grew up!-why," says he, sin
them days man of any kind Of spunk
and pride would no more ask for an Office
than he would for cold vitlles--and the
appin,ing power would jest as soon Sc
lect man to fill an office, who went
round getting People to sign petition
for his wife who brought him long Pc
ti.ion i'll HER favor. Howsever," says
the Gineral, 'sa good deal Of this am "a
fraid has been encouraged by some of my
late "i!ustrious predecessors, who took
notion Of keeping up their party, first
by making times hard, and distressing
honest industry, and then making folks
work sharp and look for resoard by seek
ing for an Office"
said to the Gineral one day, says l,
Gineral, was thinking l might as well
put in petition myself for an office afore
it is too late, for according to sarvices
says tho say i'll don't know any
man who has done more work for no.
thing, than have.
This seemed to puzzle the Gineral con-
siderable. He looked at me spell, and
then he scratched his head, and to rights
he shook it, and says he, "Major, don't
know any man of your rank who has a
bigger deb. due him from his country than
you have, and when folks say the public
debt is paid off, they forget your claim;
bit it is good investment as ever was,
and | advise you 10 hold on 10 it-there
is no telling what it may reach if you let
it run on, and don't ask any part ont,
principal or interest, to be paid off. Now
if you take an Office, it will.make con-
siderable hole in it, and some folks may
say, '.there is one big deb: wiped out at
last" No, no, Major" says the Cine
raj. II can't afford to settle that debt and
part with you yet, for there is no telling
what we may find to do when we get to
Washington, and where your slate and
axe may be wanted. In the first place we
have to examine the Inventory of all the
property Of the people, or make new
one of all we find there, hussle up mat
tiers in the Treasury, and count over all
the hard currency in The iron chests of
the Sub Treasures; look into matters in
the Post Office, and all the other Offices,
and see what Is there and what is not
there, and what ought tobe there,-and
especially to see if any of the folks now
there have by an accidentleft any Of their
oao,s money behind them, and have itpaid
to them, SO that every honest man gets
his dues--and the rogues (if there are any,
may get their dues also. And after get
ting all these matters strait, then Major,
says the General, ''if you want an Office,
I'll see that you have one, and the best
one can advise you to take is, to watch
your chance and when you see a quarter
section well located going off at mini
mann prices, cut in and take it-and if
you haven't got the money to pay for It,
III lend you; and then shoulder your axe,
and build your own cabin. and dig your
own diggings. and if your country calls
on you 10 fight, shoulder your musket and
go;.-and there is no telling but the time
may come when the People may drag
you out Of your retirement as they have
me. and make you their President
So that is pretty much all have gotto
look for, and thought would tell it,
Jest 10 let a good many folks see what the
Gineral's notions are if they don't get an
office.-for it is Just as like as not, if he
dent appint them it is because he wants